Waterfalls around Wellawaya

Year and Month	2018 May 19^th 2020 February 21^st
Number of Days	Two separate days
Crew	Arjuna, Kasun Shanaka, Keshan, Eranga and Myself
Accommodation	Living Heritage Koslanda
Transport	Car and Walking
Activities	Waterfall Visiting, Sightseeing and Photography
Weather	Excellent
Route	Route 1: Colombo->Rathnapura-> Udawalawe -> Thanamalwila -> Wellawaya-> Ella Route 2 : Colombo->Mattala Highway Exit -> Wellawaya->Koslanda-> Beragala
Tips, Notes and Special remark	It is prohibited to stop vehicles over Udawalawe Dam. You can stop vehicles either before or after the dam and walk over it. Road condition from Wellawaya to Beragala is terrible in some sections and it is under construction. There are no restrictions to visit Alikota Ara reservior. Ellewala Ella becomes crowded in weekends and public holidays. Road condition to Wisari Ella is not in good after a section.
Related Resources	Wikipedia on Udawalawe Dam and reservior. Lakdasun trip report on The Power of Ragging Torrents-Tour de Waterfalls 19….. Lakdasun Trip report on Mixed salad of travelling Amazing Lanka waterfall on Wisari Ella
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Waterfalls around Wellawaya

Wellawaya (වැල්ලවාය) is a dry zone city and connecting place of A4 (Colombo-Batticalo Road) and A23 (Ella-Kumbalwela Road). This short account is about cascades situated around Wellawaya area. Though I list these waterfalls under the topic of Wellawaya some of these situated bit far from Wellawaya. Some of these waterfalls I have mentioned in other reports as well.

Day 01
Here our approach to Wellawaya through Rathnapura and Udawalawe. We started the journey early morning and Passed Rathnapura with sun rise. The sky was so colorful with sun rise and it made us to stop just after Rathnapura to have some snaps. Mighty Kiribathgala and Mountains of Siri Pada range were shining for new day. We had breakfast from Pelmadulla and next stop was Udawalawe dam. B 427 road goes over Udawalawe Dam.

First few clicks of a long journey. Silhouette of Kiribathgala Mountain.

Sun rise over Sabaragamuwa Hills

Udawalawe reservior and Dam (6.432864, 80.852537)
Walawe River is dammed at Udawalawe area to build Udawalawe reservior in 1969 for irrigation purpose. The dam consists of an embankment section and a gravity section, combining the total dam length to approximately 3.9km. The dam is also used for hydroelectric power generation, powering three 2MW units. There are four Tainter type spill gates situated at eastern end of Udawalawe dam. In addition two spillways located more towards center of the dam.
Total capacity of Udawalawe Reservior is 267 Mcm and approximate length is 8.6km. Provincial margin of Sabaragamuwa and Uva province lies over Udawalawe reservior.

Udawalawe Dam is an excellent view point. You can see the beauty of Udawalawe reservior, Pettigala, Balathuduwa, Gommolliya, slope of Hortian Plains and Sabaragamuwa Hills from Udawalawe dam.

B 427 road over Udawalawe Dam

Four Tainter Type Spill gates situated at eastern end of the dam

Other side of spill gate

Udawalawe dam and two additional spill ways

Udawalawe reservior

The line of mountains seen over Udawalawe Dam

View of Diyawinna Fall. The slope of Hortain Palin is seen behind.

Towards Sabaragamuwa Hills

Awkward appearance of Pettigala

We have reached Wellawaya and turned to Wellawaya-Beragala road. Wellawaya-Beragala road is one of the scenic roads of SL.

(A) Waterfalls in Wellawaya-Beragala road

First waterfall of interest was Kaluwala Ella / Ice Peela Ella.

1. Kaluwala Ella / Ice Peela Ella (කළුවල ඇල්ල/අයිස් පීල්ල ඇල්ල) (6.729146, 81.083692)

This small waterfall situated in about 2km From Wellawaya at Beragala road. Land mark is Ice Peela water pump station at right hand side of the road. (6.728162, 81.084717). There is a foot path adjacent to pump house and it will bring you to a concrete canal. We followed our way to Kaluwala Ella / Ice Peela Ella on this concrete canal. Kaluwala Falls is about 3-4m tall and it has moderate amount of water level.

Happily sleeping on the rock…

Previously mentioned water canal over the stream

Along the water canal

Kaluwala Ella / Ice Peela Ella

On top of the waterfall

The pool situated at top of the waterfall might be Kaluwala

With Kaluwala Falls

Upstream….

Next two waterfalls are road side falls at Wellawaya-Beragala Road: Diyaluma Falls and Galkanda Falls. Bibilehela Katharagama Dewalaya (බිබිලේහෙල කතරගම දේවාලය) is a place to getting bless when you travel along Wellawaya-Beragala road.

Bibilegama Katharagama Dewalaya

Bibilegama Katharagama Dewalaya is situated at beginning of the ascend of the road.

2. Diyaluma Falls (දියලුම ඇල්ල) (6.732986,81.031334)
Diyaluma Falls is a road side cascade of Wellawaya-Beragala road. It is known to have 3rd highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and it’s height is 171m. Punagala Oya (පූනාගල ඔය) flows to Koslanda basin after making Diyaluma falls and joins with Kuda Oya (කුඩා ඔය) to form Kirindi Oya (කිරිදි ඔය).
Punagala Oya creates few cascades before Diyaluma Falls. Kudalu Falls is one of them.
Diyaluma waterfall is situated 6km from Koslanda and 14km from Wellawaya in A4 road. Anyone who travelled along this road reserved few minutes to get snaps of this beauty. In 2015 I have been at Kudalu Falls and descend to the base of Diyaluma Falls on it’s side.
This is my 3rd visit of Diyaluma Falls. There is a hotel called Diyaluma inn about 500m before the fall and it has a good view point towards Diyaluma Falls. We have reached the base of Diyaluma Falls following the foot path.

The view of Diyaluma Falls from Diyaluma Inn

View of Diyaluma Falls from road. This bridge is over Punagala Oya.

View of Diyaluma Falls from road

View of Diyaluma Falls from it’s base

This is his first visit to Diyaluma Falls.

3. Galkanda Falls / Nisansala Falls (ගල් කන්ද ඇල්ල /නිසoසල ඇල්ල) (6.749575, 80.951274)

Galkanda Falls is another road side cascade with three steps. It is situated 30 km from Wellawaya town. Two steps are situated above the road and main part is situated below the bridge. Galkanda Falls is a common bathing place of villagers. There is a foot path to upper part of the falls but we didn’t try to reach either upper or lower parts.

First two falls of Galkanda Ella

Third fall of Galkanda Ella. It is about 10m tall.

Second fall of Galkanda Ella. It is about 5-6m tall.

First part of Galkanda Ella. It is a bathing place. It is about 3m tall.

With Galkanda Ella.

4. Waterfall situated at Living Heritage Hotel-Koslanda

Living Heritage Koslanda is one of the beautiful boutique hotels situated in Sri Lanka. One of it’s value addition is the waterfall situated at it’s premises (Don’t know it can be approached from some other way). I couldn’t find a name for this waterfall.

As we have stayed at this place, I got an opportunity to visit there. There is a clear foot path from hotel premises to the waterfall. It is about 1km walk and alternative paths are to top and bottom of the fall. We reached the bottom of the fall only. This is about 10-12m tall waterfall with base pool.

Follow the foot path to waterfall

We have noted this bridge over the stream. There was a foot path on other side of the bridge. Might be an alternative route to the waterfall.

Here foot path divides. We followed the one to bottom.

Foot path to the waterfall

Came to the destination

A chain was attached to reach the base of the fall.

Living Heritage Waterfall

With this beauty

It is the high time to describe about our accommodation-Living Heritage Koslanda.

Living Heritage-Koslanda (6.729778, 81.021533)

A beautiful boutique hotel situated at Wellawaya-Beragala road, closer to Beragala (25km). Living Heritage hotel has three accommodation options: Forest Pavilions, Pepper Garden Cottage, Luxury Villa Suites and we selected the forest pavilion. The infinity pool and natural waterfall are main attractions of this hotel. I really like the architectural pattern and landscape of this hotel. And they are maintaining it very well.

Living Heritage-Koslanda

I really like their landscapes

The restaurant

They have two puppies

Luxury villa suite

Forest Pavilion at night

Forest Pavilion

View from Forest Pavilion

Foot pathways…..

Infinity pool

Enjoying….

Aerial photographs around Living Heritage-Koslanda

.	Wellawaya-Beragala road is seen at left upper corner of the picture

When goes up…..

Koslanda Basin and Diyaluma Falls

Winding Beragala road passing

.	.The slope of Haputhale

(B). Waterfalls in Ella-Wellawaya road

1. Ellewala Ella (6.781551, 81.085735) (ඇල්ලේවල ඇල්ල)
Ellewala Ella is a famous waterfall situated about 8km away from Wellawaya town. We drove along Ella-Wellawaya road and turned to Wewelkandura-Kosgahawela road at junction (6.778918, 81.093530). Alikota Ara reservior is situated on our way to Ellewala Ella.

Alikota Ara Reservior (6.769891, 81.096976) (අලිකොට ආර)
This is situated in Pahala-Uva in Wellawaya. It’s dam is 750m long and 28m high. Alikota Ara reservior was built as a part of Uma Oya Downstream Development project. Alikota Ara (a tributary of Kirindi Oya) is dammed to build this reservior.

We have walked on the dam of the reservior to get snaps. The spill canal of Alikota Ara is another interesting place. Though it is mentioned as not to bath there villagers are used to bath there.

Alikota Ara reservior

Wewelkandura-Kosgahawela Road goes closer to Alikota Ara reservior.

Alikota Ara reservior

Punagala Hills seen above Alikota Ara reservior

With Alikota Ara

The spill canal of Alikota Ara

Having fun…

There is a turn to left hand side in Wewelkandura-Kosgahawela road to reach Ellewala Ella. I have been at Ellewala falls in twice and both times I parked the vehicle at this junction. It is again 1.2km walk from this junction to the waterfall. Last stretch of the road is a foot path which goes parallel to Alikota Stream. There are few shops at this road to sell food to travellers.

Ellewala Ella is a small waterfall about 10m tall. It falls into a base pool. This place has become a famous tourist destination now and pollution is also common around it. It is safe to have a bath at this pool.

This waterfall was seen on our way to Ellewala Falls.

Ellewala Ella road

Ellewala Ella stream

Reaching Ellewala Ella

Ellewala Ella is a famous photographic location

Ellewala Ella and base pool

With Ellewala Ella Falls

Ellewala stream

Pollution is a common with crowd

2. Wisari Ella / Alikola Ella (විසාරී ඇල්ල /අලිකොළ ඇල්ල) (6.793817, 81.069200)

Wisari Ella is situated at Hunuketiya area which is about 14km away from Wellawaya town. Then you have to follow Hunuketiya-Krugman-Bambaragasyaya road to reach Wisari Ella. It is about 3km and there is a board mentioning about Wisari Ella at Hunuketiya road.
In my first visit I could remember the road condition was terrible and I have hired a three wheeler from Hunuketiya junction. Second time we drove the car to some extent and then walked to the waterfall. You have to pass a mini hydro power pump house to reach Wisari Ella.

Directions to Wisari Ella

We have seen this waterfall on our way to Wisari Ella

Misty Mountains

? Namunukula or Madulsima range

These steps for Mini Hydro power pump house

It is situated at Kurugama-Bambaragasyaya forest reserve

Wisari Ella is known as Alikola Ella, is about 20m tall. This waterfall is formed by Punagala and Alikola Rivers, which both flow from the Maha Kande Mountain’s eastern slope. Ultimately it joins to Kirindi River.
We were able to view the full flow of Wisari Ella as raining was there before we visited. Otherwise Wisari Ella easily gets dry and drooling of water on rocky wall is a common finding most of the time.

Wisari Ella

Wisari Ella in it’s full flow.

The water stream after forming the waterfall

With Wisari Ella

Black and White

Next two waterfalls of Ella-Wellawaya road are Bambaragama Fall (famous Rawana Ella) and Rawana Falls (Kithal Ella Falls). I have mentioned them in detail at Ella full package report.