Roaming in Athwelthota for Waterfalls

Year and Month	21-January-2018
Number of Days	One
Crew	03
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Motor Bicycles
Activities	Hiking, Nature Exploring, Photography, Sightseeing
Weather	Good
Route	Colombo -> Panadura -> Kalutara -> Matugama -> Baduraliya -> Athwelthota -> Kabaragoidola Fall -> Pilithuda Fall -> Horawala -> Thambadola Fall
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Carry enough water Do not try in rainy days Ask the directions from local Do not disturb to the villagers Beware of bathing Leeches on rainy days Beware of slippery rocks Do not litter Leave only footprints
Related Resources	Athwelthota Report Waterfalls around Morawaka
Author	Ranshan Fernando
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Roaming in Athwelthota for Waterfalls

Kalutara district is a beautiful area where we could found lot of waterfalls. There are many waterfalls located in Athweltota and Baduraliya area which are much famous among the villagers as well as the local tourists. On this day we went to find some waterfalls located in Athwelthota area. Athwelthota is a beautiful village where I have very old memories over there. Also, we were in this area to find some other waterfalls in Morawaka.

Kabaragoi Ella Falls – කබරගොයි ඇල්ල

Athwelthota Kabaragoi Ella Falls is another small but a graceful waterfall lying in the Athwelthota area. Kabaragoya means water monitor thus the name of this waterfall can be interpreted as the fall of the water monitor. The reason for the name is unknown but it can be safely assume that that this areas might have had a dense population of water monitors in the past. The waterfall is best seen during the rainy season and is a popular bathing location.

This waterfall is situated about 1/2 km off the Ahas Bokkuwa bridge which is a arch bridge built in the early 1900’s.

From Athwelthota travel towards Kalawana for approximately 4 km and you will come to the Ahas Bokkuwa or the sky bridge which is said to be built during the first world war. The upstream footpath right next to the bridge along this stream will take you to the bottom of the fall.

You can reach the top of the falls by continuing on the road and taking the Kamburuhena road (first by-road to the left) and traveling about 1.5 on this by road.

The waterfall is sometimes referred to as “Ahasbokku Ella” by the villagers due to the proximity of the above bridge. The location marked on Google Maps ( as at Aug 2017) is wrong.

Alternate names : Kabaragoidola Ella, Ahasbokku Ella, Ahasbokkuwa Ella. (Source – AmazingLanka)

Reaching the final landmark

Beautiful bridge over the stream

It was seen

Kabaragoidola Fall

Bit dried

Small cascades

Its Nirosh

Slow Shutter

Slow Shutter Beauty

Surrounding Nature

Water

Some side attractions

Rocky Plains

Look at the water

Through the darkness

Another shot

Nirosh won’t forget to capture many slow shutters

Another one

Side view of Kabaragoidola

Its there

Nature

Creature

Rocks over there

Greeny

Dead end

Time to left

Pilituda Falls – පිලිතුඩ ඇල්ල

A peregrination from Matugama Daduraliya to Ratnapura Kalawana road is entailing. 10km brings you to the Athweltota Morapitiya village is the Meluwakande village is here and the Pilituda Ella Falls is located to the left of the highway

The Pilituda Ella Falls holds fables about fairies. A woman bathing here had made the fairies who were bathing to run of the poor unfortunate woman is said to here droned the jeweler of the fairies have current late to be found somewhere giving rise to the name Abarana falls. However, syntax later changed it to Samaragamuwa villagers’ reveal.

The warrior prince Veediyaandera had also found refuge in the Millen. It’s proximity to the highway has in-field its popularity. However causing adverse environmental impact there are several natural stone wells scattered hand Pineal Ravummala Oruwala Pokinewala and Yakungewala respectively. (Source-AmazingLanka)

Here is she

Pilithuda Fall

Surrounding

Slow Shutter

Nice place for a bath

Milky water

Another shot

Thambadola Ella Falls – තඹදොල ඇල්ල

Local villagers assert that this 3m-high Thambadola Ella fall in the Kalutara District is under threat and already its aquifers have been depleted as a direct result of logging. The loggers actually use the water as a means of transportation, floating the tree trunks down the fall. This activity, combined with tea plantations and slash and burn cultivation, is a serious threat to the aquatic ecosystem. A vast array of naturally occurring plants, as well as indigenous fish and birds, live in and around the fall. It is therefore of paramount importance that environmental safeguards are introduced before the damage is irreversible.

Take the road from Matugama to Agalawatte via Kitulgoda. At Polgampala, take the Kuruwita road eastwards for 0.5km to find the fall.

Travel to Polgampola Junction either through Agalawatta – Bellana or through Matugama E- Horawala. From here travel approx 1.5km on Kurupita road to take the first by-road on the right-hand side which will lead towards Thambadola falls. After traveling about 2km, you will reach the end of the road where you will find a well-maintained footpath towards the Thambadola ella. This place is well known by locals and even foreigners.

It is advised to used caution when bathing since locals who use this fall as a drinking ground are in the habit of dropping broken liqueur bottles to the pool below. (Source-AmazingLanka)