Exploring Diyaluma waterfall and trekking from Haldummulla (900m) to Idalgashinna (1615m)

Diyaluma waterfall is considered as the 3rd highest waterfall in Sri Lanka which is situated at A4 road in between Koslanda and Wellawaya. Most of the travelers who come to this area enjoy the beauty of this waterfall but only few of them know they can go to top of the waterfall. I have been there about 4 years ago and thought to revisit at top of Diyaluma waterfall.

We departed from Colombo early morning and reached Beragala around 9am. When we got down at Beragala there was a bus waiting for Wellawaya. Latter part of A4 road from Beragala to Wellawaya was not in good condition. From Koslanda we got a trishaw to first visit at Meeriyabadda (මීරියබැද්ද) Land slide site and then Diyaluma waterfall.

Meeriyabadda Land slide site
Meeriyabadda drew outside attention due to recent land side incidence happened on 29th Octomber 2014.
You will come across Koslanda-Meeriyabadda road about 1km before Koslanda town from Beragala side. You can reach the site after driving about 3-4kms.

Koslanda-Meeriyabadda land slide site

What remained

Following land slide

Following land slide

Following visit at Meeriyabadda land slide site, we came to Koslanda town back and drove up along Koslanda-Punagala (පූනාගල) road to reach upper part of Diyaluma waterfall.

Diyaluma waterfall (දියලුම ඇල්ල)

Diyaluma waterfall is the 3rd highest waterfall of Sri Lanka with 171m height. It is originated from Punagala Oya. The name Diyaluma came from “Diyahaluma”-දිය හැලුම. Meaning of Diyahaluma is water-gush.

Punagala Oya (පූනාගල ඔය) flows to Koslanda basin after making Diyaluma falls and joins with Kuda oya (කුඩා ඔය) to form Kirindi Oya (කිරිදි ඔය).

Punagala Oya creates few cascades before Diyaluma Falls. Kudalu Falls is one of them.

Diyaluma waterfall is situated 6km from Koslanda and 14km from Wellawaya in A4 road.

Kudalu Falls (කූඩලු ඇල්ල)

This 20m tall waterfall is originated from Punagala Oya just before Kudalu Oya.

When you drive along Koslanda-Punagala road, just before 4km post you will come across a bend. We entered into the Mana patch there. According to villagers and three wheel driver there was a foot pathway to top of Diyaluma and Kudalu Oya from here, but no traces now.

We were instructed to go down to reach Punagala oya and cross it to opposite direction. Then we walked along the bank of Punagala Oya and reached top of Kudalu Oya.

We went down in right hand side of Kudalu Oya through the forest patch to reach the base of the waterfall. After enjoying the beauty of Kudalu oya we walked further down to reach the top of Diyaluma waterfall.

On top of Diyaluma waterfall you can view A4 road, Punagala Oya and Koslanda plateau.

Direction-where we entered to Mana patch, just before the bend at 4th km post.

Reaching Punagala oya

Punagala Oya had less water

Creation of shallow basins

Nice place to have a bath

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On top of Kudalu Falls

Kudalu Falls

Lateral view

Another view

Different way to watch the waterfall

Shapes

Reaching top of Diyaluma Falls

From top of Diyaluma Waterfall-Koslanda-Wellawaya road A4

Diyaluma Inn-zoomed view

Black arrow-A4 from Koslanda, Green arrow-Punagala Oya following Diyaluma falls, Blue arrow-A4 towards Wellawaya. – Click Image to Enlarge

Gush of water

Bridge over Punagala Oya

Just before falls

Our next plan was to getting down the waterfall in it’s left hand side. We followed the foot pathway on left side of top of the waterfall and after some distance entered into the forest.

It was bit adventurous exercise to get down through the forest with acute steepness. With the help of bushes and some creepers we came to bottom of Diyaluma waterfall. After having a bath there we got a bus to Beragala to wind up day 01.

Little bit of climbing before get into the forest

Kudalu Falls- Full view

Adventurous

Adventurous

Where flow starts

Diyaluma-side view

Reaching the road

Reaching the road

Classic Diyaluma

Diyaluma-Full phase

Diyaluma-Full phase

Day 02  

My initial plan was to climb Beragala Mountain on that day. Therefore we stayed the night at Halatuthanna at my friend’s place. But this day was gloomy and it rained intermittently. So it was not a good time for hiking.

Then we decided to trek from Halatuthanna to Idalgashinna station.

We had a late start from Halatuthanna due to rain. We bypassed the regular road from Halatuthanna to Haldummulla and followed the foot pathway with acute ascend. Then we reached Haldummulla and crossed Colombo-Badulla road. Next part was another climbing till Need Wood tea factory though Pines trees. Once you reach flat section at Need wood estate you can visit at Haldummulla old protégées fort. (Last time I went along different route to reach there but this is easier).

Then we clarified our way from estate workers and climbed through the tea estate till Idalgashinna station. Later rain has gone away and surrounding was clear.

We got the train to Haputhale and finished our journey.

Trekking from Halatuthanna to Idalgashinna

View towards Wellawaya and Koslanda on our way towards Haldummulla

Little bit clear view

Crossing Colombo-Badulla road. You can notice Archeology board showing Old Protégées fort. Get the cement foot step in opposite side.

Gloomy Pines forest

Haldummulla catholic church-Zoomed

Framed Colombo-Badulla road

At junction- Black arrow shows our way from Haldummulla, red arrow shows the direction to fort and Yellow arrow shows the way we followed.

Need wood tea factory

Road from Halatuthanna to Idalgashinna-There is a bus service also.

Directions following Need Wood factory. Black arrow from Need wood side and red arrow shows Idalgashinna road. Green arrow shows the way we followed.

Get the short cut shown by black arrow

The way through tea estate

Balathuduwa, Gommolliya and Wangedigala were seen in our left hand side at back drop of Hortain plains.

Surrounding view

Another junction

Reaching last set of line houses

Summary of the journey. Our starting point shows by black star-approximate.

Fainted Idalgashinna Mountain

Another landmark

We came across nice summer house closer to Idalgashinna. It might provide good view in a clear day.

View towards Halatuthanna and Haldummulla from summer hut.

Samanala Wewa reservoir

Line houses.

Reaching Idalgashinna

Idalgashinna-highest railway station in Sri Lankan railway line. Waiting to celebrate Independent day

Click Map to Enlarge

Two maps get together- Black star shows starting point at Halatuthanna and blue star shows end point at Idalgashinna. Red line shows our pathway to Idalgashinna. – Click Map to Enlarge

Thanks for reading