Cascades around sacred peak

There are beautiful cascades on our way to Sri Pada in Hatton road and around Hatton, which gets activate during rainy season. At the end of the trip I was so happy as I have visited there at correct time. This was kind of long awaited trip for me but was postponed in few times.

We got Badulla night mail from Pettah and reached Hatton around 2 am with chilling cold. We had to wait till 6 am to get the first bus to Nallathanniya from Hatton bus stand. (Unlike season). First we climbed Sri Pada till Seetha Gangula and then came down with viewing waterfalls in detail.

Along Hatton Sri Pada pathway you can view number of cascades (5+) during rainy seasons. All these waterfalls exist throughout the year except Sri Pada cascades which are only visible in rainy season.
The order of cascades from Seetha Gangula to Nallathanniya:
1. Seetha Gangula Falls-1
2. Yaka Andu Ella
3. Sri Pada cascades
4. Seetha Gangula Falls-2
5. Rajamale Falls/ Sandagala Falls

Crossing the bridge at Gangulathanna. This is a positive sign for waterfall hunting

Seetha Gangula Falls 1 (සීත ගගුල ඇල්ල-1)
9 m tall this beautiful waterfall can be seen at Seetha Gangula. It has few steps and only the last step can be seen to the Sri Pada pathway. To view the major part of the cascade you have to go up along the water stream. It should be done cautiously.

Latter part of Seetha Gangula Falls-1

Seetha Gangula Falls-1

Major part of Seetha Gangula Falls-1

Major part of Seetha Gangula Falls-1

Major part of Seetha Gangula Falls-1

Yaka Andu Ella (යකා ඇඩූ ඇල්ල)
This 60 m tall waterfall can be seen in right slope of the Sri Pada Mountain after Sri Pada cascades. It becomes thin in dry season. A devil has cried when Lord Buddha placed his foot print on top of the mountain. This waterfall originated by those tears.
There is a foot pathway just above Siddhalepa Rest point in same side to get the closer view of the waterfall. Actually this foot pathway goes to a meditation Kuti, but you can have a clear view from there.

Misty view of Yaka Andu Ella

Misty view of Yaka Andu Ella

View of Yaka Andu Falls from Peace Pagoda

Japanese Peace Pagoda

Closer view of Yaka Andu Falls

Closer view of Yaka Andu Falls ….This was taken after walking that foot pathway

The bend at 3km post of Nallathanniya-Sri Pada pathway

Green parapet

Aerial view of Yaka Andu Ella…just above Peace pagoda. Picture was taken in my Sri Pada off season visit.

Aerial view of Yaka Andu Ella…

Sri Pada cascades (ශ්රී‍ පාද ඇලි)
There are six cascades falling from right slope of Sri Pada Mountain. These cascades are coming from 75 m height and can be seen only in rainy season. Sri Pada cascades are visible after Makara Thorana and clearly visible near Peace Pagoda.
There is another waterfall falling from left slope of Sri Pada peak. This is also in this group and can be seen just below peace pagoda. (When you follow other road). It is bit difficult to get a clear picture of this beautiful waterfall with forest coverage.

Four cascades out of six….

Individual waterfall of Sri Pada cascades

Individual waterfall of Sri Pada cascades

Five of Sri Pada Cascades

All six in one page

Enjoying the beauty…

Beautiful Hatton-Sri Pada pathway

View of cascades at peace pagoda

Fainted view of Sri Pada cascade flowing from left slope of the mountain

Fainted view of Sri Pada cascade flowing from left slope of the mountain

Seetha Gangula Falls-2 (සීත ගගුල ඇල්ල-2)
Seetha Gangula Falls-2 is situated just below the red iron bridge. You have to get down into Seetha Gangula via tea patch and go up steam for a while to visualize the waterfall. 30 m tall this beautiful waterfall has four steps.

On top of Seetha Gangula Falls-2

Seetha Gangula Falls-2

Seetha Gangula Falls-2

Seetha Gangula Falls-2

Seetha Gangula Falls-2

Rajamale Falls/ Sandagala Falls (රාජමලේ ඇල්ල /සදගල ඇල්ල)
Rajamale Falls is 45 m tall and can be seen in right hand side just before Makara Thorana. The water stream origins from Rajamale tea estate and Sandagala forest patch. To get a closer view, one has to go along the tea patch just before Makara Thorana.

Ruvinda is showing the pathway to Rajamale Falls

Rajamale Falls/Sandagala Falls

Rajamale Falls/Sandagala Falls

Full picture of Rajamale Falls/Sandagala Falls

Rajamale Falls/Sandagala Falls

Closer view of the fall

Closer view of the fall

Closer view of the fall

He was a good companion for us throughout the journey

After enjoying cascades along Hatton-Sri Pada pathway we came down to Nallathanniya. Our next target was cascades at Moray and Peak field Estate. Those waterfalls were
1. Gatmore Falls
2. Peak field falls (Main)
3. Peak Field Falls (Mini)
Then another two road side beauties
4. Mohini Falls
5. Mulgama Upper Falls

We hired a three-wheeler from the junction where Moray estate road starts. Road condition was not good after awhile. At one point fishing hut road joins with the main road in it’s left hand side. We passed the tea factory and followed the downward concrete road soon after the factory. There is a road starts on left hand side with green colour gate with a sharp bend. (After about 100m from the factory). This is the entrance to the peak field estate and could see the board mentioning it. The gate was opened and few estate workers were there.

Directions at Moray estate

Some notices

Passing Moray tea factory

Entrance to waterfalls. Note green colour gate is opened.

Soon we entered the estate we were directed along left hand side foot pathway through tea bushes. We were facing Maussakale reservoir and able to notice Gatmore falls in far.

Gatmore Falls (ගාට්මෝර් ඇල්ල)
This waterfall is 40 m tall and fallen from Dothurugala Mountain to the Maussakale reservoir. This is the main feeding flow of Maussakale reservoir, called Maskeliya Oya. There are more feeding falls situated above this waterfall collectively called as Gatmore cascades. Two of them can be seen far away above the fall.

When you go down along Moray estate towards the reservoir you can see Gatmore falls in far. One has to go through Moray tea estate and cross over the fence to get the closer view of the waterfall. There is a small space on side of the fence to cross. A foot pathway runs along the bank of the reservoir and tea estate. At one point you can enter the reservoir and can get a good view of the waterfall.

Going down along Moray estate towards the reservoir

Directions and crossing over fence

Gatmore Falls

Gatmore Falls

Gatmore Falls. It has four steps.

Gatmore Falls

Gatmore Falls

Top of Gatmore Falls

Top of Gatmore Falls

Accessory falls of Gatmore falls

After viewing Gatmore Falls we continued along the foot pathway through the tea estate. It descended into the forest patch and sometimes foot pathway was not clear. After about 1 km walk we heard and then saw next beauty-Peak Field Falls (main). The foot pathway got it’s right hand turn when it touches Maussakale reservoir in front of Peak Filed Falls. Then we crossed newly built bridge where Peak Filed Falls (Mini) could be seen. We continued along the foot pathway and turned left to reach the massive beauty-Peak Filed Falls (Main)/ Moray Falls. There is another road coming from tea estate to join closer to bridge.

It was fantastic to view massive Peak Filed Falls at her foot.

Peak Filed Falls (Main) / Moray Falls (old name)/Sri Pada Falls/Adam’s Peak Falls (පීක් ෆීල්ඩ් ඇල්ල/මරේ ඇල්ල /ශ්රීPපාද ඇල්ල)

This 10m (this might be wrong I think) tall waterfall directly flows into Maussakale reservoir. It was named as Moray Falls/ Sri Pada Falls previously and now called as Peak Filed Falls as it is situated in Peak Filed Estate.

First glance of Peak Field Falls

Peak Field Falls (Main)

Peak Filed Falls (Main)-Distance view

Distance view of Peak Field Waterfall

Peak Filed Falls (Main) at her base

It was a surprise for him

Complete view of Peak Filed Falls (Main)

Peak Filed Falls (Mini)
This waterfall is also situated in Peak Filed Estate closer to famous Peak Filed Falls. It might be tall 10-15m. It has few steps and bit difficult to capture all together. Seems this waterfall becomes thin in dry season.

Peak Filed Falls (Mini)

Peak Filed Falls (Mini)-clear view

Peak Filed Falls (Mini)

Peak Filed Falls (Mini)

Smiley faces-captured on our way back

Our next beauty was the road side cascade called Mohini Falls. We luckily got a three wheeler on our way back and got down in front of the waterfall. Mohini falls was pouring with water.

Mohini Falls (මෝහිනී ඇල්ල)
This road side water fall is situated along Hatton-Nallathanniya road just 2km before Nallathanniya town. It is about 30 m tall and flows like bunch of hair of a woman. Therefore it is called Mohini Falls.

Mohini falls in full flow

Mohini Falls

Mohini Falls

Mohini Falls

Mohini Falls-Upper part

Then we walked another one bend towards Maskeliya and captured Mulgama Upper Falls through Pines woods. We didn’t attempt to go closer to her due to time factor.

Mulgama Upper Falls (මුල්ගම උඩ ඇල්ල)
This waterfall is situated closer to Mohini Falls. It is about 5-10m tall and can be seen in left hand side through Pines wood one bend before Mohini Falls. It also flows to Maussakale reservoir.

Mulgama Upper Falls-distance view through Pines woods

Mulgama Upper Falls

Mulgama Upper Falls-Closer view

Mulgama Upper Falls

It finishes our first day of waterfall hunting and successfully visited 10+ waterfalls within a day. We got Hatton bus and got down at to reach our overnight accommodation.

Day 02
Early morning we reached Hatton town and did a small rail walk to view the largest tea bush of Sri Lanka. Then we came back to Hatton town and got the bus to Diyagalla junction where road divides to Ginigathhena and Norton bridge.

Diyagalla Falls (දියගල්ල ඇල්ල)
Mahawali River makes this 20m tall waterfall at Diyagalla junction. Nowadays water has been diverted for hydro power production and dry waterfall can be seen.

They have diverted water well above the waterfall and it makes dry waterfall. But additional water stream in side creates another waterfall. We walked along the road towards Mount Jean estate to view this process and came back to main road.
Then we walked down along A grade road to Diyagalla junction to view full version of the waterfall with it’s third part.

They have built a mini dam over river and water is diverted.

Due to diversion of Mahaweli River it made dry waterfall. But additional waterfall can be seen on side of the main fall.

Side portion of Diyagalla Falls…now it has become the main part.

Going down along A grade road to see full version of the fall. Third part of the fall also seen

Diyagalla Falls

Diyagalla Falls

Third part of Diyagalla Falls

Scenery over there

Then we got a bus from Diyagalla junction to Nallathanniya via and got down at 4th mile post (I can remember it as 4th mile post) to view the famous beauty. First we viewed Lakshapana from it’s base and then got on to it’s top. This is my second visit to Lakshapana and beauty was same as previous visit.

The board mentions 2km from the junction to Lakshapana Falls but distance seems more than that. We hired a three wheeler to the foot pathway towards the base of Lakshapana Falls. It was a well paved pathway with steps and distance may be 500m to the base of the waterfall.
After enjoying the beauty we came back to and got down to the top of the waterfall. There is another foot pathway to the top of the waterfall but was not clear as previous one. It starts just in front of office of Lakshapana Estate.

Lakshapana waterfall (ලක්ෂපාන ඇල්ල)
This massive waterfall of 115m height is formed by Maskeliya Oya after forming Maussakale reservoir. This is one of the first waterfalls used for hydropower generation in Sri Lanka. Earlier it was named as Waddahiti Ella (වැද්දාහිටි ඇල්ල) and Wadihiti Ella (වැඩිහිටි ඇල්ල).
King Nissankamalla has stooped at this waterfall on his way to worship Sri Pada. He has lightened one hundred thousand of oil lamps (Lakshayak) here for God Saman. It is one reason for the Name of the waterfall.
Other reason is it flows over rock slab with bronze (ලාක්ෂා) mixed.
It is the 8th highest waterfall of Sri Lanka.

View of Lakshapana when we descend to it’s base

View of Lakshapana when we descend to it’s base

View of Lakshapana when we descend to it’s base

Lakshapana Falls

Lakshapana Falls

Lakshapana falls in it’s full view

Lakshapana falls in it’s full view

Top of the waterfall

The foot pathway starts just in front of this gate

Maskeliya Oya before forms the waterfall

The rock slab….

Where Lakshapana Falls drops

Lakshapana valley…view from top

The base of the fall

Makara Thorana of Sri Pada was built by CEB as a wow for Norton Bridge power station. This can be seen at side of Makara Thorana

It was declared open by Hon. Prime minister D.S.Senanayake at 1950.

Seven virgins….last capture of the day

It finished our 2days waterfall hunting around sacred peak. Though Abradeen and some minor falls were in my list I had to postpone them for next visit due to time factor.

Thanks for reading