A 20km Hike from Ohiya to Bambara Kanda via Devil’s Staircase

Even though we have had so many ordinary trips none of them have not given an experience like this one. Yes, we just finished a 20km hike from Ohiya to Bambarakanda.

We started from Maharagama on 6^th Friday, April at 11pm. We took the road via Avissawella, Ratnapura and Haputhale. It was a long and sleepy journey. May be the scenes were spectacular. But we did not experience that since it was the night time.

We came to Ohiya Railway Station, one of the most iconic railway stations in Sri Lanka at 6am on Saturday. The hike was begun from there. We took the exact road normally we take to go to Horton Plains.

It was misty and dark but beautiful

It was misty and dark but beautiful

The morning was cold and misty. That climate and the jokes we cracked did not make us tired. The scenes from either side of the road were so beautiful especially if you want to capture them from a camera. We walked 4km through the road to Horton Plains and we took our 1st turn to the left. It was the beginning of the Devil’s Staircase. Even though we walked through the previous 4kms you can come by a vehicle to this point if you want to. Even though we climb up on the road from Ohiya to the beginning of the Devil Staircase through Devil’s Staircase we had to climb down at most of the times. We took our breakfast at this point, bread and seeni sambal.

The journey from there was bit tough. There were some slippery places to walk down and sometimes it was kind of difficult because of the wet weather. Those slippery places were found when we use short cuts through tea states instead of using the normal path. The normal road was a risk-free path. Since it was early in the morning the mist was always there. Sometimes it was hard to see even 100m in front of us. But when we could see the mist over the far away mountains it was always iconic. Small waterfalls and pure water streams were not rare of either side of the road.

A wander from nature (Spider web- devil staircase)

misty mountains were everywhere

The only problem we had is the leaches’ attacks. It is so common in this side of Sri Lanka. But that was never a big deal for our journey. When we were in the middle of the hike a drizzle was started. The small rain drops made us feel bit panful because of the cold climate. But we did not stop the journey since we had not brought any umbrella therefore we had no choice anyway. We passed two small villages on the way. We wandered how they manage their day today life. Because they must walk more than 10kms to make it to a town from either way. We felt that the simple way of living is the solution. Not only for them, but also for us. At one point google maps said that we had only 2.4kms to walk more, but the reality was there were 6 more kms to the destination.

On the way we found that there is a way which we can walk downwards parallelly to the Bambara Kanda falls. It starts from the top from the waterfall which is the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. But some of the latest incident about accidents which were concludes with deaths happened by falling down the water fall has made this path a prohibited way. Therefore, we skipped it. From that point we had to walk under the heavy rain. Suddenly, it became so hard to walk since the rain was that heavy and we had to decide what to do. There was only one umbrella we have got and fortunately we found a small house which was not used by anyone. We got into it and talked about what to do.

The tough life (A small house in the village on the way)

We had asked the van driver to come to Bambara Kanda from Ohiya via the main road by van at the beginning. The plan was two of us must go along to the van and asked the driver to come to take others. The place se got stuck was 3km from Bambara Kanda and we believe that van can come to that place. But the driver had other ideas and he refused to come. So, the rest of us waited and finished the hike after the rain.

Bambarakanda Falls

It was furious and scary, but iconic

It was not over from that. You have seen Bambara Kanda before as travelers, haven’t you? Normally it has very thin water body even though it is very high. Literally you can keep your head under the water body from the bottom and bathe. But believe me, this time it was different. you have not seen it in that mood. We saw the water fall by far during the hike. My goodness, it was so scary. The water flaw was very big. It was like Dunhinda got tall. The long hike we just finished did not stop us from watching Bambara Kanda. We ended our hike at 12 noon which run for 6 consecutive hours.

We could hear it by far. There is a small bridge which is over a stream which starts from the bottom of the waterfall. We could feel the mood of the waterfall from that stream. Do not be surprised, if you fell down that bridge you would not be found. The waterfall was at its most beautiful but scariest mood than ever. We could not look at the waterfall since the eyes cannot be open due to the Gush of vapor. That was a great experience which I will not forget forever.

Then our destination was Grace Holiday Bungalow which was 8.8km away from Bambara Kanda. It is a nice place which is situated in the middle of the misty mountains. We spent our night there and the food and accommodation were remarkable.

We headed back home in next day (Sunday) morning and we were extremely exhausted but we were happy and satisfied more than that. Take that experience at least once in a life time, but I am afraid to tell you that I do not think you will ever get a chance to see Bambara Kanda waterfall at that mood. Because it is that rare.