Thangamale: The Forest Walk From Adisham to Idalgashinna
about 4-5 km one way · Moderate · about 3 hours · Badulla District · Uva Province
The Thangamale trail follows a forested ridge through a bird sanctuary protected since 1938, from Adisham Hall, the Benedictine monastery above Haputale, to Idalgashinna railway station. It is one of the best short forest walks in Uva and a good place for endemic birds.
What you’ll walk through
From near Adisham Hall the path runs along the ridge through the 131-hectare sanctuary. Endemic birds recorded here include the yellow-eared bulbul, the Sri Lanka white-eye and the Sri Lanka junglefowl. The last few hundred metres follow the railway into Idalgashinna, and most walkers return to Haputale by train or tuk-tuk.
Parts of the path are poorly marked and fallen trees can block it. The final stretch is on a live railway line: watch for trains.
Access & permits
A protected bird sanctuary. We could not confirm the managing body or any ticket from an official source.
On the map
Pin 1 is Thangamale. The others are the nearest places in our trail directory.
- Thangamale: The bird sanctuary ridge near Haputale.
- Bambarakanda Falls: Trail guide: the tallest waterfall. About 10 km away.
- Lipton's Seat: The viewpoint above Dambatenne. About 11 km away.
- Thotupola Kanda: Summit, 2,357 m, near the Pattipola entrance. About 13 km away.
Key landmarks & features
- Adisham Hall - The Benedictine monastery at the trailhead.
- Thangamale forest - 131 hectares, protected since 1938.
- Endemic birds - Yellow-eared bulbul, Sri Lanka white-eye, junglefowl.
- Idalgashinna station - The end of the walk, on the main line.
When to go
Early morning, for birds and before the ridge clouds over.
Walk it with Hike Lanka
You can take this as a guided day trip, link it with nearby destinations into a multi-day trek, or build it into a custom Sri Lanka hiking itinerary. We handle transport, permits and the logistics; you walk. Haputale is on the Pekoe Trail: walk it with a guide on our five-day Haputale to Ella section.
Nearby in the directory
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