Duwili falls cascade expedition!

Google map – click to enlarge

Google map – click to enlarge

Google map – click to enlarge

It was 9 Years back when I first came to know about this magical location but somehow I couldn’t pull it off due to various reasons. Not like 9 years back now I was fully equipped with lot of information which aided me to pull this off! I think I dont need to explain the route details since its documented well in previous reports and almost every one is aware about the trail. We decided to take the Etanwala route and return via the same. We reached Etanwala early as 6AM and left with Ekanayake mama at around 7.15AM. We did have breakfast at Walpomulla stream which was prepared by Ekanayake mama. From Walpomulla it was a quick descend to Nugathala oya an from there on wards it was along walk to Nugathalawa Mada where the great descend to Weddahena was found.

Gloomy ay at Etanwala

view from Etanwala

on the go

Webbed

Rituals

Weheragala

Walpolamulla wewa

Yakkunge hela

Gombaniya

that dream shot

on the way to Walpolamulla

the only house

magical view from Walpolamulla paddyfield

scenery

Lahumanagala side

view of 9th and 10th fall

view of 6th and 7th fall

view of 2nd and 4th fall

Walpolamulla gal thalawa

Descending

Kirimetiya hena

Nugathala oya

Obstacles

the path

.

Nai hatu

Nugathalawa mada

After Weddahema oya it was a long walk through suddas polwaththa! When we reached the junction where the path to dumbara ella branches we were exhausted! Tackling the “Biththiya” was a challenge but the most difficult part was the 2nd slope from Naranaththa oya to infinity pool! When we reached top of 6th fall there was a group camping and we recognized that they were our friends Dilanka, Kithmina and the gang! After having our pre-prepared lunch we climbed up towards Duwili ella cave! Reaching the cave should have made us joyous but seen two groups camping and some playing music through sub woofers was disheartening! These are the instances we wished that its better to ban these trails for ever! Fortunately Ekanayake mama said that the forest department is going to take much needed steps to regulate things in near future! From Duwili ella we returned back to Infinity pool to camp there an on our way we visited Falls No3,4 (Sansun ella/ saree ella/ Shantha ella) and 5(Padipela ella).

We camped With Dilanka’s  gang and it was a totally friendly atmosphere that night. They cooked rice an we had a nice warm plate of rice that day before we went to sleep. The worst part of the journey was the drizzle which settled in at around 2.30PM which only ended at around 12AM. The leaking tent didnt provide us a comfortable sleep that night but never the less we embraced it as a part of the package.

Directions

Weddahena

Weddahena oya

.

.	largest tree

.	Polwatta ella

.	last break before Biththiya

Obstacles

climbing Biththiya

reaching kalu ganga

Naranaththa oya

.	Infinity pool

.	Padipela ella

part of Padipela

lower padipela

Beauty

sansun ella

lovely

Top of 4th fall

3rd fall

Duwili ella

different view

cave seen

that view

sliding down

the view

.

side view

view from the cave

the last shot of the day

Next Day early morning we woke up and cooked noodles for both groups. We did have an early breakfast and said goodbye to each other. Our target was to reach as many waterfalls and return to Etanwala. We took the Ranamure path for 100m and got down from the side to get a picture of the 6th fall and its upper part. After packing up we started descending the 2nd steep slope towards Naranaththa oya. Before reaching Naranaththa oya we took a detour to reach the hidden beauty which is the 8th fall. We really would have regretted it if we missed this one. From here onwards we went along the river to reach Demodara where the two rivers met. the 8th fall could be seen from demodara trough the trees. From here we went to the top of 9th fall where Sanketha and Ekanayake mama rested, we took a 10minute detour to reach the 9th fall. It was possible to reach the base of it but the bad weather forecast prevented us attempting it. Close to the 9th fall we also visualized the 10th fall which needs some effort to reach the base. Next we came down the Biththiya and reached Dumbara ella. Dumbara Ella was my famous cascade and this is the main waterfall which prompted me to visit knuckles Duwili eli. Unfortunately the showers which were pouring down hindered our stay at Dumbara ella.

first shot of next day

sun rise

Karagahatenna

Reverston

.	6th fall plunging down

two teams (Photograph by Dilanka Bandara)

.

.

.	top part of 6th fall

plunging down

6th fall

Sudugala

Infinity pool

saying good bye

my tent

getting down

the hidden beauty

8th fall

7th fall faintly seen

.	8th lower fall

sliding down

.

.

Demodara

top of 9th fall

9th fall

9th fall

10th fall

top of 9th

top of 9th

unknown fall

magnificent

Dumbara ella

11th fall

framed

From Dumbara Ella we started to return back along the tough trail to Etanwala which included two steep slopes. When we reached Walpolamulla it was around 2.30pm where we had some bread as lunch. We reached Etanwala around 4.30PM and we were blessed with a heavy shower which soaked us fully. After thanking Ekanayake mama and having a cup of tea we took off from Etanwala feeling accomplished.

Back to Walpolamulla

returning back

one last snap

Manigala seen

Maduru oya seen

good bye my faithful shoes

instant waterfalls at reverston