Srilanka is blessed with 103 rivers and streams radiating from the central hills, rushing down rocky precipices forming a number of roaring waterfalls of various shapes and heights, all ending up loosing the momentum at the Indian Ocean
Here are some of the most picturesque waterfalls
Dhuwili Ella
Dhuwili Ella of Balangoda Sri Lanka is a very high and a beautiful waterfall in Sri Lanka. Dhuwili Ella is at Kalthota which is Hambegambuwa road of Balangoda. There are about 27 kilometeres from Balangoda town and you have to walk 3kms from Kalthota. Dhuwili Ella is situated at below of Samanala Wawa Wally. Samanala Wawa means Wally which is like a butterfly.
Dunhinda
"Dunhinda" is one of the mostly spoken-about waterfalls in Sri Lanka. Although she couldn't come even close to the highest waterfalls of the planet in height she rivals many of them when it comes to the natural beauty that it bestows on the environment . Situated about 2 km distance from the main road which runs to Taldena from the remote city Badulla in the Uva Province this is easily accesible and frequently visited by local and foreign visitors. On the way can be seen the "Kuda Dunhinda" ( "Kuda" means small in Sinhala ) which is the prologue to its mighty brother . In native tongue "Dun" means mist or vapour which is the ideal explanation for a waterfall creating wreathes of mist on its way down.
Ravana Ella
Situated in the Dry zone off Welimada this beautiful water fall is a continuous stream of life to the villagers. It provides much needed water for the cultivation of vegetables, their main income. The life-line role of this tiny, yet beautiful waterfall is seen when we first arrived the village. While the surrounding mountains were dirty and dry this particular mountain was greenish and cultivated. According to villages
the water of this stream has to be protected from smugglers day and night and for that the
y have " a shift duty". It is 40m (131ft) tall and in the Uduhawara village
.
Bambarakanda Ella
Bambarakande is taller than the famous Diyaluma falls which is only 220 metres but thought to be the tallest waterf
all in
Sri Lanka. The Diyaluma or Diya Haluma collects its water from the Poonagala Oya in the vicinity of Koslanda and Wellawaya. Located six miles from Koslanda
and 13 miles from Wellawaya, its waters originate from the Mahakande Pass in Koslanda. You can see this waterfall if you stop a while on your way to Haputale and detour.
Baker's Waterfalls'
The Baker's Falls in the Horton Plains gets its water from the Belihul Oya. It is close to World's End. The icy waters glisten in the sunshine amid a backdrop of mountain terrain and deep valleys and the patna through which you traverse give it contrast. If you are lucky you may see the rare black monkey and rhododendrons in bloom.
Discovered by Sir Samuel Baker
and a good stopover on your way to the World's end.
Bopath Ella
"Bopath Ella", not like many of the others of her kind , finds her abode in a busy surroundi
ng in the village called Devipahala off Kuruwita on A4 High Level road close to
Ratnapura. Being within 3 hours driving distance from the capital, it thus claims the honour of having the highest turn-over of enthusiasts seeking respite from the grimy and monotonous town life .Nevertheless, it has the notorious reputation of devouring its visitors off and on who , attracted by the surroundings ,indulge in over-enjoyment .Here again, the falls take the shape of a "Bo" leave ( "Bo" tree is a sacred tree here ) from which the name has been derived.
St.Clair's Waterfall
These majestic "St.Clairs" falls are close to the main road from Avissawella to Nuwara-Eliya and can well be seen from the Main Line rail track close to Talawakelle. It falls down in two cascades and is an inviting site for regular ba
thers because it is fairly easily reacheable from a footpath ( actually there are many ) downhill through greeny tea shrubbery. Named after a British colonist, these are one of two waterfalls threatened by a proposed hydro-power scheme in the area.
Hunnas Falls
A man made waterfall close to Kandy, the Last Kingdom of Sri Lanka.
It is about 60m (200ft) in height and plunges over a steep rock from an artificial lake made by the famous "Hunnas Tourist Hotel".
Adam's peak (Seetha Gangula) Falls
Situated at the southern corner of the "Maskeliya oya" tank and flowing from the sacred Adam's peak (Sri Pada) mountains. It is about 10m (33ft) height.
The name in sinhala means Cold river.
Ramboda Ella Falls
A gigantic water fall having three parts and very close to the 53km post along the above A-5 trunk road. The first part is above the road in the jungle (100m), second part is close to the road (3m) and the third part (100m)is below the road.
Traveler should descends to the "Ramboda basin", where the famous "Ramboda Inn" situated from where he can see the whole fall. When we were there the upper part was covered with a fog and what you see in the picture was the third part. If look carefully, one can notice a bus on the bridge over the A-5 road at the top of the photo.
