Picturesque Water falls in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is blessed with all the essential ingredients to form a variety of picturesque waterfalls. Numerous rivers and streams amounting to more than 100, precipitous mountain ranges and platens, rains from two monsoons, convectional and cyclonic rains get together to form the most attractive falls .

The mountains of Sri Lanka abound with waterfalls of exquisite beauty. The island is blessed with 103 rivers and more than 130 waterfalls and many of them are virtually unknown, hidden away in forest or approached by steps and remote tea plantation tracks. In fact for it’s size Sri Lanka has recorded water falls than another country. Sri Lanka’s numerous rivers, fed by two half yearly monsoons, with topography of high and steeply scarped peneplains, and riverbeds of hard erosion-resistant metamorphic rock, all provide ideal ingredient for the formation of waterfalls.To experience the true essence of Nature in the land of scenic beauty, Sri Lanka, it is a must to visit at least a few of the innumerable waterfalls of the country.

Remarkable compact of the highland most in the centre rising abruptly and plateau like in character which is likened to a huge watered fortress and had been used as such during the European invasions of the Portuguese Dutch and the British. If not for the treachery of some Sinhala Chiffons, Lanka ‘s hill country would not have fallen into the hands of the British so easily.

The formation of the Hill country is most conducive to the formation of waterfalls in Sri Lanka . The unbroken, mountain wall in the south rises abruptly to a more than 5000’ for a distance of about fifty miles or so thus forming a precipitous nature vary favourable for the formation of waterfalls. This natural feature combined with a number of rivers radiating from the central hills flowing all around to the lowland forming a large number of cascades of which a considerable amount is spectacular to behold. Number of waterfalls thus formed are numerous in proportion to the size of the island. Some of those are really hidden in the elevated mountainous jungles, you could only reach them by foot or through narrow tracks formed by the tea pluckers in the steep tea plantations, most of those falls are confined to the centre, south and east of the hills and a few to the west and many of the falls could be seen in the N’ Eliya and Badulla districts.

Some of the major water falls in Sri lanka with their distinctive features can be named as the following:

- The tallest Bambarakanda Ella (241 metres), that looks as if liquid light is pouring down.

- The grand Diyaluma Waterfall, 171 metres in height.

- The Duhinda Falls that has a number of fables attached to its name.

- The striking Bopath Ella that derives its name from the sacred Bo tree's leaf and is also renowned to be a famous picnic spot.

- The Ravana Ella which associates itself to the great epic, Ramayana and is named after the powerful king of Lanka, Ravana.

- The Saint Claire's which combines two waterfalls the Maha Ella and the Kuda Ella.

- The Kirindi Ella falls that merges itself into the Denewak Ganga.

- The gigantic Galagediyana Ella, which is one of widest falls of Sri Lanka.

- The Devon's Waterfall that gives a peculiar appearance because of its compilation of three cascades.

- The ecstatic Alupolla Ella that lies close to Ratnapura.

- Laxapana (115 metres)

- Rathna falls (111metres)

They are at their fullest capacity during the wet season (except Laxapana which gets rain throughput the year) from October – March when there is heavy rains in the Dry zone. Especially Bambarakanda and Diyaluma depict an extremely attractive panorama with a soft white trail of unbroken mass of foam gliding down gracefully. You should not miss such an eye-catching spectacle,

Main access to Bambarakanda is through a motor able road through Haputale Kalupahana the latter about 22 kms from Balangoda and 32 kms from Wellawaya,

Diyaluma falls fed by Poonagala Oya could be seen from Koslanda – Wellawaya road and is 13 kms from Wellawaya town. There is a legend behind Diyaluma falls and the people believe that this is a work of a god for a young prince to weep forever in this wilderness, whose runaway romance ended in the death of his beloved.

Ravana falls visible from the Ella-Wellawaya road near Udunuwara village is connected with the great Epic Ramayana and the people still believe that Sita, Rama’s wife had been hidden in a cave behind the falls by Ravana, the great King of Lanka who abducted Sita.

Bakers falls gets its name from Samuel Baker who discovered it and this is a good break on the way to the world’s end at Horton Plains.

One of the most famous is the Devon falls about 95 kms high and several cascades joining together to add to its beauty and named after a pioneer coffee planter Devon and could be reached along Hatton – N’Eliya road.

Another magnificent falls is Diyaluma in the Badulla district fed by Badulu Oya, tributary of Mahaweli. This about 63 kms high fall is one of the broadest and its breath taking beauty adds to the dignity of Badulla, and ancient Hill capital and at present the chief city of the Uva Province. One can reach the fall travelling about 5 kms from Badulla along Badulla – Mahiyangana road and follow a footpath for another 2 kms.

Striking Bopath falls is famous for its, shape of a Bo – leaf and falls from a height for about 100’. This unique formation itself adds to its beauty with a perfect heart shaped leaf resembling a leaf of the scared Bo – tree of the Buddhist and getting its name BO – path. This is located about 15 kms. For Colombo – Ratnapura road and seems to be a favourite picnic spot.due to its proximity to Colombo. You will have to take the turn at the Higastenna junction and drive to view this spectacular falls.

Train journey between Nanu Oya and Ambewela gives a good view of the 75 feet high Elgin Falls. When dropping from a precipitous rock face resembles a bridal veil is Bridal Falla, which could be viewed from the winding highway to the Nuwara Eliya plateau. St Clares said to be widets waterfall in Sri Lanka and comprises 2 falls namely Maha Ella, 80 metres in height and in three cascades to Kotamale Falls and Kuda Ella 60 m height falls into the Kotamala Falls too; could be viewed from about 3 kms from Talavakelle. Another beautiful one is Ratna Falls close to Kandy – Mahiyangana main road. Snake – shaped Garandi Falls is at Ramboda – Talawatanne of the Nuwara Eliya district. At the top, two eaterways are combined and falls as one downwards. Claos to this one, there is anothert named ramboda falls and when you travel to Nowara Eliya through Peradeniya, both Falls could be viewed.

Apart from these there are other falls you could easily behold; Alupola Falls 200 feet high is 25 Kms away from Ratnapura in the Wewalwatta village; Lover’s Leap 100 feet high starts as small fountain from the Southern slope of Pidurutalagola, highest mountain in Sri Lanka; Mawanella Falls is in the Iunuwatte village could be reached travelling 35 kms from Nuwara Eliya towards Udapussellawa and another 13 Kms towards Napola gap. Ramboda falls could be viewed from the Ramboda Bazar on the Nuwara Elita – Ramboda road. On of the widest Falls is the Galagediyanna falls is close to Colombo and off Dedigama where the famous Kotaveraha Dagoba is located, 35 feet high waterfalls offers a breath taking sight; Dhuwilli falls situated below the Samanala wewa a reservoir and 27 Kms from Balangodo town and walk about 3 kms after coming to Kaltota.

This spectator gift of nature to Sri Lanka should never be missed when you visit this isle !!!!