Cascades fiesta Ella to Haputale via koslanda

Map around ella – click to enlarge

Map around koslanda – Click to enlarge

So the Monsoons seem to be arriving after almost two years and the first few showers were enough to give life to many waterfalls around Badulla district. My main focus was to reach some undocumented waterfalls close to Ella and enjoy all the seasonal beauties along Ella – Wellawaya road, Beragala – Wellawaya road & Haputale – Beragala road. Please do relish this fiesta but keep in mind when you are venturing around these areas to avoid heavy showers because these areas are known for landslides. By the way just after I visited these beauties a heartbreaking land slide occurred close to Meeriabedda of Koslanda killing 50 odd people.

Early morning I did arrive at Ella and had my breakfast before venturing along the road. My first attraction was Ravana falls so to appreciate its beauty I had to walk along the railway track towards Kithal ella for 1 Kilometer. Next it was a waterfall below the bridge where the turn off towards Ravana temple and cave begins. To get to the base of it one needs to get down along the left bank of the river but I did the opposite by getting down from the right bank and suffered for weeks thanks to the Itchy Mana. The troubled I went through was really worth since it was a dazzling beauty. I named it Lower Ravana falls because the stream forms Ravana falls at an upper level.

Ravana proper falls

ravana lower falls

its base

plunging

I then marched 3Km’s along the road towards Wellawaya enjoying all the seasonal beauties. My next main attraction was a cascade below the bridge crossing Bambaragama falls. Though everyone that morning was enjoying Bambaragama falls none of them were aware about this beauty which plunges down below the bridge. To have a good look at her one needs to pass the bridge found after Bambaragama fall (when you are coming from wellawaya) and reach a double line stretch on the road. If you have a peak from the edge of the road you could easily appreciate the full length of lower Bambaragama cascade. After snapping this hidden beauty I reached the famous Bambaragama fall (also called Ravana fall). It was in full flow and pure white which was a pleasure to the eyes. From here I walked towards Ella Wild life office which was few hundred meters towards Wellawaya. From here I appreciated a long cascade interrupted at 3 places and it was really a lovely one.

ella rock

ella gap

searching for firewood

little adams peak

King Ravanas farther at Ella (close to 24km post)

road side cascade ella wellawaya rd 1

road side cascade ella wellawaya rd 2

road side cascade ella wellawaya rd 3

upper part

road side cascade ella wellawaya rd 4

upper part

road side cascade ella wellawaya rd 5

Bambaraghama falls with its lower cascade

what a beauty (can be viewed close to 22/7 bridge)

lower bambaragama fall

lower part

upper part

misty

road side cascade ella wellawaya rd 6

bambaragama fall

base of bambaragama falls

read

clear view

unknown cascade upper part

unknown cascade middle part

unknown cascade lower part

From Ella I took a bus to Bandarawela and from there to Haputale. When I reached Haputale it has started to rain and I was pleased that it started raining as I expected. Though I took a bus to Beragala I did get down at the first sight of a road side cascade and from there took a trishaw towards Beragala because I wanted to visit all of those road side beauties. I came across about 6 beautiful cascades along this stretch. At Beragala junction (close to a boutique) covered with mana and encircled with a barbwire fence one could find the Fundamental benchmark point where the precise measurement of the altitude has been measured by surveyor’s long time back.

Road side cascade on haputale rd 1

Road side cascade on haputale rd 2

Road side cascade on haputale rd 3

Road side cascade on haputale rd 4

top part of it

base

Road side cascade on haputale rd 5

Road side cascade on haputale rd 6

Road side cascade on haputale rd 7

Fundamental benchmark beragala

there were many boards like this

Next was a 21 Km trishaw ride and it was totally worth it. Along the Wellawaya road I came across 5 unknown cascades and close to Nikapotha at a place called Galkanda I came across two gorgeous beauties called Galkanda upper and lower falls. These road side waterfalls were milky cream in colour and in full flow. I just couldn’t resist leaving them behind that day. After saying good bye to Galkanda cascades I reached lady Diyaluma which was pouring down like a “Saree Pota” and I did enjoy her lovely Saree like cascade for more than one hour until a Wellawaya bus arrived and interrupted it. Just before leaving wellawaya bus stand to end this fiesta I did manage to snap Alakolagala falls too. So I invite you guys to come and enjoy this fiesta which would last for couple of months.

Road side cascade on beragala – koslanda rd 1

Road side cascade on beragala – koslanda rd 2

Road side cascade on beragala – koslanda rd 3

Road side cascade on beragala – koslanda rd 4

Road side cascade on beragala – koslanda rd 5

branched

Galkanda ella upper

full flow

upper part of it

near by cascade of galkanda fall

top of lower galkanda falls

lower galkanda falls

over the edge

plunging

Lemasthota oya

3rd highest

bit of blue sky

alakolagala falls