Second highest waterfall of Sri Lanka

Year and Month	September, 2013 (3rd)
Number of Days	Part 1 of Two Day Trip
Crew	2 (Wuminda and My self)
Accommodation	Shanika Inn Ragala T.P-0722265254
Transport	Bus and Walking
Activities	Photography, Adventure and Waterfall seeing
Weather	Had few showers
Route	Colombo -> Kandy -> Walapane -> Kurundu Oya fall -> Back to Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	The road is mortarable till you meet the foot pathways to bases of the cascade. Therefore you can easily capture the both parts of the waterfall without going down. Road condition is not that much bad and can go by three-wheeler and car. Always clarify your way from locals as there are some junctions in this road. Getting down to bases of upper and lower parts of Kurundu Oya fall is bit challengeable. Need Leech protection. Not that much. Better have attire due to Mana bushes and thorny bushes. Foot pathway is steeply going down and has to use your “four wheel” in sometimes. Although you reach bases of the cascade it is difficult to get into the waterfall. Because it is extremely slippery due to mud and moss. Don’t know the condition during dry season. Therefore better not to try to bath there. Then better minimize your movements there. Must carry a bottle of water for this climb. Although you reach the second highest waterfall of our country it is difficult to get drinking water. Foot pathways may be less clear. Directions can be seen on trees and rocks on your way. Better have an attention on that. There are alternative roads to approach this waterfall. From Mahauvawatta From highforest side
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Second highest waterfall of Sri Lanka – Krundu Oya fall

This is the second highest water fall of Sri Lanka. It is situated in Nuwareliya district closer to Walapane town. Actually it is a cascade with two parts. (May be three parts). It’s origin is Kurundu Oya. Kurundu Oya fall is the tallest waterfall of Nuwaraeliya district and tallest waterfall related to Mahawali River. As it is situated in a remote area it has lesser tourist attraction. Reaching to bases of Kurundu Oya cascades is somewhat difficult.

We spent previous day night at Ragala as there are no guests at Walapane. We needed to start the journey as early as possible of the day. Because rain starts in the afternoon of these days and we wanted to go back Colombo early.

After having our breakfast from Walapane, we walked back along the Ragala road till we meet the stairs of Japanese peace pagoda. (About 500m)

Then we climbed stairs to reach the peace pagoda of Walapane. It was around 7.30am. The scenery back of us was fantastic.

Starting point

Randenigala reservoir and surrounding peaks

Entrance to peace pagoda

Sun rise over peaks

Japanese peace pagoda of Walapane

Japanese Buddhist monument.

Japanese peace pagodas

Peace pagodas were built as a symbol of peace in Japanese cities including Hiroshima and Nagasaki where the atomic bombs took the lives over 150,000 people. Most of peace pagodas of the world were built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fuji (1885-1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myohoji Buddhist order. Fuji was greatly inspired by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 and decided to devote his life to promote non violence. In 1947, he began constructing Peace Pagodas as shrines to world peace. (From Wikipedia)

Peace pagodas are situated in Walapane, Ampara, Bandarawela, Galle and Sri Pada of Sri Lanka.

Ampara peace pagoda

Then we followed the road behind the temple. It was a climb but we didn’t feel tired as it was early morning.

Starting of the road was good

Gradually it became bad…

With continuous ascend we came above the Peace pagoda

Bend of the road

A small Kovil we met on our way

Landscapes in front of me was breathtaking

What a road……

Please bear the color effect

Remaining of mist

Surrounding mountains

Another small Kovil and abounded house we met. Take the road upwards

Randenigala back

Man made landscapes

Another stunting view

After passing two sets of lime houses (About 3km) we got the first glimpse of Kurundu Oya fall. We could see the Kurundu Oya fall from here without her lowest part.

First view of Kurundu Oya fall. We proceeded further along the road

First view of Kurundu Oya fall. Upper circle shows the upper part and lower circle shows the lower part. Note upper part also consists of two parts. White arrow shows the base of upper part we reached. Base of the lower cascade can’t be seen here. Red arrow shows where we reached

Then we walked further and found to have the road is closed by a fence. There were some people beyond the fence and showed us the directions we have to go to reach bases of the cascade. When we proceeded further we met another fence and then small foot pathway started and entered to the forest patch.

Real challenge started then

Road is closed

Upper cascade

Most upper part

The road ends and entering to the forest patch

Through Mana bushes

Once you go along the foot pathway about 200-300m you will come across another small foot pathway going down. (First one). It will bring you towards the base of lower cascade.

Initial part of this foot pathway may be clear but later you have to find your way towards the base.

After getting down about ¾-1 kilometer we reached the base of lower cascade. But we didn’t try to get into the water and go closer as it was so slippery.

Black arrow shows the way towards the lower cascade. Whit arrow shows the rest of main foot pathway

Lower part of Kurundu Oya cascade.

It is the most beautiful part

Extremely difficult to reach there. Don’t try to get down to the water

Another view

Flow

Then we came back to the junction where foot pathway branches. We proceeded further and found another branching point. We followed the foot pathway down to reach the base of upper part of the cascade. Here directions were shown from arrows and cut marks done by recent visitors.