Four days in chilly up country

My elder son and daughter did not join due to their busy schedules. I started around 5.30 am on Poya day with my wife and younger son and reached Eheliyagoda and turned left along Dehiowita road and reached Eheliyagoda Rubber estate where you can see Bisodola Ella.

Road through Eheliyagoda rubber estate

Bisodola Ella, didn’t have much water

Then we came back to A4 and turned left before Kuruvita junction to reach Bopath Ella.

Bopath Ella and the base pool

It’s gorgeous

Driving another 2 KM further up along this road we reached the turn off to Dodan fall

Sign board at turn off to Dodan fall

Dodan fall did not have much water

Then we came back to Kuruvita junction and turned left and continued along Erathna road and reached Diva Guhawa. Lord Buddha had come to this place with 500 priests, while he was visiting Sri Pada.

Diva guhawa, also called Bata thota lena – Click Image to Enlarge

You have to climb nearly 500 steps

Sthupa inside the cave

Diva Guhawa

We came back along Erathna road and turned left before kuruwita junction, towards Batadombalena. About 5 KM along this road, we reached Arambe Ella just by the side of the road.

Arambe Ella

Lower part of Arambe Ella

Then we came to Rathnapura and took the road along Siripagama. About 7 KM along this road we turned right at Malwala junction to take the Wewelwatte road.

Aanda Ella was the first waterfall we came across on this road. Another few kilometers ahead there were two water falls in close proximity.

Aanda Ella

Both falls are within 50 meters

Katu Kithul Ella

Hal Ella

Then we drove about another 5 KM on this road where this gorgeous Dehena ella was seen just by the side of the road.

Dehena Ella seen from the main road

Road to Alupola Ella – Click Image to Enlarge

Then we came to Wewelwatte junction and turned left and drove about 3 km to reach Alupola Ella. As we turned to Alupola road, it started raining and we missed the waterfall and gone passing it and turned back to see this glorious waterfall.

Road side beauties along Alupola road

Capturing Alupola Ella

On our way back from Alupola we could see the Beruwatte fall, far away.

Alupola Ella near the base pool

Beruwatte fall zoomed, seen from the Alupola road through thick mist

From Wewelwatte junction we drove about another 2 km and reached this massive waterfall.

Beruwatte fall

Gushing water at the base pool

After a heavy battle with leeches at Beruwatte fall, we proceeded further towards Rassagala and there was another beautiful one just by the side of the road which I thought was the Wewel Ella.

Upper part of Wewel Ella

Lower part of the fall

Then we noted another small cascade along the main road, but when reached it only recognized that it is just a water channel with a Peela. Few more kilo meters ahead, we came across another tiny waterfall seen far away through paddy fields.

Water channel

Seen far away through paddy fields

It is the Dodamgallena Ella or may be Demala Ella. Then we proceeded towards Rassagala

Dodamgallena/Demala Ella zoomed

5.30 pm near Rassagala

That was the last waterfall along Wewelwatte road and we came to ‘Terico Resort’ at Belihuloya. The Belihul Oya is running just by the side of this hotel.

Belihul Oya as seen from the room

There were plenty of open areas like this

After breakfast we left the resort and came to Pambahinna along A4 and turned right towards Kalthota. After passing Sabaragamuwa University we reached Samanala wewa dam and stopped for a while to see the famous leak.

Leaking water of the dam

This leak is a blessing for villagers

This leak is a serious engineering blunder in Sri Lankan history which caused this project to be a failure. However, this leak provides a continuous supply of water to people living there and for them, the leak is indeed a blessing.

Samanala wewa Dam

Road to Kalthota through thick forest

After driving through these lush greeneries for about 30 minutes, we came to Rajawaka and drove about 5 KM to reach Thanjantenna town where we turned right to reach Kuragala. It was 11.30 am and not the best time to climb Kuragala. So we gave up the idea and came to our next place on the list, Duvili Ella.

We had to walk about 1½ KM from the ticketing centre as the road was under repair.

And from there another exactly 362 steps down, to reach the waterfall.

362 steps to reach the waterfall

Kalthota Duvili Ella

There is a walking track where you can reach the top of the fall.

It’s really eye catching

Top of the fall, not a safe place for bathing

Top of the fall where Duvili Ella begins

Endless views

Then we came to Kalthota junction and took the right turn. We passed the Budugala Archeological site and the Budugala viharaya. Driving few more kilo meters we saw the Diyavini Ella.

Diyavini Ella seen from the main road

Diyavini Ella zoomed

Huge pipes carrying water from Samamalawewa reservoir

Then we came to Haputhale through A4 and reached Cues Tar Inn. After a quick wash we went to Bandarawela to meet our veteran hiker Priyanjan and that was the first time I met him.

View from the hotel

View from the hotel

Next morning we left to Lipton’s seat. It’s a 19 KM journey through Dambetenna estate and one of the best scenic roads I have ever come across. We came to the Kelburne point which is about 5 KM from Haputhale, where you can get a unique view towards down south.

Kelburne Point

View from Kelburne point

Along the road to Lipton’s seat

Along the road to Lipton’s seat

Road through Dambetenna estate

Dambetenna tea estate

After 1½ hrs drive through these lush plantation, on a very narrow road we came to Lipton’s seat. We were the first to arrive there, but the place got crowded within about half an hour.

Lipton’s seat

Place got crowded very soon

History of Lipton’s seat – Click Image to Enlarge

Thick mist around Lipton’s seat

We couldn’t see anything except the thick mist. Although we stayed there for more than one hour, there wasn’t any sign of a clear view.

So we left the place desperately and came back on the same road. Halfway we turned towards the Nayabedda estate. Passing Nayabedda factory we came to Bandarawela/Poonagala road and turned towards Poonagla. It’s 18 KM to Poonagala and a very scenic road through several tea estates. Poonagala is a small town and majority of people are estate Tamils. From Poonagala we came towards Koslanda which is another 14 KM drive. Before reaching Koslanda, we stopped at Makaldeniya junction

Seasonal fall along Poonagala road

Found a comfortable seat in heaven

A massacre… Very soon there will be hotel here

Poonagala International cricket stadium

We took the left turn from Makaldeniya junction and there was a hotel but it was closed. I wanted to get to the top of Diyaluma but there wasn’t any trace of a walking track. This is a very lonely place and there wasn’t anyone to get any information. Wasting about thirty minutes walking up and down I gave up the idea and came back to Makaldeniya junciton and proceeded towards Koslanda. The road to koslanda is very narrow and steep with a number of hair pin bends.

Steep hair pin bends

and narrow roads

Finally came to Diyaluma falls which is the 2nd highest with a height of 220 meters

Diyaluma fall

Diyaluma fall

From Diyaluma, we came to Bambarakanda which is the highest waterfall of Sri Lanka, with a height of 263 meters.

We came across few seasonal cascades along Koslanda/Beragala road.

Along Koslanda/Beragala road

Along Koslanda/Beragala road

We came to Bambarakanda Holiday Resort around 4 pm. After a chat with Mrs. Sera Mayakaduwa, I left to Bambarakanda water fall with my son. As I reached the turnoff to the waterfall from the main road, I was shocked and miserable to see the ‘development’ of the area. Now there are concrete steps built up to the base pool with an observation deck. The walk through those pine forest, tumbling, crawling and the struggle with leeches are no more there. Frankly, Bambarakanda is a concrete jungle now. They have spent 16 Million rupees so far and the project is still underway

Bambarakanda seen from the resort

Observation deck

Base pool as seen from the observation deck

Next day morning I had a walk along the Bambarakanda/Ohiya trail and the road was lightened with early morning rays.

Bambarakanda/Ohiya trail at 6.00 am

Road is paved up to the V cut

After a heavy breakfast with rotty we started the hike to Lanka ella. Mrs.Mayakaduwa’s son in law ‘Lanka’ also joined with us. First part of the trail was through a pine forest.

First part is to climb through this pine forest

Bambarakanda/Kalupahana road seen from the trail

Then we had to pass a thick Maana forest where there wasn’t any clear path but we managed to find the trail and finally reached this magnificent fall.

On the way to Lanka Ella

finally reached this gorgeous Lanka Ella

The base pool resembles the map of Sri Lanka, hence the name ‘Lanka Ella’ derived.

Shape of the base pool

Right end of the base pool

Then we came back to Bambarakanda Resort and said good bye to Sera Mayakaduwa and drove towards Rathnapura. On the way we saw the Surathali Ella from the main road. We walked about 100 meters through a foot path to reach the base pool.

Surathali Ella seen from A4

Surathali Ella at base pool

Then we came to Pelmadulla and turned along Kuttapitiya Road to reach Kirindiella. It is about 7 KM drive from Pelmadulla.

Kirindi Ella seen from observation deck

What an amazing sight

It was almost 9.00 pm when we reached home and yet another memorable family trip.