The country is home to more than 100 waterfalls and rivers which at the end of the day stops at the Indian Ocean. Waterfalls are mostly located in the Hill Country. Some of the waterfalls are man-made but still doesn't stop short of being breath-takingly beautiful. Unknown waterfalls are still present, those that weren't officially discovered. Most of the waterfalls are very difficult to find because of the dense forests and are sometimes totally inaccessible. Only a handful of waterfalls are used to bathe in, whereas the others are too dangerous to do so.
Bambarakanda Fall
Bambarakanda waterfall is the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. Situated in the hill town of Kalupahana near Haldumulla in the south eastern slopes of central hills. The area around Bambarakanda is rich with scenic beauty, rugged terrain, waterfalls, tea fields and cool climate making it an attractive destination for nature lovers. Best months to visit Bambarakanda are from March through May. During this period the chance of rain is very low but water is plentiful in streams and waterfalls. From June to September it will be very dry and windy. From November through February chances of rain is very high.
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Diyaluma Fall
famous Diyaluma falls which is only 220 metres but thought to be the tallest waterfall 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. Due to the geological formation of Sri Lanka, the central highlands are surrounded by peneplains, plateaus and valleys. Rainfall sends a large volume of water hurtling down the precipitous edges of the highland mass.
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Bakers Fall
The 22m Baker’s Falls (original name sinhala : Gonagala Ella) is noted for the tremendous noise created by water pounding the large rock formation at its foot. Forming part of the Belihul Oya, it is surrounded by copious giant ferns. Baker’s Falls derives its name from Sir Samuel Baker, a British man who discovered it in 1845. However, Baker is also credited with the short-sighted achievement of having shot 50 elephant, five deer and two buffaloes nearby. Despite the presence of warning signs (that are often removed by confident bathers), the fall, and more specifically the 12m death trap of a plunge pool, has claimed numerous lives. on the Horton Plains (Nuwara Eliya District), Baker’s Falls is accessible from Pattipola or Ohiya town. From Pattipola take the well-signed footpath and either follow it to World’s End and loop back to Baker’s Falls or take the right fork at the beginning of the path straight there. Immediately before the fall, there is a steep, root-strewn bank, which can be difficult to negotiate, especially in wet weather.
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Ramboda Falls
This unique and beautiful sight can be seen at the Pussellawa area of Nuwara Eliya, at the Ramboda Pass. The Ramboda Falls in Sri Lanka or Ramboda Ella or Puna Ella as these falls are called is created from Puna Oya, a tributary of Kothmale Oya. It makes a twin with Dunsinane Falls which is created by Pundalu Oya, also a tributary of Kothmale River, and combines at the base to form a Y shape.
Height : 109 m | Ranking in Sri Lanka : 11th Tallest. Water Volume : During normal periods of the year Dunsinane Falls which falls on the right receives more volume of water than Ramboda falls. However during periods of drought the role is reversed as Dunsinane Falls, whose tributary passes through farming lands before falling, has less water coming through compared to Ramboda Falls whose tributary passes through a forest reserve. In this case, instead of Ramboda Falls having more water it is more due to Dunsinane receiving less water while Ramboda remains the same. |
Ravana Fall
In the misty mountains of tropical Sri Lanka, the wide Ravana falls gushes down a height of 82 feet falling from an oval concave rock. It takes the form of a drooping areca flower during the peak season of its water flow, but its size is reduced dramatically during the dry season. Located in the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary in Ella, this waterfall is the source of many legends and secrets. And Ravana Falls is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Sri Lanka. This popular falls has its roots connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. The Ravana Falls has been named after the brawny daemon, Ravana. According to the epic, it is said that after kidnapping Sita, Ravana, the king of Sri Lanka had hidden her at the caves behind this waterfall. The cave came to be known as Ravana Ella cave. The place was at that time thick afforested region in the midst of wilderness. It is believed that Rama’s queen wandered around this place while she was confined. She also bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from these Ravana Falls.
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St. Clair's Fall
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 bathers 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.
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Dunhinda Fall
“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.
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Sera Ella Fall
Sera Ella Waterfall in Sri Lanka is a waterfall located in Pothatawela village, a place near Laggala in Matale District’s, Sri Lanka. It is formed by the waters of Kitul Canal which runs down Kaudagammana peak and Hunumadala River which flows from the mountains of Gonamada and Deyuthu Gammmaduwa combining to form the Puwakpitiya River, a waterway which joins Thelegam River to create the waterfall at its point of joining. The magnificient waterfall separates into two sections as it falls down the rockface, both falling down a height of 10m and which is visible from the Dumbara Jungle.
The waterfall receives water the whole year round, and is at full flow during the months of the monsoons; that is, between November and March. The waterfall gets its name from the species of fish that lives in its waters, locally known as ‘Sera’. |
Lover's Leap Fall
This beautiful 30m high Lovers Leap fall in Nuwara Eliya is incipient of the streams and brooks of Sri Lanka’s highest mountain, the Piduruthalagala (2524m). It flows over hard granite ledges and the water is collected in a tank and used for drinking. In dry spells, the flow is languid The fall is said to derive its name from the tragic tale of a prince, who while hunting in the jungle, lost his way. He was rescued by a beautiful damsel, and the two became inseparable lovers. But the match was not to the liking of the prince’s subjects, so the two decided to immortalise their love by leaping from the top of the fall to their death.
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Devon Fall
With a peculiar appearance imparted to it by its formation in three continuous cascades this waterfall christened “Devon Falls” pours down to the valley beneath not a long distance away from its brother the “St. Clairs”. On the main road opposite to it there is situated a modern tea centre finding its abode thankful to this “Veil ( Bridal ) of the Vale ( i.e. valley )”. Driving from Colombo, the capital, via Avissawella one suddenly catches this unearthly sight which is to be soon enhanced by the grandeur of the “St. Clairs”. This beauty too is endangered by the above-mentioned power plant beast.
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