Uthuwankanda and Saradiyel village

Year and Month	2018 February 10th and 11th
Number of Days	Two
Crew	03-Dimal, Nuwan and Myself
Accommodation	Saradiyel village resort T.p. 0710922399
Transport	By car and foot
Activities	Hiking and get relaxed
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo->Uthuwankanda junction->Saradiyel village and Saradiyel village resort->Uthuwankanda (උතුවන්කන්ද)->Back to Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Saradiyel village is situated 1km from Uthuwankanda junction at Mawanella. The road (Uthuwankanda MW) is concerted well up to Saradiyel village. Saradiyel village is opened everyday from 9am to 5pm. It costs Rs 120 per adult. Don’t damage properties of the village. I was heard some visitors have stolen parts of models in crowded days. Summit of Saradiyel rock has limited area. Be careful when you are there. And not to produce much noise to stimulate wasps. Please park your vehicle only at reserved premises for parking at Saradiyel rock. Seems visitors become a disturbance to houses on either side of the road to Saradiyel peak. I have noticed few boards mentioning not to park vehicles at their premises and they don’t have toilet facilities. Hike to Saradiyel rock/ Uthuwankanda is an easy task which gets only 30-minutes. We didn’t try to find the cave at Uthuwankanda.
Related Resources	Trip reports on Uthuwankanda Lakdasun article on Saradiyel village News paper article on Saradiyel
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Uthuwankanda and Saradiyel village

Uthuwankanda /Saradiyel rock (431m) is a famous place among local and foreign tourists. As Saradiyel character is strongly related to Uthuwankanda, a theme park called Saradiyel village was built facing to Uthuwankanda in 2012 as a private property.

The meaning of Uthuwana is coconut forest. Uthu-coconut+Wana-forest. Uthuwana village had a flourished coconut cultivation at those days.
I have been at Uthuwankanda in 2014 but not at Saradiyel village.
After having short visit to Nawgala we decided to be at Saradiyel village. We planned to stay at Saradiyel village resort on that day night. I want to do common things in uncommon way. Therefore I decided to have early morning hike to Saradiyel rock to enjoy the sun rise.

Saradiyel village (සරදියෙල් ගම්මානය)
This is a theme park spreads on 6 acers, built in front of Saradiyel rock based on Saradiyel story. They will provide a guide who narrates Saradiyel story. This village is not only based of Saradiyel story, it shows some items of traditional village of Sri Lanka during in 19th century. Some of these things can’t be seen in modern days, would be good to know to school children. Most of models are made in natural way by cement.

Summary of Saradiyel story
Deekirikevage Saradiel was born on March 25, 1832. His father was a tobacco merchant from Haldanduwana, Dankotuwa-whose business made him to frequent visit to Kegalle district. It made him to meet Pitchohamy near Uthuwankanda and marry her. Saradiyel was the eldest son born to them.
Saradiel got his primary education from Illukgoda temple. Saradiel proved to be intelligent but he used to have constant quarrel with other students. His studies came to an abrupt end when he was arrested by the police and severely dealt with for assaulting a rich boy, a close relative of the village Vidane.
In his young age itself, Saradiel formed a gang and began to defy the law. Soon Saradiel’s name came to be associated with various thefts in the area but he managed to escape the hands of law.
Later Saradiyel left the village and worked as a barrack boy in Colombo. At the Barracks he came into contact with soldiers and learned how to use guns.
Saradiyel came back to Uthuwankanda and began to associate with notorious criminals in the area. He was arrested several times but he managed to escape.
Saradiyel had a gang of robbers among whom Hawadiya, Bawa, Sirimale, Kirihonda, Suwanda and Mammalay Marikkar were the most noted. Contractors taking goods to Kandy and outlying stations passing the Uthuwankanda area sought the protection of armed escorts and even then on some occasions they were attacked and guns and ammunition stolen. Although Saradiel was a terror around the Kegalle he never robbed the poor.
Meanwhile Sirimale, one in the Saradiel band defected and wished Saradiyel to be arrested. Saradiyel got caught to the police with Mammalay Marikkar on 21st March 1864 with an aid of Sirimale. Constable Shaban was shot dead in this fight by Mammalay Marikkar. It was the first police death happened in SL history, Sri Lankan police day is celebrating on 21st March.
Saradiyel and Mammalay Marikkar walked to the gallows on May 07, 1864.
Saradiyel became the Robin Hood of Sri Lanka as he generously distributed the money he robbed among the poor.
(Summarized from a letter written to Island paper by W.T.A. Leslie Fernando.)

Entrance to Saradiyel village

This shows ancient Ambalama

අම්බරුවා

දෝලාවෙන් ගමන් ගියෝ….

Waiting at Ambalama…

Entrance to the model ancient village at British era

Ancient Kopi Kade at village where all people gather

Snake charmer

Eagerly listen…

Grind Ragi…

Winnowing fan

Alms gathering…

Star gazer…

Native physician

වී කොටනවා

ආරච්චි

Ancient kitchen

වලව්ව

දඩු කද

Labour room

Saradiyel in jail

Farming…

Lake and temple…

Arachchi is ordering…

A family…

Saradiyel is donating some money to poor. Mammale Marikkar in his behind

After capturing Saradiyel and Mammalay Marikkar are bringing to Kandy

English soldiers

This indicates British in Sri Lankan tea industry

Hanging of Saradiyel and Mammalay Marikkar

Hanging of Saradiyel and Mammalay Marikkar. End of the story

At the end of hearing Saradiyel story we have moved to our accommodation at Saradiyel village resort which is situated next to Saradiyel village.

Saradiyel village resort
It is built in two steps. Lower part is built next to Saradiyel theme park similar to captain Dawson’s bungalow. Upper section is situated bit higher up facing Uthuwankanda and mighty Alagalla is viewing it’s back drop. It is made similar to Bogambara prison. We selected a room at the tower situated at Saradiyel village resort. It had a breath taking view towards Uthuwankanda, Alagalla, Mawanella town, Ura Kanda, Bathalegala and etc. It was a memorable evening to enjoy the sun set over Uthuwankanda and Nawgala.

Model of captain Dowson’s bungalow.

Guard…

Saradiyel Village resort…

Sun set over Uthuwankanda. Lower part of Saradiyel village resort is seen

Sun set over Uthuwankanda

Ura Kanda. Our next day target.

Sun set…

Uthuwankanda

Swimming pool and Alagalla

Sun set over Nawgala

Bathalegala (left) and Urakanda (right). Bathalegala has a different appearance here.

Evening sky at back drop of Uthuwankanda

View of Uthuwankanda over the swimming pool

Illuminated swimming pool

Early morning hike to Saradiyel rock/Uthuwankanda to enjoy the sun rise
We want to enjoy the sun rise at Saradiyel rock. It was our early morning target. It is only about 30 minutes walk (plus hike) from Saradiyel village to Uthuwankanda.
The concrete road to Saradiyel rock starts few hundred meters towards Uthuwankanda junction in right hand side. At the end of concrete road the foot pathway started through rubber estate. After about 10minutes walk, an intense rock climbing part began. Summit of Uthuwankanda is like toes of a foot, on top of it national flags are waved. It might be due to the recent journey happened on national day. Final part was a 90 degree climb to reach the summit. Uthuwankanda has a narrow summit where you have to avoid too much activity. We have enjoyed the sun rise as well as view of Alagalla, Ura Kanda, Bathalegala, Colombo-Kandy road as well as Warakapola area. Early morning mist has blocked the vicinity of much distance.
We didn’t pay attention to find the cave closer to the rock. It ended up roaming around Uthuwankanda and we started to move our next hike-Ura kanda.