Silent cascades of Matale District and some tourist attractions

Matale district is blessed with number of beautiful waterfalls. Waterfalls in Bambaralla and Riverstone are most popular. Following waterfalls are situated closer to Matale town, still have got less attention.

1. Watagoda Falls 1& 2
2. Kopi Ella
3. Opalgala cascades
4. Kumbaloluwa Ella

Watagoda Falls 1 & 2

Directions: Matale->Hulangamuwa->Watagoda

These two waterfalls are situated closer to Watagoda Kalagiri RMW (වටගොඩ කාලගිරි රජමහා විහාරය).There is a small foot pathway starting behind the temple to waterfalls. Soon after, this foot pathway gets disappear and you have to creep through mana bushes. But it is easy to find the directions by sound of the waterfall.

There are two waterfalls situated fairly parallel to each other but separated by a rock. Therefore I like to number them as Watagoda falls 1 & 2 though waterfall book mentions only one waterfall.

Waterfall is fed by Nonakanuwa oya (නෝනා කණුව ඔය) and later it joins with Amban Ganga (අඹන් ගග)..

My friend is showing the direction. If you follow the steps, you can reach old temple

No foot pathway here. Have to creep

First waterfall we met… Around 10-15m height. Watagoda Falls 1.

Watagoda Falls-1. Main waterfall is situated in left side of this waterfall. You can reach there from here

Watagoda Falls-2. It flows in few steps. Total height is 18m

Watagoda Falls-2.

Lower part

Middle part

Upper part

On top of the waterfall

Watagoda Kala Giri cave temple

This cave temple belongs to Gampola era and built by Parakramabahu V (පස්වෙනි පරක්‍රමබාහු රජතුමා). You can see the cave temple and scattered rock carvings here. Sapugasthanna stone inscription (සපුගස්තෑන්නේ සෙල් ලිපිය) was situated closer to this temple and now it can’t be seen. (Buried under paddy fields)

Scattered ruins were made in mid of 20^th century according to Polonnaruwa tradition. But it was not fixed yet.

Entrance

Cave temple

Black rock-“Kala Giri” කාල ගිරි

Cave temple

Moon stone

Stone carvings

Stone carvings

Belongs to Gampola Era

Ancient wooden door

Wooden Buddha statue

Kopi Falls (කෝපි ඇල්ල)

This waterfall can be reached in two directions. The Waterfall book gives the direction from 6^th mile post.

Matale->6^th mile post->Kopi Falls (There is only one bus operated from Matale-CTB stand to 6^th mile post. Otherwise you have to take the bus to Owilikanda (ඕවිලිකන්ද) /Ankumbura (අoකුඹුර) and then get a three wheel from there to 6^th mile post-Rs 150)

OR

Walking up from Watagoda RMW is the easiest approach here. But this is a complete ascend about 1.5-2km.

If you walking from 6^th mile post side you will come across a lot of coffee grown section which caused the name called Kopi Ella. There is a concrete bridge connect the road from Watagoda side and 6^th mile post side, in front of that Kopi falls flow

Kopi Falls

Kopi Falls

After visiting two waterfalls and one temple, we made our return journey to Matale and stopped at Macdowall fort for a while.

Macdowall Fort (මැක්ඩොවෙල් බලකොටුව)

This fort was built by British people in 1803 and named after Major General Hay Macdowall-6^th Commander of British troops in Ceylon. During Matale Rebellion on 28^th July 1848 the fort came under the siege by Sinhalese, but the British forces successfully repulsed the attack. Nine rebellions were executed and buried within Fort.

Today this fort premises is used as the cemetery of Matale. Only the ramparts of the fort and tomb of buried rebellions can be seen there.

Archeology board at Matale-Kandy road via Kumbiyangoda

Ramparts of the fort

Tombs of buried rebellions

Weera Puran Appu archeological site

This is the place where Weera Puran Appu (වීර පුරන් අප්පු) was captured by English army following Matale Rebellion. It is believed this cave was used by Weera Puran Appu to hide. But still this site has not been researched.

It is situated in Matale-Kandy road (Warakamura road) in about 1-2km from Matale side. In left hand side there is a by road called Weera Puran Appu Mawatha (Next to Hindu Kovil).

Reserved area for archeological site

Rocky area where cave is situated

Cave	Inside the cave

When you walk about 50m meters towards Kandy along the main road, you will come across the monument to commemorate where Matale Rebellion was started. I couldn’t get a photo of it.

Another monument is situated in Matale town to commemorate Matale Rebellion.

The monument to commemorate Matale Rebellion.

Few words about Matale Rebellion (Rebellion of 1848)

Matale rebellion was declared on 26^th July 1848 at Dambulla cave temple. Gongalegoda Banda (ගොoගාලේගොඩ බණ්ඩා), Weera Puran Appu (වීර පුරන් අප්පු) and Kudapola Thero (කුඩාපොල හිමි) were leaders of the rebellion against British rulers. But it was not successful and easily controlled by British government within few days.

Later Gongalegoda Banda was sent to Malacca and Weera Puran Appu was shot dead by British army after capturing him.

Aluwihare Temple and Seru Gala(සේරු ගල)

Aluwihare temple is the hall mark of Matale where writing of the Thripitaka (ත්‍රිපිටකය) in Pali occurred during King Walagamba period (වළගම්බා රජතුමා) (1^st century BC). But history of Aluwihare goes back to King Dewanampiyathissa (දේවානම්පියතිස්ස රජතුමා) who built a pagoda and planted a Bo tree.

Monk Buddhagosha (බුද්ධ ඝෝශ හිමි) has visited at Aluwihare in 5^th century A.C.

Seru Gala is situated behind Aluwihare temple. You can walk there from Aluwihare temple (1km) or can drive up to certain extent. Serugala provides a good surrounding view. It has taken 2 years (2008-2010) to finish this Buddha statue on Serugala. This Buddha statue was made in protection posture.

Aluwihare Temple

Some information

Main cave temple

From main cave temple to rest of the temple

Buddhagosha cave

Buddha statue at Serugala

Protection posture of Lord Buddha

Serugala Buddha statue

At foot end

View of Aluwihare temple from Serugala

View of Arangala from Serugala.

View of Matale

View of Knuckles range from Serugala

Wilshire Mountain

Had a day

Opalgala cascades (ඕපල්ගල ඇලි)

Directions: Matale->Naula->Opalgala

Opalgala oya forms two beautiful cascades when it flows at Opalgala village. Opalgala is situated about 12km from Naula. First you have to reach Opalgala oya and then go down with the stream to view two waterfalls.

Where we got down from bus

Opalgala Oya

Surrounding view

Opalgala cascade-1. Have to get down in it’s left side

Opalgala cascade-1

Front view of Opalgala cascade-1

Front view of Opalgala cascade-1.

Then we walked further down in right hand side and reached Opalgala cascade-2.

Opalgala cascade-2

Opalgala cascade-2

View of Arangala on our way back

Amban Ganga

Kumbaloluwa Falls (කුඹල් ඔලුව ඇල්ල)

This 14m tall waterfall is situated at Kumbaloluwa village. You have to get down at last bus stop and walk another 500m to reach the waterfall. Gammaduwa Oya (ගම්මඩුව ඔය)  forms this waterfall.

Kumbaloluwa Falls-front view

Kumbaloluwa Falls-front view

Kumbaloluwa Falls-side view

Kumbaloluwa Falls-on top

Cascades of Matale District

1. Waterfalls at Waththegama-Bambaralla road (some of them belong to Matale district) – (Refer report) Thaliya Watuna Falls, ?Kosgama Falls, Lebanon Estate Falls-1, Lebanon Estate Falls-2, Sari Ella and Jodu Ella

2. Waterfalls at Matale-Illukkumbura-Pallegama road- (Refer report) Bambarakiri Ella, Pitawala Pathana Falls-1, Pitawala Pathana Falls-2, Raththinda Cascade, Wadda Pani Ella, Bambarungahana Ella and Wambatuhena Falls, Sera Ella

3. Waterfalls in Elkaduwa area-(Refer report) Ihala Hunnas Falls, Hunnas Falls, Ashburnham Estate Waterfall, Edanwala Falls, Halkandura Falls

4. Other waterfalls- (Refer this report) Watagoda Falls 1&2, Kopi Ella, Opalgala Falls, Kumbaloluwa Falls, Yatawaththa Biso Ella (Refer report)

Still I couldn’t find: Dumbara Falls, Nandawati Ella, and Balakaduwa Falls and there may be more.

Thanks for reading