In and around Welimada

I was able to visit at following places at Welimada in two days.

1. Bomburu Ella and climbing to top of Bomburu Falls.
2. Ravan Falls
3. Sthreepura cave expedition.
4. Mana Falls
5. Ganethanna RMV
6. Ulugala RMV
7. Keppetipola fort
8. Diwrumpola Temple

Famous Bogoda wooden Bridge (බෝගොඩ ලී පාලම) and Boralanda government farm (බොරලන්ද ගොවිපල) are also closer to Welimada. I couldn’t go there.

Summary of places and directions around Weli

Bomburu Falls (බෝඹුරු ඇල්ල)

Direction: Welimada (වැලිමඩ) ->Ambagasdowa (අඹගස්දෝව) ->Bomburu Ella village->Bomburu Ella

When we reached Bomburu Ella village, we were able to find the easiest foot pathway shown by the board. We had to walk about 2km to reach the waterfall but it was scenic.
Duulgolla Oya (දූල්ගොල්ල ඔය) (Named as Fort Macdonald River in colonial age) which is the main branch of Uma oya (උමා ඔය) makes Bomburu Falls. There is a main fall and a lot of accessory falls above (upper) and below (lower) the main falls. Bomburu Falls is considered as the widest water fall of Sri Lanka. It is height is 50m.

Direction. This is the easiest pathway. There is another road.

On the way to Bomburu Falls. A lot of Beans plots were seen.

Most of the time foot pathway lies parallel to the water canal

Lower Bomburu cascades

Lower Bomburu cascades

Lower Bomburu cascades

Lower Bomburu cascades

Lower Bomburu cascades

Diversion of water

First glimpse of main Bomburu Falls

Bomburu Falls

One part of the fall

Lateral view

Side view

Nice camp site which is situated in front of the fall

Base of the water fall

After enjoying with Bomburu Falls we decided to reach the top of the waterfall. I have noticed a pool and another cascade above main waterfall when I was searching in Google earth. Our aim was to visit there. But this hike was strenuous and difficult. Because there was no a proper foot pathway. Then acute steepness of this climb. In middle part of this climb we had to tackle thorny bushes. Once we reached the top it was a Pines area. But we couldn’t reach the point where it falls.
We were able to reach the top of upper Bomburu cascade which I noticed in Google earth.

We started the journey in left hand side of the fall. Following the forest patch we came across this evidence of old tea estate there. Climbing after this was extremely difficult.

Welimada plateau is seen below

Note acute steepness

Point where Bomburu Falls starts

Reaching Pines area

Surrounding view once we reach the top

Upper Bomburu cascade

Another small waterfall above upper Bomburu Fall

On top of Upper Bomburu Falls

This was seen as a pool in Google earth

Ravan Falls (රවන් ඇල්ල)

Welimada->Ambagasdowa->Bomburu Ella road 2nd mile post->Ravan Falls

This 40m height waterfall is situated in Uduhawara (උඩුහාවර) village. You have to get right hand side road at 2nd mile post. Then travel along that road about 1.5km to reach the waterfall. It was very easy to find this waterfall.

White arrow shows the directions to waterfall at 2nd mile post

Initial part of concrete road then becomes a gravel road and then a foot pathway. Can drive up to certain extent of this road

Cultivation…..

First glimpse of this tall and slim beauty

Rawan falls.

Ravan Falls

How difficult their life….

Middle part of Ravan Falls. It flows to Uma Oya

Sthreepura (ස්ත්රීiපුර) cave expedition

Sthreepura/Esterepure (Survey map has spelled it like this) has an underground lime cave. It can be approached from Welimada by two ways.

Early morning we caught the Lucky land bus (Destination called Lucky land) at 7.10am from main bus stand at Welimada. We got down at junction where Kirawanagama (කිරවානගම) road starts. It is a continuous ascend from here and road condition was initially good and later it was bad. Kirawanagama can be directly approached from Welimada.
After inquiring from villagers we found cave entrance which was in middle of a Pines patch. It is bit difficult to find the place as direction/board was not there.

Initial part of the road is good. Walk till concrete road is over. After few meters again concrete road will start. Again walk over there

Now it is a gravel road and climb up shown by the arrow. There were few houses on our way. We clarified the pathway

Now road condition is terrible. Go down as shown by the arrow, then you will meet a small water stream over the road. Once you cross it, take the ascending foot pathway in your left hand side

Crossing the water stream and select the foot pathway shown by the arrow. Then climb up. Foot pathway goes through Turpentine and Pines trees

Foot pathway

Tall friend

Walk along this foot pathway about 500m-750m. You will notice few houses in your right hand side. Black arrow shows the direction of foot pathway. Few meters away from this foot pathway you can notice an area of clearance to build something-blue star. Then about 10-15m upwards from it is the cave entrance-yellow arrow. Actually bit difficult to find this spot unless you carefully walk over there.

Cave entrance. There is a concrete boundary few meters above the entrance to divert rain water away from the entrance

Before I come to Welimada, I inquired about this cave from few people in Welimada. They said now we can’t walk inside the cave as pathway is blocked by soil and sand. All of them have visited there few years ago. But I wanted to go there and see at least the cave entrance.

When I got into the cave I realized my pre-information is wrong.

First you have to go down about 3-4m through the entrance to land on cave ground. There were two logs to use that. Once you enter the cave it branches into right and left sides. First we walked along right side pathway. It was bit narrow and only one person can walk at once and you have to bend down a bit. After about 50m we found it is blocked by soil and stones. Then we turned back and followed the right hand side one.

Compared to left branch, right branch is tall and wide; even 3-4 people can walk there together without bending. It became wider and wider but descended. We went down there about 100m and turned back as we two only in this expedition, we were bit scared to move further. (Later I discussed with a nearby villager and found we can walk there about 3km or even further.)
Sthreepura cave has fairly dry walls, roof and floor compared to my previous cave expeditions in Ekiriya (ඇකිරිය) and Wavulpane (වවුල්පනේ). We noticed hundreds of cockroaches there and frogs were eating them. Only few bats we met along the part we walked .I think it has only few bats as floor of the cave is free of bat droppings. It made easy to walk there. Another plus point is no inside water streams.

We didn’t feel any breathing difficulty along the area we walked. I have decided to go there back with more man power and good preparing to walk the full length.

Cave entrance with helping logs

Cave entrance

How it appears when you get down there. This is the only light source for the cave

Walking in total darkness. This is the left branch

Narrow left branch. Note clear walls, roof and floor of the underground cave

Getting a bend

Sometimes roots of trees can be seen in the cave wall. It mean it is not that much underground

Last bit of left branch. Can’t move further.

It is just enough him to sit. Can’t stand up

Right branch of the cave

Solid roof of the cave

Going down along right branch

Some more

We turned back from here as we were scared to move forward.

Coming out

I am at cave entrance

Manawela Falls (මානාවෙල ඇල්ල)

Manawela falls can be reached along Lunuwaththa (ලූණුවත්ත) road from Welimada. After you pass Lunuwaththa town you will come across a Kovil/tea leaf collection center in your left hand side. Go along the road in front this Kovil. After about 500m, small tank would be appeared in right hand side. Upper part of the waterfall can be seen following that and it can be reached by the foot pathway. Seven basins can be seen there.

Manawela falls is a twin fall with 22m height. Base of the waterfall can be reached along a different foot pathway. It didn’t have much water in our visit.

Historical information of this waterfall goes till King Manabarana (මානාබරණ) period. (A.D 636-731). He has spent leisure time with his wives bathing at seven basins.

Kovil/tea leaf collection center and road to Manawela Falls

One of seven basins

Water from one basin to the other goes through a small gutter

Seat of the king

Rock basins and dam

Crown Mark

Another mark

Manawela Falls. Note one fall is completely dry

Side view of Manawela falls

“KIDS”. These two helped us to reach the base of the waterfall and to find the crown mark

Divurumpola Temple (දිව්රුම්පොල පන්සල)

Diwrumpola temple is situated about 3km away from Welimada town towards Nuweraeliya at Nugathalawa (නුගතලාව).
Divurumpola means a “place of oath.” This is the place where Sita underwent the “Agni” test to show her purity.
Nowadays you can see only few ancient pillars at this temple premises other than new constructions. But it is a popular attraction between tourists especially who admire Rama-Rawana story.

Directions….

Where she has shown her purity….

Rest of the temple

Image house

Stone pillars….

Keppetipola Fortress (කැප්පෙටිපොල බලකොටුව)

Keppetipola town is situated 6km away from Welimada town towards Nuweraeliya. Keppetipola fortress is situated close to the post office.

The name Keppetipola is used since 1968 to commemorate Monarawila Keppetipola Disawe (මොණරවිල කැප්පෙටිපොල දිසාවේ) who was the leader of 1818 rebellion against British. This area was called as Palugama (පාලුගම) earlier. Initial name was Wilson plane/ “Wilson Thenna” (විල්සන් තැන්න).

Keppetipola Fortress was built by Dutch and British army used it in 1818 rebellion. Later it was used as a horse house.
Nowadays you can see only the outer wall of the fort. This wall is higher than walls of other fortress built in same period. Inside building is used as a weaving school. (Later constructions.)

Keppetipola Fort-Front view

Side view of the wall

Ganethanna RMV (ගනේතැන්න රජමහා විහාරය)

This ancient temple belongs to Anuradhapura period and made by King Walagamba. At the moment you can see evidences of Kandyan era only.

You have to turn at Ganethanna junction at Welimada-Lunuwaththa road and travel another 1km to reach the temple. As temple premises have been extended over large area stone pillars can be seen even outside of the temple.

Entrance of the temple. Note-stone pillars are outside of the temple

Recent constructions

.	Paintings of Kandyan era

Some more ruins

Ulugala Temple (උල්ගල විහාරය)

Ulgala temple is situated about 8kms away from Welimada at Welimada-Kotaweheragala (කොටවෙහෙරගල) road. This temple also belongs to King Walagamba period.

.	Entrance to the temple

Thick wooden door frame at “Awasa Geya” (ආවාස ගෙය)

“Gala Uda Seya” (ගල උඩ සෑය) and “Gala Yata Wiharaya” (ගල යට වෙහෙර). There is another wooden door frame at shrine house. Unfortunately they have lost the key of this shrine house.

Bo tree

Medicinal stone

Thanks for reading.