Hike to Hagasulla (හෑගස්සුල්ල )-1205m and exploring Mala Oya (මළ ඔය)

Year and Month	2018 July
Number of Days	One
Crew	03-Wikum, Nuwan and Myself
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	By bus, three-wheeler and Hiking
Activities	Hiking, Photography, Waterfall seeing and sight seeing
Weather	Excellent
Route	Colombo ->Walapane (වලපනේ)->Neeldandahinna (නීල්දණ්ඩාහින්න)->Theripaha (තෙරිපැහැ)->Hegasulla->Back to Theripaha->Mala Oya->Raja Mawatha->Kandy->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Start the journey early. The first bus to Theripaha from Neeldandahinna is at 6.30am. It takes 45min-1hour to reach. Get directions from villagers. They are very helpful. Three wheel charges from Neeldandahinna to Theripaha is about 1000-1100. Road condition from Neeldandahinna to Theripaha is fairly good. Be aware of wild elephants. As it is situated in VRR reserve it needs permission. Colombo to Walapane SLTB buses can be booked from sltb.express.lk site. Getting down along Mala Oya is a bit strenuous activity and time consuming. We spent 4hours for this journey and always be cautious about wild elephants. Special thanks goes to one of my colleagues-Nishanthi who found some information for me to hike this mountain.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread. Hike to Hagasulla (හෑගස්සුල්ල )-1205m and exploring Mala Oya (මළ ඔය)

Hegasulla is a pointed mountain situated in VRR (Victoria- Randenigala-Rantambe) reserve closer to Randenigala reservoir. Approach to this mountain is from an isolated village called Theripaha which is situated 17km from Neeldandahinna.
People say the Lord Buddha has come to place his sacred foot print on top of this mountain but villagers at Theripaha were working at paddy fields on the poya day. Then he has changed his mind and placed the sacred foot print on Sri Pada.
Hegasulla is a peak of a range and another peak is mentioned there as Agassula in 1:50000 map. I never knew about this mountain and credit should go to Ashan to mention about Hegasulla.
It is a bit challenge to finish this journey in one day by travelling from Colombo. I have selected overnight bus from Colombo to Neeldandahinna and got down there at 3.30am. After waiting some time at Neeldandahinna bus stop we hired a three-wheeler to reach Theripaha early morning.
Theripaha was sleeping when we reached there. Hegasulla Mountain was nicely seen with sunrise. After having a tea with crispy patty from Theripaha we got directions from few villagers.
First it was a journey through bushes and bare lands in the village. There were number of foot pathways and at the end we have reached an elephant fence which might be the border of forest and village.

Hegasulla Mountain in 1:50000 map (circled). It is mentioned as Agassula in map. Arrow shows the road between Hegasulla village to Mahaweli Raja Mawatha. But there is no such records of that kind of a road. Black star shows our start at Theripaha village. Red star shows our end at Mahaweli Raja Mawatha along Mala Oya. Click image to enlarge.

Hegasulla-This was taken on or way to Padupola plain

Start the journey early morning

Nuwan and Wikum were members of this time

Passing the village

Walking through bushes

Close up…

Wikum and Nuwan

We came across few view points

Theripaha village

Narangala

ගදපාන

Close up….

There were number of foot pathways to confuse us

Neptis hylas / Common Sailor

Bathing in sun rays

Reaching the elephant fence

After crossing the elephant fence it was kind of a proper hike to the peak. As usual I got assistance of Google map. First we hiked through a dry grassy land and then crossed a forest patch. As we were instructed before, Elephant dung were seen in this grassy area. End of the grassy land was a flat area with good surrounding view.

Hiked along the grassy patch

Hiked along the dry grassy patch

At the end of dry grassy patch

Enjoying the view….

Isolated Theripaha village

Paddies at Theripaha

Towards Mandaram Nuwara

It’s Kukulagala

Through the forest patch

Rest of the hike was happened along the ridge of the range which was sloped to either side. Though villagers advised us about windy weather it was a low wind day. It was nice to hike through short Mana bushes. After about two and half hours (from Theripaha) we have reached the top of Hegasulla Mountain. It has a splendid view towards Randenigala. Randenigala reservoir with islands, hills beyond Randenigala and mountains between Randenigala were seen clearly, Narangala, some hills of Uva province, Loggal Oya reservoir, Uma Oya, Dambarawa Lake, Galpadihela range were also seen in one side. In a clear day you can see Namunukula and Madolsima range beyond Narangala. (I have noted it in my second visit).
Other side is marked by Kukulagala, Hills of Mandaram Nuwara, and Mahakudugala etc.

Get on to the ridge of the range

When looked back….

There were number of false peaks

Perfect weather for a hike

Standing front of Hegasulla peak

This is our track

The slope…

The slope

Hills of Uva

Spiky point…

After coming half of the way

Another set of Paddies

Macro

The slope

Heading to the peak

On top of Hegasulla peak

Randenigala reservoir

Narangala

Golden eggs

Uma Oya

Loggal Oya reservoir

Towards Hills of Mandaram Nuwara

Highest point of Hegasulla

There were another set of hills in between Hegasulla and Randenigala reservoir. The plain on right hand side of these hills called Madathenna (මඩතැන්න). There is a beautiful plain beyond these peaks called Padupola (පදුපොල). (It was my second journey). The drop between Hegasulla and these peaks prevented us to visit there. After enjoying the beautiful view from Hegasulla Mountain we headed to Theripaha. Return journey was made in about 1hour.

Beyond Hegasulla-Another set of hills. Galpadihela range is seen far away.

Zoomed view of peaks between Hegasulla and Randenigala

I love to walk over there. Galpadihela range is seen in right corner.

Madathenna

Galpadihela / Kosgolla range zoomed

The drop

At drop….

Back from the edge

On top of Hegasulla

Towards Theripaha and the area we have passed

Beautiful Theripaha village

The team on top of Hegasulla peak

There were two options to leave Theripaha village: either following of same route we came or reach Raja Mawatha from Theripaha. There is a clear road indicating at 1:50000 map from Theripaha to Raja Mawatha, but it doesn’t exist now. Villagers have reached Mahiyanganaya via this path. (But this foot path and the road showing in map is different.) Mala Oya flows to Randenigala reservoir following the same route showing at 1:50000 map.
We have decided to get down to Raja Mawatha by walking along Mala Oya.

Along Mala Oya to Raja Mawatha
Mala Oya origins from Theripaha and drains to Randenigala reservoir with it’s short course of 3-4km. As it becomes dead in drought season, called Mala Oya. Walking along Mala Oya seems the shortest way to reach Raja Mawatha from Theripaha. Villagers take about 1hour to reach Raja Mawatha along Mala Oya but we took about 4 hours to complete the journey.
Initially there was a clear foot path on side of Mala Oya then it vanished. Then we get in to the water stream. Main obstacle was to get down from Hathbinnan Ella (හත්බින්නන් ඇල්ල)

The gravel road from Theripaha to Hegasulla wasama village

Get into Baby Mala Oya

There is a clear path with the water stream at village area

End of village area-crossing Elephant fence

Get into Mala Oya

We were able to visit two significant waterfalls and three/ four minor cascades in this journey. Hathbinnan Falls is the major fall made by Mala Oya. It is about 25-30 m in height flows in two steps. Second part is the tallest one with acute drop. The journey along Mala Oya halts at Hathbinnan Falls due to acute drop. Villagers mentioned about few creeps grow on side of the fall to get assistance. But I feel it as a risky move and searched for alternative path to get down. Nuwan and Myself hiked up along left bank and followed 70 degree angle to reach the base of the fall. It was a strenuous activity but Wikum used creepers to get down as he is cleverer than us.

One of a minor cascade of Mala Oya

Along Mala Oya

Reached the top of Mala Oya. Note it has two acute drops in both sides. We were able to get on the left bank to descend

Hathbinnan Falls

Top of Hathbinnan Falls

Hathbinnan Falls

After crossing Hathbinnan Falls we want to fasten the journey as we were behind the time. Though Oya has low water level going down was not easy due to acute drops. And we have to be cautious about wild elephants. Fortunately though we noticed elephant dung, we didn’t come across elephants. After about 4 hours we have reached Mahaweli Raja Mawatha. It was the end of another beautiful one day trip. This journey has exposed me to another unknown area and opened up some new travel destinations.