Waterfalls from Nuweraeliya to Thalawakale

Glassaugh falls in distance

Nanu Oya Railway Bridge

View of the waterfall under the bridge

This is the maximum view can be taken

The road towards Nanu Oya Falls and latter part of Glassaugh Falls

Glassaugh Tea factory

Nanu Oya Falls (නානු ඔය ඇල්ල)
This 20m tall waterfall flows in 25 steps. It is situated closer to Nanu Oya railway station towards Radella station. It’s origin is from Nanu Oya. The road divides the fall into two parts and lower part can’t be seen properly.

Nanu Oya Falls

Nanu Oya Falls and bridge over it

Nanu Oya Falls

Lower part of Nanu Oya Falls is not seen properly

Just after Nanu Oya Falls, the latter part of Glassaugh falls is situated. We selected the concrete road upwards and again joined with the railway line. Then we walked back towards Nanu Oya station and came across second part of Glassaugh falls in front of the bridge.
Uppermost part of Glassaugh falls can be seen closer to the tea estate. We walked further towards Nanu Oya station and climbed up along the foot pathway came across before next railway bridge.

Glassaugh Falls (ග්ලැසෝ ඇල්ල)
This 20m tall waterfall flows in few steps. It starts from Uda Radella (උඩ රදැල්ල) and Kikiliyamana (කිකිලියාමාන) mountains and joins with Nanu Oya. Nanu Oya joins with Kotmale Oya. Kotmale Oya (කොත්මලේ ඔය) is considered as the main water supplying tributary of Mahaweli River.

Glassaugh Falls-part-3

Old fashioned tea factory-Glassaugh

Glassaugh Falls-part-2

Glassaugh Falls-part-2

Second part of Glassaugh Falls and first part of Glassaugh Falls

The bridge where we observed second part of Glassaugh Falls

Glassaugh Falls-First part

Glassaugh Falls-First part

Glassaugh Falls-First part

Glassaugh Falls

Glassaugh Falls after flowing

Pilot view of railway line

Variation

After viewing Glassaugh Falls, we continued the journey towards Radella station where bridge falls is situated closer to station. It was about 2km journey from Glassaugh falls to Radella station. This stretch of rail walk provides nice view towards Nuweraeliya and Piduruthalagala range, Great Western Mountain and Radella Mountain.

View of Piduruthalagala range and towards Nuweraeliya

Great Western Mountain (2212m)-6th highest mountain in Sri Lanka

Passing the tunnel

Radella Bridge Falls
This waterfall is situated just next to Radella railway station under the bridge. It has few steps and collectively seen as a beautiful cascade. It is about 15-20m tall.

Radella Bridge Falls with steps

Radella Bridge Falls with steps

Radella Bridge Falls with steps

Waiting for Badulla train

We didn’t need to continue railway journey to Thalawakale (තලවකැලේ) station. There was a road to join with Nuweraeliya-Thalawakale road (A7) and we followed it. It was about 1hour walk. We got a bus towards Thalawakale via long route and got down at Dessford estate Catholic Church to view Dessford falls.

Dessford Falls (ඩෙස්ෆෝඩ් ඇල්ල)
Though waterfall book describes group of cascades situated at Dessford estate, I could only view this fall. It is situated right below the Catholic Church. Dessford Falls is about 20m tall.
There may be more falls along the water stream of this waterfall and at the end it joins with Kotmale Oya.

Dessford Falls

Dessford Falls –Front view

Dessford Falls-Note the Catholic Church and road above it.

Dessford Falls –Front view

Dessford Falls-Lateral view

Next couples of waterfalls (Waltream Falls and St.Coomb’s fall) are situated closer to Tea Research Center-Lindula (ලිදුල). We got down at the road towards tea research center at St. Coomb’s estate (3km). Then we hired a three wheeler up to the entrance of research center. There was a road to Waltream Tea factory. We walked along the road and passed Lenthomas region of Waltream estate. Waltream tea factory is a modern factory and there was a den in front of the factory. We walked down along the foot pathway next to den and could hear the flow of Waltream Falls. Then we walked further to right hand side along estate road to view St. Coomb’s falls which is situated right at the water stream.
A hydro power station would be built with aid of the water of St.Coomb’s falls in near future. Therefore it is a vanishing fall.
Waltream Falls (වෝල්ට්රීfම් ඇල්ල)
This 15m tall waterfall is situated behind Waltream tea factory. It flows in few steps and ended up at Kotmale Oya.

Waltream Falls-View through the tea estate

Waltream Falls-Front view

Waltream Falls-Front view

Waltream Falls-Front view

St.Coomb’s Falls
This 6m tall waterfalls is situated closer to Waltream Tea Factory (It produces famous Watawala Tea). Kotmale Oya forms the waterfall and would be disappeared in near future after diversion of water for power station. It seems micro view of Niagara Falls.

St. Coomb’s Falls-Little Niagara

St. Coomb’s fall is a vanishing falls. Water would be diverted above the fall for power generation.

St. Coomb’s fall

St. Coomb’s fall

St. Coomb’s fall.

Then we came to Thalawakale town and went along Hatton road to view next beauty-St.Clair Falls.
St. Clair falls is the most affected waterfall by Upper Kotmale project and they release limited amount of water to the waterfall during day time. There is a view point at Hatton road (about 2km after Thalawakale town) to see this beauty. Below that view point they have built an information center about Upper Kotmale project and a café. Just before the view point, there are steps downwards to get a closer view of the fall.

St.Clair Falls/Bride’s Veil
As it is situated in St. Clair estate, it is called St. Clair Falls. St. Clair flows as a dual waterfall. Upper fall is 80m tall and lower fall is 50m tall. (Bit difficult to view the whole lower falls). This was considered as one of the widest falls in Sri Lanka and Kotmale Oya forms this waterfall.
Ihala Kotmale Power generation project was built by damming Kotmale Oya above St.Clair Falls. As a result this waterfall has become a dry fall and depends on the limited amount of water released by the project during day time

St.Clair Falls-Upper part and half of lower part.

St.Clair Falls

St.Clair Falls

Museum to demonstrate upper Kotmale project

To view the lower half of St.Clair falls, you have to walk down towards Devon cabanas (right hand side road just before Devon view point). Near Devon Cabanas you can have lateral view of St.Clair Falls with full version of lower part.

Lateral view to demonstrate lower part of St.Clair-similar to Devon Falls

Lateral view of St.Clair

After enjoying the beauty of St.Clair Falls, we walked towards Hatton town. Just before 84 km post of A7 road we could view a waterfall under the bridge. Sri has named this waterfall as Dimbula-Pathana (දිබුල පතන ඇල්ල) fall. I have noticed a waterfall named as St.Andrew’s cascade at the information center of Upper Kotmale project. The lady who was working there told it would be seen when you walk towards Devon from St.Clair. So is it St.Andrew’s cascade? But waterfall book mention it’s height as 3m which doesn’t tally with the height of real cascade. But the model at information center shows the cascade more than 3m height.

Dimbula-Pathana Falls/? St.Andrew’s Cascade
This 30-40m tall waterfall can be seen under the bridge at 84km post at A7 road. To get the full view of waterfall you have to get down along the tea estate just before the bridge. Or you can come down along the road towards Devon cabanas and passing it.
As this fall has few turns, it is difficult to get a full view.

Dimbula pathana Falls

Dimbula pathana Falls

Dimbula pathana Falls

Dimbula pathana Falls

Dimbula pathana Falls

Devon Cabanas

Our next target was another famous beauty called Devon Falls. There are three view points to view Devon Falls. One is in front of Devon Bungalow. Second one is just before Mlesna Tea Castle. From Mlesna tea castle to Pathana junction-පතන හoදිය (Where the road divides to Thalawakale and Nawalapitiya) it can be viewed from many points. At Pathana junction you can see the entrance of a Kovil. When you go down along that road, you can get a nice front view of Devon Falls. The view of Devon is much better than classic view points.
Devon Falls (ඩෙවෝන් ඇල්ල)
This 97m tall waterfall is formed by a tributary of Kotmale Oya. As it is situated at Devon tea estate, it is called Devon Falls.

Height of Devon Falls-View point in front of Devon Bungalow.

Devon Falls

Devon Falls

Live painting of Devon Falls

Devon Falls

Different view of Devon in front of Mlesna Tea Center.

Different view of Devon in front of Mlesna Tea Center.

Mlesna Tea Castle.

Devon-lateral view

Devon-Front view.

Devon-Front view.

From Pathana junction we got the bus towards Nawalapitiya and got down at Mount Vernon Tea Estate. (After about 4km drive). Then walked down along right hand side estate road and reached the junction towards Poonakanda waterfall.

Poonkandha Falls (පූනකන්ද ඇල්ල)
This waterfall is situated at Mount Vernon (මවුන්ට් වර්නන්) estate. There is a board mentioning it’s name as Poonakanda Falls. It can be seen from the estate road and can reach it’s base by the foot pathway. (Must be careful)
Poonakanda Falls is about 24m tall and flows through the line houses of Mount Vernon estate.

Directions to Poonkandha Falls

View over tea bushes

Poonkandha Falls

Poonkandha Falls

Poonkandha Falls

I have searched for other waterfall which is situated at Mount Vernon tea estate. (Fortunately Ashan was contactable at that time). According to him it can be seen from the tea estate but locals didn’t know it though I showed the picture. Then we came back to Thalawakale town and went along Thalawakale-Pundalu Oya road.

Then we reached Pundalu Oya town and walked towards Dunsinane Falls. It is situated 1-2km from Pundalu Oya town towards Nuweraeliya. On the way to Dunsinane falls we were able to view another road side cascade at the last bend before the water fall.

Road side beauty towards Dunsinane Falls

Road side beauty

Dunsinane Falls/Pundalu Oya Ella Falls (පුන්ඩලු ඔය ඇල්ල) /Dunsinan-Sheen Falls
This 100m tall waterfall is situated closer to Pundalu Oya (පුන්ඩලු ඔය) town towards Nuwara Eliya. It is formed by Pundalu Oya and later it joins with Kotmale Oya. Nuwara Eliya-Pundalu Oya road with the bridge divides the waterfall into two sections: Upper and lower parts. Upper falls (about 30m height) can be easily seen from the main road. To view the lower section (about 70m height), you need to get down from either left or right hand sides of it.
As Dunsinan estate is situated in one side and Sheen estate is situated in other side of the fall, it is called Dunsinan-Sheen Falls/Dunsinane Falls.

Dunsinane Falls-Upper Part

Dunsinane Falls-Upper part and the Kovil next to it

God statues

Dunsinane Falls

Dunsinane Falls-Lower part

Dunsinane Falls-Lower part

Then we came to Nuwara Eliya town and got our direction to next cascade called Windy corner Falls. Windy corner falls is also another road side cascade situated Nuwara Eliya-Nanu Oya road at black pool area.
We got down at black pool junction and walked towards Nanu oya about 250m. Just before Hotel Silver Falls, windy corner falls can be viewed. It is difficult to reach the base of the falls.

Windy Corner Falls
This 12m waterfall is situated closer to Nuwara Eliya-Nanu Oya road at black pool junction. But it is difficult to get a proper view and reach the base of the fall.

This is the maximum view I could get

At top of Windy Corner Falls

Windy Corner Falls

*Angutumiti Ella (අගුටුමිටි ඇල්ල) -According to waterfall book this 3m tall but fairly wide fall is situated at Holy rood estate closer to Thalawakale town. I have noted such a wide and short fall at Thalawakale-Pundalu Oya road closer to an army camp. This Might be Angutumiti Falls. I couldn’t get down from the bus to get a photo of it.