Colombo-Badulla 'Podi Menike' arriving at Nanu Oya
Ambewela station. Podi Menike leaving the hikers towards Badulla.
Ambewela station. Rain and mist is common in this area.
Hike Guide - This guy decides to join the hikers towards Ohiya!
Start of hike. At Ambewela
Thick mist rolling in limiting visibility
One hiker decides to lead with an umbrella!
Hikers reached Pattipola in 1 hour 15 minutes
Pattipola station name board. Pattipola is the highest broad gauge station in Sri Lanka 6204 feet above sea level
Mist increases
Warning sign against tresspassing close to Pattipola level crossing. Note this signboard is in English/Sinhala/Tamil format. Current format is STE
Village children walking along the track
Local train approaching Pattipola in thick mist
SM handing over the down line tablet
Speed restriction board. Upcountry railway is full of speed restrictions.
Hike Guide decides to quit He has realized that it's useless following these nuts!
Summit board Highest railway point in Sri Lanka!
Closer look of the Summit board
Maharathmala plant. Only grows at this high elevation
Farmers battling to keep rabbits away from their crops.
Summit tunnel construction plaque. The tunnel collapsed several times due to water seepage and oil fired Garretts pollution.
Service was halted from Pattipola to Barulla on serveral ocassions for months.
View from inside the tunnel. According to Kalpa they hadn't taken any torches and totally relied on their cellular phone display lights!!!
This may be a world record!
Recent earth slip.
Another tunnel
A scenic location.
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Bridge over a deep gorge
Closeup on the weak rails
Ohiya end of hike
Name board
Transport arriving back to Colombo