Cascades of Ranamuru Oya

Ranamure (රණමුරේ) is a small and isolated village found in Knuckles forest reserve. Ranamure is the starting point like Etanwala for Duwili Falls trail. Tributaries of Ranamuru Oya (රණමුරු ඔය) debut from the plain called Aswedduma (අස්වැද්දුම) and flow through Ranamure village. On it’s way to Ranamure village this stream forms number of beautiful cascades. Ashan and Chamara have explored these beautiful waterfalls. I was waiting for the ideal time to explore these cascades.
We have selected a day in the middle of monsoon rain to visit Ranamure waterfalls as they were showing their maximum colors.
Keshan, Kasun and Myself started the journey from Colombo and Anupama joined with us from Kurunegala. We have followed the route from Dambulla to Bakamuna and then drove towards Pallegama. The road condition from Dambulla-Bakamuna is not in good condition compared to our last visit to Ranamure.
Pallegama (පල්ලේගම) is a newly established town to replace old sunk one from Moragahakanda reservior. We have drove along Ranamure road and found a spacious place at a house to park the vehicle.
According to Ashan’s description there are 12+ waterfalls along this stream and some of them have separate names put by villagers. We also adhered to his nomenclature of these waterfalls.

We followed Ranamure-Duwili Falls foot pathway and exit the village. Most of the time this foot path runs parallel to Ranamuru Oya. After few hundred meters from the village we off trekked the path towards Ranamuru Oya and came to top of 9th fall. There was a foot path on left side of the stream to reach the base of 9th fall.

The journey begins

9th Fall (7030’01.5N, 80049’27.2E)

The first waterfall we encountered.

9th waterfall

9th waterfall

9th waterfall

Here we have decided to walk upstream on right side of Ranamuru Oya. There was a foot path (not clear sometimes) in right side of Ranamuru Oya. Our next encounter was another tall waterfall numbered as 8th fall.

.	Upstream walking along right side of the stream

8th Fall (7029’59.8N, 80049’22.2E)
This waterfall is about 30m in height and a fallen tree was obstructing it’s base. We have crossed the fall with aid of this tree.

Majestic 8th waterfall

8th waterfall

Cross the waterfall with aid of fallen tree

It was an ascend on right side of the stream again and we came across two minor cascades above 8th fall.

View of Ranamure…On top of 8th fall

On top of 8th fall

A waterfall above 8th fall. (7029’58.3N, 80049’20.5E)

A waterfall above 8th fall.

Second waterfall above 8th fall. (7029’57.9N, 80049’20.3E)

Close-up

Simply beautiful

We returned back to Duwili Falls path as there was a significant distant and ascent between 8th and 7th falls. 7th fall and Bambarungahana Ella (6th) are situated closer to Duwili Falls pathway.

Ranamuru Oya closer to Duwili Falls trail.

Crossing the fence.

7th Fall (7029’42.6N, 80049’08.6E)

With 7th fall

7th fall

Bambarun gahana Ella / බඹරුන් ගහන ඇල්ල (7029’34.5N, 80049’03.3E)

Bambarun Gahana Ella

A part of Bambarun Gahana Ella

A part of Bambarun Gahana Ella

We were back to Duwili Falls path and came to the junction where Angunukole Falls path starts. (7029’22.86N, 80048’49.2E) The Left is Angunukole Falls path and right is Duwili falls path.

Where Angunukole path starts

We followed Angunukole falls path and came to an opening area where three streams join together to form Angunukole Falls. This was like a waterfall junction. (7029’13.8N, 80048’50.8E).

Waterfall junction

Open area with three streams join to form Angunukole Falls

At waterfall junction

Top of Angunukole Falls

A fall at waterfall junction

Cross section

Cross section

Here we followed the most left side stream (far one of Duwili falls trail) and found another beautiful waterfall above Angunukole Falls.

First waterfall situated above Angunukole falls (7029’09.4N, 80048’52.9E)

First waterfall above Angunukole Falls

Cross section

As time didn’t permit, we have turned from there for the first day and came back to waterfall junction. Then we have explored Angunukole Falls. But for the sake of clearance of report I would like to mention other two waterfalls situated just above waterfall junction. (Actually we explored them on second day).
I have noted another beautiful waterfall just above this junction when we fly the drone. It is situated at the middle stream of these three streams. There was another small but beautiful waterfall situated parallel to this fall but in other stream (one in right hand side)

Second waterfall situated above Angunukole falls (7.486878, 80.813718)
This waterfall we got to know by the drone. It is situated just about 20-30m from waterfall junction. As it’s angle is about 900 bit difficult to capture the upper part.

Waterfalls junction and the fall situated just above it.

Closer view of above mentioned waterfall

Second fall situated above waterfall junction.

Second fall situated above waterfall junction.

We moved further lateral to this stream and came across another small but beautiful fall created by another stream.

Third waterfall situated above Angunukole falls

Third waterfall situated above Angunukole Falls

Third waterfall situated above Angunukole Falls

Upper Angunukole Falls / අගුණුකොලේ ඇල්ල (7029’16.1N, 80048’53.5E)
Upper Angunukole Falls is the second highest waterfall of Ranamure cascades. It has two steps and we reached base of second steps. There was a fainted foot path to it’s base and this foot path branches before waterfall junction. To get the full view of this cascade you have to go to left side of the fall.

Lower part of Upper Angunukole Falls

Lower part of Upper Angunukole Falls. Upper part is also seen.

Upper Angunukole Falls

Two parts of Upper Angunukole Falls

Upper Angunukole Falls with two steps.

Upper Angunukole Falls

Waterfall junction and Upper Angunukole Falls

Drone picture of Upper Angunukole Falls

Lower Angunukole Falls (7029’18.9N, 80048’53.5E)
Lower Angunukole falls is situated about hundred meters downstream of upper Angunukole falls. Here we descend parallel to the stream.

The one between Upper and lower Angunukole Falls

Lower Angunukole Falls

Lower Angunukole Falls

End of the first day

Exploring Alakole Falls

We have noted a part of Alakole falls by the drone capture at waterfall junction. Therefore our wild guess says it should be situated one of the streams join at waterfall junction. This was our main task of second day. We walked upstream parallel to above mentioned left side stream and after few hundred meters the roaring sound of Alakole Falls was heard.

Alakole Falls / අලකොලේ ඇල්ල (7029’00.5’’N, 80048’516E) and (7028’58.6’’N, 80048’50.3E)
This is the queen of Ranamuru Oya cascades. It has several sections. The main part of Alakole falls is about 50-60m tall.

Main part of Alakole is seen to the drone

At base of Alakole Falls

With Alakole Falls

We two with Alakole Falls

Alakole Falls

Alakole Falls

We have accomplished our main target of the second day. Then we walked away from Alakole falls in it’s right side and came across a clear foot pathway. It brought us to an open area (7029’03.2’’N, 80048’40.8’’E). Here we wanted to reach the top of Alakole Falls and further explore to reach upper parts of it, but it was not successful. We heard the sound of a stream here and we descend parallel to it in view of reaching waterfall junction. On our way down a set of stones were noted at the side of the stream. There was a foot path closer to this stream and eventually it came to “Galpoththa” where Galpoththa fall is situated.

The open area we reached

Set of stones kept at bank of the stream

Reaching Galpoththa Falls

Here we understood, the foot pathway we followed is the one branches at Galpoththa to reach Alakole Falls. So there are two ways to reach Alakole falls. One is to follow the left side foot path at Galpoththa (what Ashan did) or walk upstream from waterfall junction (what we did). And this stream forms most right side two streams come to waterfall junction. Somehow they all meet at waterfall junction to form Ranamure Oya.

Galpoththa Falls / ගල්පොත්ත ඇල්ල (7029’14.7’’N, 80048’46.1E)

With Galpoththa Falls

Galpoththa Falls

Galpoththa Falls

Galpoththa Falls

We were back to Duwili Falls foot pathway from Galpoththa and descend to Ranamure village. According to Ashan’s report there are three more waterfalls after the 9th fall. We were rushed to explore them as a rain was on it’s way. We were able to watch two cascades below the 9th fall but rest of the exploration was not permitted by pouring rain.

A cascade below 9th fall

A cascade below 9th fall

A cascade below 9th fall

Front view of it

It finishes our two days journey to Ranamure Oya. We have visited 12+ waterfalls along Ranamure Oya in this journey. On our way to Naula from Pallegama we stopped at Kanda Pitawala Lake (කන්ද පිටවල වැව) to have some snaps.

Kanda Pitawala Lake

Kanda Pitawala Lake

The bunt of Kanda Pitawala Lake

The spill

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Thanks for reading