St. Catherine’s to Makulella
9.36 km · Moderate · 3 hours · Badulla district · Namunukula foothills
Stage 14 is a short, mostly-downhill descent - 9.36 km dropping more than a kilometre in elevation through tea estates, sacred sites, and forested sections. A common half-rest day on a guided fourteen-day itinerary.
What you’ll walk through
Descent begins at St. Catherine’s, traces the lower flanks of Namunukula, and passes the Allimale Bodhiya sacred bo-tree before dropping through Liyanahgahawela Reserve Forest. The final kilometre is on Balagala Estate roads to Makulella village.
Landmarks on this stage
- Lipton's Seat - Visible behind you on the early descent.
- Namunukula - Five-peaked mountain range to the south.
- Allimale Bodhiya - Sacred bo-tree with a small shrine.
- Makul Ella Lake - Small reservoir near the village.
- Liyanahgahawela Reserve Forest - Protected forest the trail passes through.
- Balagala Estate Bungalow - Historic planter's bungalow.
- Sri Mutumariamman Kovil Balagala - Hindu temple at Balagala.
When to walk
Comfortable year-round given the short distance and downhill grade. Mid-monsoon (May-November) the forest section is leechy.
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. You can also walk it with a guide as part of our five-day Haputale to Ella section, Stages 12 to 16.
Walk Stage 14 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.
Browse every Sri Lanka hiking tour we run, from Kandy day hikes and the Knuckles traverse to the full 22-stage Pekoe traverse.
Book the Full Trek Plan a Custom Route