Tawalantenne to Pundaluoya
15.53 km · Difficult · 4 hours 30 minutes · Nuwara Eliya district
Stage 4 climbs 1,195 m across 15.5 km - more elevation gain than any other stage in the first half of the trail, and second only to Stage 12 over the whole route. The day descends from Tawalantenne through village roads and paddy fields, crosses the Ramboda Oya, then climbs an abandoned British-engineered road through tea estates with views of the Kotmale Reservoir and Mahaweli Maha Seya stupa.
What you’ll walk through
The trail leaves Tawalantenne by descending through New Kotmale’s village roads, passing rice paddies and small Hindu temples. After crossing the Ramboda Oya near Ramboda Falls, it begins a sustained climb on a colonial-era road that switchbacks up through tea estates. The final descent into Pundaluoya is on country road past the Sri Muthumariamman Kovil.
Landmarks on this stage
- Ramboda Falls - A 109 m waterfall visible from the descent off Tawalantenne.
- Kotmale Reservoir - A long-water view on the mid-stage climb.
- Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya - A whitewashed stupa on the ridge above the reservoir.
- Kadadora Viharaya - A submerged-then-rebuilt temple complex from the Kotmale dam-flooding history.
- Pundal Oya - The river the stage takes its name from.
- Sri Muthumariamman Kovil - Marks the descent into Pundaluoya village.
When to walk
The Dry Season is essential - the abandoned colonial road becomes treacherous in rain, and the long climbs are punishing in monsoon humidity.
Walk it with Hike Lanka
You can pick this stage as a day hike, link it with the adjacent stages as a section trek of three to seven days, or walk the entire 22-stage end-to-end trek with our small-group fourteen-day guided expedition. We handle lodging, permits, transport, and the on-the-ground logistics; you walk.
Walk Stage 04 with us
Pick this stage as part of a custom section trek, or join the full end-to-end Pekoe Trek. A real guide responds to every enquiry.
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