Thoranakotha (860m)-View point of Ayagama

Ayagama is a small town situated at Idangoda-Kalawana road and you will come across it if you follow this route to reach the world heritage forest-Sinharaja. Thoranakotha Mountain is a highest of a range situated at the back drop of Ayagama town. It’s height is around 860 m and seen as a significant peak when you view it from Idangoda road. (Unfortunately I couldn’t capture it). This view will impress anybody to conquer it.
I have noted Thoranakotha in my visit to Sinharaja in 2014 and Harinda also noted this peak in his visit to the rain forest. It was one of the waited trips for a long time and due to unavoidable reasons we were not able to do it.
The day came and we started the journey early as usual. We were able to reach Rathnapura town around 6 am and came to Ayagama town around 8am. Weather was perfect and fresh following the rain happened at last night.
After breakfast we came to the road started in front of Ayagama fair towards Thoranagoda village. We inquired from a three wheel driver and he recommended visiting the mountain with a known person. The road to Thoranagoda village was good in some areas but has bad sections as well. We were tried to find a person to accompany us to the peak and at the end Amare Ayya agreed to come with us.
The trail started from Thoranagoda Community Center. The foot pathway ends at the tea patch with cinnamon bushes. There was a tap to fill our bottles, which was the last water resource found on the way up. (We decided to carry a large water stock to face extreme heat in these days).
The pathway has two sections: First to climb Heengala-හීන්ගල and then proper climbing of Thoranakotha.
After tea patch we enter the forest patch and ended up with first rock climbing part at Heengala. We were managed to do that part with the help of our guide. At the end we reached the first view point which faces Ayagama and Gawaragiriya (ගවරගිරිය) sides.

Thoranakotha is mentioned here as Thoranagoda mountain. Red star shows the peak and red line shows the direction we followed. Click image to enlarge

View of Thoranakotha from Ayagama town

View of Thoranakotha from Ayagama town

Delicate

Wesak flowers-So common in this area ?endemic

Starting the journey from Thoranagoda village

Thoranagoda community center. The pathway lies on side of it

Clear foot pathway

Thoranakotha Mountain

The pathway lies on the edge of the rock

Yellow arrow shows Heen Gala and red arrow shows Thoranakotha Mountain. First you have to climb Heen Gala and then can reach proper Thoranakotha Mountain.

First part of the journey through tea patch

View towards Thoranakotha from it’s base

Ayagama School

Zoomed view of Ayagama paddy fields

After tea patch, entering to the forest and then Heen Gala climbing

On top of Heen Gala

View from Heen Gala-Gawaragiriya side

View from Heen Gala towards Sinharaja forest

View from Heen Gala towards Kalawana side. Kalawana town is not seen here.

Now we are at the base of Thoranakotha Mountain

Zoomed view of Thoranakotha Mountain…Dothalu trees can be seen

Heengala ended with forest patch and it was full of Kakilla bushes. Though foot pathway was not clear it was fairly flat section. Then proper climbing of Thoranakotha started. There was a clear foot pathway in most of the time. It was almost filled with Bamboo bushes and sometimes we had to crawl under bamboo. After about an hour climbing we came across second section of rock climbing. It was not that much difficult as first part. Then we reached another view point of the pathway which provides 1800 view towards Kalawana, Ayagama and Gawaragiriya side.
Upper part of the mountain was filled with Dothalu trees apart from Bamboo. After another 45 minutes we were able to reach Thoranakotha peak.

The forest patch after Heen Gala

The section of Kakilla bushes

Through Bamboo bushes

Unusual place for nesting

Kind of a resting point. At this time Harinda carried a walking stick to make his way easy.

The peak just next to Thoranakotha called Kurulugala-කුරුළු ගල. All are part of a range of mountains

View of Thoranakotha from second view point

View of Thoranakotha from second view point

The valley where Idangoda-Ayagama road lies

View towards Gawaragiriya and Ayagama

Rising buildings at far….This might be Horana town

Can you see the sea?

Journey started after second view point

Dothalu

Coming out

Fascinating view

The peak with flag

Thoranakotha peak is relatively flat but covered with bushes in one side, which obstructing the view towards Kalawana side. There was a flag on top and provides 2700 view. We have spent about half an hour there to enjoy the beauty and then started return journey. It was bit faster than climbing but Harinda need an assistance of a rope in coming down in some sections. Our guide found a pathway to bypass Heen Gala.
We refreshed after having a bath from nearby pond and said goodbye to Thoranagoda village and Thoranakotha Mountain.

The peak with flag

Harinda and Amare Ayya

Happy faces after conquering one of awaited peaks

Zoomed view of paddy fields of Ayagama

Ayagama school, fair and ground

Ayagama town

View towards Rathnapura side

Price for the hike

Start the return journey

There is a water source closer to this rock. But we didn’t try it as we had enough water.

Challenge in coming down

Wadiya we passed in our return journey

Tired face

Good bye Thoranakotha Mountain

Thanks for reading