Ruhuna Explorers' Club

06/10/2026

The Ruhuna Explorers’ Club successfully completed an unforgettable adventure hike through the breathtaking Sinharaja Rainforest of Sri Lanka, exploring the forest through two remarkable entrances — Lankagama and Mediripitiya.

What began as an exciting journey quickly turned into a true test of endurance as heavy rainfall made the trails challenging, slippery, and unpredictable. 🌧️🥾

But we kept moving forward, supporting one another and embracing every challenge along the way.

From the sound of rain falling through the forest canopy to the thrill of navigating the rugged trails, every moment became a memory worth keeping. 🌿💚

21/09/2026

SINHARAJA RAINFOREST EXPEDITION 2026🍃✨

The Ruhuna Explorers’ Club successfully completed an unforgettable expedition into the magnificent Sinharaja Rainforest, exploring two remarkable gateways of this World Heritage rainforest — the Lankagama Entrance and the Mederipitiya Entrance.

Our journey was far from ordinary. We unexpectedly encountered heavy rainfall deep in the rainforest, turning the expedition into a real test of endurance, teamwork and adaptability. But beyond the challenge, the rain gave us an even deeper appreciation of the true nature of a tropical rainforest.

Lankagama provides access to lush rainforest trails and is particularly known for its beautiful waterfalls and streams. It offered us an opportunity to experience the forest’s spectacular water systems and dense vegetation up close.

The Mederipitiya area provides access to the southern side of Sinharaja through the Deniyaya/Pitadeniya sector, offering a different perspective of the rainforest landscape and its rich natural environment.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is one of Sri Lanka’s most important natural treasures, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding biodiversity and exceptionally high level of endemic flora and fauna. Its ridges, valleys, streams and dense evergreen vegetation make it an invaluable place for understanding tropical rainforest ecology and geography.

19/09/2026

Sinharaja Rainforest, located in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka, is a captivating and ecologically significant natural wonder. Covering an area of approximately 11,187 hectares.

It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the astonishing array of flora and fauna that call it home, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. The forest is a haven for researchers, nature enthusiasts, and eco-tourists alike, offering a unique opportunity to explore an untouched ecosystem.

This time we enter via the Lankagama entrance,we can see 6 beautiful waterfalls within a 750-meter span.The hike will take around 2-3 hours and you have to walk approximately 2.5 kilometers to complete the hike.

09/01/2026

🌿 Ruhuna Explorers’ Club – Hike to Horton Plains National Park (World’s End Trail) 🌄
Event No: 01 | Hike Season 2025/2026

17/10/2025

🌿 Ruhuna Explorers’ Club – Hike to Horton Plains National Park (World’s End Trail) 🌄
Event No: 01 | Hike Season 2025/2026

Nestled high in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, Horton Plains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, misty grasslands, and rich biodiversity. Standing over 2,100 meters above sea level, it’s home to iconic landmarks like World’s End, Baker’s Falls, and unique flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth 🌺🦋.

Our Ruhuna Explorers set foot on this awe-inspiring trail, conquering the heights, chasing the mist, and collecting memories that will last a lifetime 💚⛰️.
Each step was a journey — through clouds, laughter, and the wild beauty of Sri Lanka.

👣 Adventure completed. Spirits elevated.
💚

15/10/2025

Witness the breathtaking beauty of Nelu flowers (Strobilanthes spp.) in full bloom — a magical event that graces Horton Plains only once in twelve years. 🌸
During this rare season, the mist-covered highlands transform into a shimmering sea of purple, pink, and white, creating one of the most enchanting spectacles in Sri Lanka’s montane wilderness.

Standing tall at 2,357 m (7,733 ft) above sea level, Totapolakanda (Thotupola Kanda) proudly claims its place as Sri Lanka’s third-highest mountain, nestled within the heart of Horton Plains National Park in the Nuwara Eliya district. A scenic 2-km trail beginning near the Pattipola Entrance winds through cool grasslands and shrub-covered slopes adorned with Strobilanthes, Osbeckia, and Rhodomyrtus species — each adapted perfectly to the chill and wind of the plains.
But Totapolakanda is not just about natural beauty — it carries the whispers of ancient legend. 🌺

In Sinhala, Totapola means “Landing Site.” According to folklore from the epic Ramayana, this is believed to be the place where King Ravana’s flying chariot first touched down in Lanka, carrying the abducted Princess Sita from India — a tale that gives this mystical mountain its name and aura.

A trail rich in myth, mist, and magic — Totapolakanda captures the true spirit of Horton Plains: where nature blooms, stories breathe, and adventure begins. 🌄

13/10/2025

Hike to Horton Plains National Park — A One-Day Adventure Completed! 🏞️
What an unforgettable journey through the misty trails of Horton Plains National Park — from World’s End to Thotupola Kanda! 🌄✨
We successfully conquered the heights, shared laughter, and created memories that will last a lifetime.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to:
Vice Chancellor Senior Prof. P.A. Jayantha – University of Ruhuna
Dean Prof. Guttila Yugantha Jayasinghe – Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna
Patron Prof. I.R. Palihakkara – for the invaluable guidance and encouragement throughout this journey.

A special thank you to
🌿 Mr. Gamini Wickramathilaka, Assistant Director, Central Province - Department of Wildlife Conservation, and
🌿 Mr. Sisira Kumara Rathnayake, Guardian of Horton Plains,
for their immense support and contribution to making this hike a success.

And finally, a big thank you to our seniors for their guidance, motivation, and constant support — this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without you! 💚

08/10/2025

Hike to Horton plains national park- A One-Day Adventure!

🗓️ Date: 11 th (Saturday) Octomber 2025

📍 Destination: Horton plains national park ( Ohiya Entrance)

Explore the breathtaking trails of Horton plains national park ( World’s end trail & Thotupola trail) with us on this one-day hike! Perfect for adventurers seeking a thrilling escape into nature.

🚐 Return Transport from Faculty premises
Departure time - 12.00 am from faculty premises (11 th Octomber 2025)
Approximate return time - 1.00 am (12 th Octomber 2025)
⛰️ Guided Hike with stunning views
🎫 Entrance Ticket
🍜 Breakfirst & Lunch

⛰ Difficulty: Moderate (Perfect for beginners!)
🚶‍♀️ Hiking Distance: Approx 12 km

🎒 What to Bring:
👟 Footwear for Hiking
👕 Comfortable Hiking Clothes
🧥🥶🧤🧣 Jackets
💊 Personal Medication
🌧 Rain Coat
🍼 Water Bottle

Challenges:
Rain
Mist
Cold

28/08/2025

ගවේෂක මනෝරම 2025

සුන්දර දවසක , ගවේෂක සිත් පොදියක ,
නවමු මං පෙත් ලුහුබඳිමින්.....
2025 ''ගවේෂක මනෝරම"
මෙලෙසින් සාර්ථක ලෙස නිමවන ලදී ....

විඩාබර ජීවිතයට , නැවුම් සිතුවිලි එක්කරමින්, ජීවිතයේ සොඳුරු බව වටහා දෙන, තාරුණ්‍යයේ සොඳුරු ආමන්ත්‍රණයක් වූ ... 'මංසරන්නා'
ඔබටයි අපගේ විශේෂ ස්තූතිය....

විනෝදය , ත්‍රාසය සමඟ මුසු වුණු අලුත් අත්දැකීමක්
සමග "රුහුණු ගවේෂකයෝ " සමගින් නැවත හමුවෙමු...

⭕ Organized by- Explorers' Club of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna.

⭕ Event Partner -
මංසරන්නා
SpireTech

⭕ Videography By-
Iruka Abeywickrama
Indunil Kumara

⭕ Caption by- Malmi Imasha

#ගවේෂකමනෝරම2025
#මංසරන්නා

09/05/2025