Adventurous journey to Rathna Ella from Velangolla Pathana

Rathna Ella is one of beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka, situated at Rathna Ella village-Hasalaka. It has 111m height and governs for 9th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. Hasalaka Oya which starts from Knuckles range creates this majestic falls. Usual way to visit Rathna Ella is coming from Hasalaka and walking along the canal road to the base of the falls. Ashan has done a walk along from Ududumbara to Rathna Falls along Hasalaka Oya. Chamara and I wanted to do it in new way: Velangolla Pathana to Rathna Ella.
Velangolla Pathana is a plain situated at eastern slope of Knuckles massif with 1000m height. My first visit to Velangolla Pathana was marked by memorable journey to Yahangala. I have just crossed the Pathana when I went to Kehelpothdoruwegala. I have to be there for the third time to visit Yahangala. Chamara and I deliberately want to watch Elephants roaming at Velangolla pathana in next visit. All these visits made us so familiar to Velangolla Pathana.
The first day, we planned to visit Velangolla Pathana to Rathna Falls was a rainy and gloomy.

First attempt to Reach Rathna Falls from Velangolla Pathana
There was a mist when we get down at Ududumbara but decided to go ahead with the hike as we didn’t have second plan for the day. It was drizzling when we reached Pathana and mist was covering major structures: Yahangala and Kehelpothdoruwegala. Again we decided to go ahead with initial plan till we come across an elephant within thick mist at Pathana. The elephant was eating at Pathana and we didn’t notice it till we reached very close. The distance between Elephant and us was about 10m. This made us to realize the risk of walking in mist where you can’t see distance. As weather is also not good, we turned back and followed the foot pathway to reach Udakumbura village and then reached Kalugala. It descended through thick Mana bushes sometimes they were grown above my head.

Starting the journey at mist weather

Close up…..

Posed in misty weather

Reached to Velangolla Pathana

Wishing weather becomes good…

Elephant dung….

Misty Velangolla Pathana….

Misty Velangolla Pathana

Misty Velangolla Pathana

Thick mana bushes where we came across a viper on our way back.

Smiley faces…

Pinus patch…

Here they are….

Here they are….

අලි නාන වල

Coming back….

Yahangala is covered with mist…

We found a foot pathway to Udakumbura village

Elephants are roaming at Pathana

Yahangala gets cleared…

Foot path to Udakumbura

Macro…

It was difficult to go through Mana bushes…

Looked back

පීල්ල at Udakumbura village.

How big it is…

Chamara and I were thinking to complete this trip again and our memory was refreshed by Ramzy’s visit to Rathna Ella along Hasalaka Oya.

Memorable journey with unexpected overnight stay at Rathna Falls
The same trip was planned after 7 months and number was seven at the end. We have reached Ududumbara town by 7.30am and had breakfast. Luckily Kalugala bus was there and it left at 8.10am. We hired two three wheels from Kalugala to Udailuka and started the journey. Morning weather was bit gloomy but didn’t disturb us. There were enough leeches on our way up due to rainy weather and Alum was a successful answer for it. We were able to reach Velangolla Pathana in an hour time but surrounding view was not perfect due to upcoming mist.

They have just arrived by three-wheeler

Before start the journey…I am not here

Crossing a water stream.

Climbing up…

Going to Velangolla Pathana

Paddies at Udailuka village

View of Velangolla Pathana

At the end of the climb.

Blessings from Galebandara Dewiyo (ගලේ බණ්ඩාර දෙවියෝ)…

Let’s introduce members of the journey

Yahangala was the closest giant and Kehelpothdoruwegala was there to refresh my memories 4 years back. Garandigala, Koboneelagala, Dothalugala, Nawenagala, Balalgira, Aliyakotagala, Hetakatuwegala, Galpadihela and 18 hair pin bends were seen on Velangolla pathana. Mahaweli River, Ulpathgama Lake, Sorabora Wewa and Minipe Ela were seen in other side. Latter part of Velangolla Pathana was covered with over grown bushes and it was bit hard to walk through them. We were able to reach middle of Velangolla pathana by 11.30 am and this part seems like Hortain plains. There was a group of Elephants roaming at lower part of Pathana but they didn’t notice us. Our plan was to reach the end of Pathana and go down along forest patch to Hasalaka oya. But one elephant was eating at lower part of Pathana and it’s presence deviated our path.

Kehelpothdoruwegala

Yahangala

Yahangala

Yahangala on left and the Lake situated closer to Batumulla village is seen at middle.

Rest of Velangolla Pathana. We kept our path closer to the edge.

View of Nawenagala

Further view of Velangolla Pathana. Note Mana has grown better than my previous visit.

18 hair pin bends…

Garandigala is covering with mist…

Framed view of Velangolla Pathana

Balalgira is at middle

Road to Kalugala

Cross section of Knuckles Mountains

Walking at Velangolla Pathana

Having a break

Breathtaking view of Velangolla pathana

Ulpathgama Lake

Walking at Velangolla Pathana

Mana was grown well

Jumbo is crossing our path

He is hiding

Beautiful Velangolla Pathana

Beautiful Velangolla Pathana

At the end of Pathana

The steepness was more and it was bit difficult to get down. After tackling few challenges we have reached a dry forest patch which leaded us to a branch of Hasalaka oya. This water stream made a tall and beautiful waterfall called Kombakadulla (කොම්බකඩුල්ල). Kombakadulla falls is about 15m tall waterfall. We followed the foot pathway went parallel to the water stream and ended up at Udakumbura village. Villagers mentioned the footpath to Hasalaka oya is forested well and time was around 3.30pm.
Rough distance from Udakumbura to Hasalaka Oya was 2 kilometers and it was the most difficult section we had to manage due to thorny bushes in initial part. We entered to a water path which connected to Hasalaka Oya at the end.

Mapakada Lake, Mahiyangana Stupa and Mahaweli River

Paddy fields at Rathna Ella Village. Hasalaka Oya is glistening in the middle.

View of Velangolla Pathana when we are coming down. Now blue sky has appeared.

Getting down from Velangolla Pathana.

Getting down from Velangolla Pathana.

One of tricky drop. Others help Nileeka to get down.

On top of Kombakadulla Falls

Kombakadulla Falls

Kombakadulla Falls

Kombakadulla Falls

Kombakadulla Falls

Following the water stream of Kombakadulla fall to reach Udakumbura village

Passing Udakumbura village. We were informed to get the path along elephant fence towards Hasalaka Oya. After passing few wooden bars elephant fence as well as foot path get vanished.

Following a dry stream towards Hasalaka Oya.

? Green pit viper

Dry stream became good water stream at the end. We have reached Hasalaka Oya.

The team was so exhausted when reached Hasalaka oya but all knew it is a non returnable point. Because we had to fight with the time as it was around 5pm. We had no option other than proceed till we reach Rathna Ella.
Walking along a river is not an easy task and same applicable to Hasalaka Oya. She had a good flow of water due to heavy rain to feeding areas. Hasalaka oya is fairly wide and it made bit difficult to cross from one side to another. Soon we got into the forest and walked parallel to the stream and came back to river when it got the bend. Now we are almost at the top of upper Rathna Falls. A nice drop of Upper Rathna Falls was there but we were not lucky to enjoy it due to lack of time. From here onwards I was clueless of the path and surrounding was dark as time was around 6am. I remembered Ramzy who did the journey few weeks ago. Though he didn’t answer to my phone in first instance, second ring was successful. According to him we had to go down on right hand side of the fall and he tried to give his maximum support to us. The descend was steep and we can’t get any clue about foot pathway due to darkness. We got down one by one with the assistance of phone torches. Hasalaka Oya flows on our left hand side and forming Upper Rathna Falls. We missed Upper Rathna Falls and reached top of Rathna Falls. Again we had to descend on right hand side of the fall but we were not able to find the foot path mentioned by Ramzy. We noticed the huge drop on left hand side if small mistake happen we would be at the base of the fall within few seconds. Therefore we decided to move more into the forest patch and find the way to reach the base. Walking in the forest in night time is a difficult task especially your eyes are not used it. Only helps we available were phone torches and Google map. We were able to reach the base of Rathna Falls by 10pm. At the end we found a foot pathway which directed to the anicut built along Hasalaka Oya. I was informed we can cross the water stream along the anicut to reach the other end to follow the cement canal. Heavy flow over the anicut prevented us to walk on it. There was a cut section at anicut where the depth of water up to my waist. We searched few places upstream to cross due to darkness it was not able to imagine how deep the water is.
As it was late in the night and everyone was exhausted the last option was to stay there overnight. It was a difficult decision to get as everyone has to attend work because tomorrow is Monday. Basically we were not ready to camp there. But we realized we don’t have any other option and we didn’t like to put our lives risk to cross the water in dark.
We decided to stay overnight closer to Hasalaka oya and place is not much of the risk of drowning if water levels go up. Only food stuff left to share were five ginger biscuits with two packets of On-the-go. But we had unlimited water and weather was kind enough to not to give rain. Everyone fell into sleep very soon as it was an exhausted day. We have walked on pathana, forest and river over almost 11hours for the day. Nuwan and I wanted to be alert about water level of the stream and wild animals. I had few breaks for the sleep and it was not easy to sleep on uneven rock. Nuwan had a sleepless night and it was so cold due to wind flow from the fall towards us. We had rain coats and some other clothes to cover in some extent. We counted hours and woke up in early morning to find a place to cross the river. The flow was same as yesterday and it is not possible to cross the anicut. Our search along upstream has shown one place is possible to cross. We packed our stuff and crossed Hasalaka oya.

Hasalaka Oya with good flow

Mini waterfall made by Hasalaka Oya

Crossing Hasalaka Oya

River is calm sometimes

Mushroom

Reached the bend of Hasalaka Oya

A feeding water stream of Hasalaka Oya. It makes a beautiful cascade before joins with Hasalaka Oya.

Crossing Hasalaka Oya at it’s bend.

Another mini waterfall made by Hasalaka Oya just before Upper Rathna Falls

On top of Upper Rathna Falls

Few cascades of Hasalaka Oya

The pride of Hasalaka-Rathna Ella was brightening with good flow of water. It was a great relief to cross the river and we spent more time to enjoy the beauty of this majestic fall and to get some snaps.
Rest of the journey was calm. We had a nice bath at the beginning of water canal. Then we followed the path which lay parallel to the canal. All were in hungry as we didn’t have proper food since one day. There was a nice food stall at Rathna Ella village and we finished their all food prepared for breakfast. It was a half an hour journey to reach Hasalaka from Rathna Ella Village via the short cut. It ended our adventurous journey to Rathna Ella from Velangolla pathana with unexpected overnight stay.

Rathna Ella in full flow

Rathna Ella

Top of Rathna Ella and Upper Rathna Ella is also visible.

Closer view of Rathna Ella

Some more pictures of this beauty

Some more pictures of this beauty

The team with Rathna falls

Exhausted, but happy at the end

Gorgeous view of Rathna Ella

Canal which diverts water from Hasalaka Oya.

Having a bath to relief the tiredness

Hasalaka Oya after diversion of water

Starting of 3km long canal to divert water from Hasalaka oya to Rathna Ella village and Rathna Ella tank.

Refreshed after bath.

Starting the journey

Rathna Ella village

Rathna Ella village

Surrounding view

Distance view of Rathna Ella

View point of 18 hair pins bend is circled

Suspension bridge over Hasalaka Oya. We followed the short cut to reach A26 road.

Kaluwa Watuna Ella (7.365511, 80.925548)-කලුවා වැටුන ඇල්ල
Kaluwa Watuna Ella is situated little bit down to Rathna Ella at Hasalaka Oya. It is one of the widest falls of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka waterfall council book says it is 30m tall. According to my observation it is about 10-15m tall waterfall.
You have to follow the same foot pathway along the canal towards Rathna Ella and get down along the forest to reach the base of the fall. There is a foot pathway to left which is steep and ended up at slippery base of this furious waterfall. We had to crawl over boulders to get a good view of the fall.

Kaluwa Watuna Ella

Left wing of the fall

Kaluwa Watuna Ella

Kaluwa Watuna Ella

Rathna Ella tank / Eldamporuwa Lake (රත්න ඇල්ල වැව/ඇල්දම්පෝරුව වැව)
I have noted this tank at map. After visit at Kaluwa Watuna Falls we followed the foot pathway parallel to the canal. This canal diverts some water to Rathna Ella tank. Rathna Ella tank is surrounded by the forest which gives greenish appearance.

Rathna Ella tank

Rathna Ella tank

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