Around Kithulgala

Kithulgala is a popular travel destination situated at Colombo-Hatton road. It is famous among genera public as people come here for a bath at rapid Kelani River. And it is the only place in Sri Lanka where white water rafting is practiced.
Apart from all these Kithulgala has another value due to some waterfalls situated around. This is my attempt to cover waterfalls and some common travel destinations around Kithulgala.
Tourists attractions at Kithulgala are situated either river side of the road (A7) or opposite to the river. This is an easy clarification.

Places on river side

1. Theligama Suspension Bridge / තැලිගම සoගිලි පාලම (6.996965, 80.359676)
Theligama is the junction situated before Kithulgala. There is a suspension bridge still using by the villagers to cross the river. You can get a nice view of suspension bridge from the new bridge.

Theligama suspension bridge over Kelani River

Theligama suspension bridge

Early morning view of Kelani River

Kelani River

Crossing the river

Theligama suspension bridge

Theligama suspension bridge

Theligama new bridge

2. Makandawa forest reserve and it’s waterfalls

Makandawa forest reserve is a rain forest situated closer to Kelani River at Kithulgala area. Therefore the river to be crossed to reach the forest reserve. The famous bathing place of Kithulgala (Oruthota) is situated behind old rest house and it’s the place where people cross the river by “Paru”. Once you cross the river there is another 500m walk to enter the forest reserve.
If you need to reach the entrance of forest reserve by vehicle, river to be crossed by newly built bridge situated about 2km towards Hatton side from Kithulgala town.

Kelani River at Kithulgala

Kelani River at Kithulgala

It is the transport method of people at Parawalathenna

Follow the path at Parawalathenna village to reach Makandawa rain forest

Makandawa rain forest

Makandawa rain forest has set paths to visit few interesting places. It is bordered by small water streams draining to Kelani River. Makulu Ella and Lenthiri Falls are two waterfalls situated at Makandawa rain forest. There is a site map at the entrance to guide you but you can get a paid guide as well.

The path to Makulu Ella is straight forward. If you follow the foot path starting at entrance without any turns, it ends at Makulu Ela. Just before few meters to Makulu Ela, there is a foot path on right hand side to reach the base of Makulu Ella.
Seems Makulu Ella divides into two part, but vertically. Foot path ends at this first part where you may think it as Makulu Ella. But the roaring sound of proper Makulu Ella will call you as it sits next to this part.

Enter to Makandawa rain forest

Site map. Just get a snap and save it in phone. It will guide you.

The office

Set paths

Makandawa Rain Forest

Set paths at Makandawa Rain Forest

Set paths at Makandawa Rain Forest

Set paths at Makandawa Rain Forest

The place of old bridge between Kithulgala and Pallebage

Makulu Ela to form Makulu Ella

Directions to Makulu Ella: White arrow shows the direction to Makulu Ela. Sanjeewa is showing the foot path to base of Makulu Ella.

Summer hut near Makulu Ella.

Reaching Makulu Ella

Makulu Ella/මකුලු ඇල්ල
This 8m tall waterfall is situated in Makandawa rain forest belongs to Kegalle District. Makulu Ela (මකුලු ඇල) forms this waterfalls before it joins with Kelani River. There was a bridge about 100m above Makulu Ella, which connects Pallebage and Kithulgala. (Now it can’t be seen). Because of presence of different spider species (Makulu-මකුලු) around the fall, it is called Makulu Ella. It flows as a cascade.

Makulu Ella-1st part. Proper Makulu Ella is situated lateral to this.

Top of Makulu Falls

Makulu Ella-1st part

Proper Makulu Ella

Makulu Ella

Lower part of Makulu Ella

At Makulu Ella

Makulu Ella

Makulu Ella

Makulu Ella

Our next target was Lenthiri /Lenkiri Falls situated at Makandawa forest. When you come along the path starting from office, there is a left side turn to Lenthiri Falls. If you follow this road it will bring you to the top of Lenthiri Falls, but it’s not worth. We got direction to base of this beauty.
We crossed a small water stream first where you can see a cultivation done for demonstration purpose. It is a nice place with small paddy field and a small house made in wattle and dub. We went further along the path and crossed next water stream-Maha Ela (මහ ඇල). Soon you cross this stream, you may come across well paved path in left which brings you to top of Lenthiri falls. Fainted foot path in right side is to base of the fall. With ascends and descends along this path you will end up at base of Lenthiri Falls.

Back to foot pathway

Cultivation at forest reserve for demonstration

පාලම	Path to Lenthiri Falls

Crossing Maha Ela. Here you have left side path to top and right side path to base of Lenthiri Falls.

කුඹුර

Close up…

Hike to Lenthiri Falls

Lenthiri Falls / Lenkiri Falls / ලේන්තිරි ඇල්ල / ලේන්කිරි ඇල්ල
This waterfall flows as a cascade and lower part is 20m in height. It flows as three steps

This is the beauty we came across

Lenthiri Ella / Lenkiri Ella

Lenthiri Ella / Lenkiri Ella

Lenthiri Ella /Lenkiri Ella

Lenthiri Ella /Lenkiri Ella

Lenthiri Ella /Lenkiri Ella

Side waterfall at Lenthiri Ella

Top of Lenthiri Falls

At Lenthiri Ella

I am at Lenthiri falls

If you can crawl along the side of the fall, can reach the top. But we didn’t attempt this as rock was slippery following last night rain. We came back to same junction and followed well paved road. About 100m before the end, another foot path in right side to the top of the fall. Here you can view top parts of Lenthiri Falls.

Top of Lenthiri Falls

Upper part of Lenthiri Falls

Upper part of Lenthiri Falls

Upper part of Lenthiri Falls

You will end up on top of the stream if you continue along the path without getting the turn to top of the fall. Here the water stream flows on long slab rock where you can have a nice bath.

Top of the stream

Top of the stream

This is a good bathing place

Having a bath…

We followed the same path back and got right side turn to Ahaslen Kanda (අහස් ලෙන් කන්ද). The path was clear up to second water stream and then we couldn’t follow the foot path. Most probably nobody has been there for a long time.

Back to foot path

Clipper / Parthenos Sylvia

Rest place

Turn to Ahaslen Kanda

We couldn’t find the path beyond this water stream

Mush room

Mush room

We have noticed a camp site within the forest reserve closer to a water stream. It would be a nice experience to camp here. Basically we covered main attractions of Makandawa rain forest. Then we followed the same path up to the entrance and left Makandawa rain forest.
Our last target of the day was the “bridge of River Kwai”.

“The Bridge on the River Kwai”
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 British-American epic war film directed by David Lean and based on the novel Le Pont de la Riviere Kwai (1952) by Pierre Boulle. The film uses the historical setting of the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942-1943.

This film was made in Sri Lanka and bridge was built over Kelani River near Kithulgala. The filming of the bridge explosion was done on 10th March 1957, in the presence of S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike, the prime minister of Sri Lanka.

This place has nothing to see except some iron staples embedded in the rock at middle of the River.
You have to drive another 1.5km along Hatton road from Kithulgala town and small foot path can be seen in right side mentioning Bridge of River Kwai. This foot path brings you to the bank of the River. A large construction is going on here to build a new bridge (connecting Kithulgala and Parawalathenna) and a power house.
Kelani River is dammed at Polpitiya and water is tunneled here to operate a power house. This would affect the beauty of Kithulgala and white water rafting.

Where you get the turn to see bridge of River Kuwai

This is the only remains of the bridge. Iron staples embedded in the rock (circled)

New bridge and power plant

They are building a tunnel by screwing the rock.

Places on opposite side of the river

1. Kithulgala Beli Lena / කිතුල්ගල බෙලි ලෙන (7.002222, 80.435778)

Kithulgala Beli Lena is a cave where pre historical human has lived. After passing Kithulgala town about 800m towards Hatton, Mahabage road (මහබාගේ පාර) is seen in left hand side. You have to get the direction to Beli Lena from locals. (We followed a different road to reach Beli Lena cave). Last part of this road has been severely damaged with rain. On our way to Beli Lena we could see Wewithalawa (වෑවිතලාව) with it’s towers. This mountain can be seen most of the time at Kithulgala.

Wewithalawa is seen

Zoomed view of Wewithalawa. ITN towers.

?? Ahas Len Kanda at Makandawa forest reserve

Road side beauty

Road side beauty

Road is severely damaged

Beli Lena Falls / බෙලි ලෙන ඇල්ල

Beli Lena is situated at edge of Ingoya Mountain (ඉoඔය කන්ද) about 2000feet above sea level. It is believed prehistoric human-Homo sapiens balangodensis (බලoගොඩ මානවයා) has lived here 32000 years ago. They have found a skeleton of about 16000years old, some pre historic tools, salt and beads of pre historic humans at this cave. These humans have eaten snails (ගොළු බෙලි) and it’s evidenced by shells of snails (බෙලි) found in this cave. That’s why it is called Beli Lena.
Later this cave has become a Buddhist temple and some constructions can be seen. You can see three caves here and one water stream flows in front of second cave forming slim waterfall-Beli Lena falls-බෙලි ලෙන ඇල්ල

Steps to Beli Lena

Entrance to Beli Lena cave

It is situated at Ingoya Mountain

Constructions of a Buddhist temple

Foot path

Cave-1

In between cave-1 and cave-2

In between cave-1 and cave-2

Cave-2. Excavation has been done here.

The places of excavation is bordered here. Actually pre historical men lived in a deep cave than this.

Some later construction

Some later construction

Dropping from the edge of the cave

Beli Lena Falls

Beli Lena Falls

Drops…

View of Wewithalawa from Beli Lena

Cave-3. No excavation done here. This cave has some branches.

Beli Lena cave-3.

How Beli Lena is situated at Ingoya Mountain. Area of Beli Lena is circled…..Beli Lena falls is shown by arrow.

View of Beli Lena falls

Our next place of visiting was Handun Ell. There was a terrible road to the top of Handun Ella from Beli Lena. We got directions from locals and passed Athulauda primary school. At the end we parked our bike at a rubber estate and followed the foot path. This foot path meets a gravel road and walking few hundred meters along this road could hear the sound of the fall. There was a foot path to the top of the fall from gravel road. Handun Ella is a famous place for waterfall abseiling.

Handun Ella is seen to the road

Terrible road to Handun Ella from Beli Lena

Followed the foot path

Crossed a water stream

මීවන

We have reached the gravel road. Anupama is showing the foot path to top of the fall. This gravel road is connected to a main road from other side.

Foot path connected to top as well as base of Handun Ella

Reached top of Handun Ella

The base of Handun fall from top

Garbage collection at top of the fall

We continued down along the same foot path to reach the water stream formed by Handun Falls. In this journey we have missed the side path to the base of Handun falls. As we reached the water stream somewhere down, we had to go up stream to come to the actual base of the fall. It was the opportunity to watch few cascades situated below Handun Falls.

Handun Ella lower cascade-1

Handun Ella lower cascade-1

Handun Ella Lower cascade-2

Handun Ella Lower cascade-2

Handun Ella Lower cascade-3

Handun Ella Lower cascade-3

Patterns made by water

Patterns made by water

Now Handun Ella is seen

Upper part of Handun Ella

2. Handun Falls / හදුන් ඇල්ල

Directions: Colombo->Kithulgala->Mahabage road-> Handun Ella

The water stream starting from south west slope of Unulugala Mountain forms this 30m tall waterfall. As there were ample of Sandle trees in the forest around waterfall, it was called Handun Falls.

Handun Ella

Handun Ella with it’s two parts

Handun Ella

Handun Ella

Abseiling team on top of Handun Falls

Closer view of Handun Ella

On top of Handun Ella lower cacades-3. Actually this is the base of Handun Falls

Base pool at Handun Ella

Here he comes down….

Our next target was Mannakethi Falls. We followed the same road and came to a junction where we got a turn to Handun Ella and line houses are situated. Then we followed the road through line houses and end up at tarred road. We continued along this road where we came across another side road to Palmstone hotel is situated. Luckily the road to Palmstone hotel was in good condition. We parked our bike at last bend before the hotel. Then we crossed the river and got directions from locals in other side of the river. The foot path to base of Manna Kethi falls is situated behind the last house of the rubber estate.

Directions to Manna Kethi falls

The water stream we crossed near Palmstone Hotel. This is the same water stream forms Manna Kethi Ella

The water stream we crossed near Palmstone Hotel. This is the same water stream forms Manna Kethi Ella

3.Manna Kethi Falls / මන්නා කැති ඇල්ල (7.011499, 80.427818)

Directions: Colombo->Kithulgala->Mahabage road-> Manna Kethi Ella

This 60m tall waterfall formed by Girankitha Oya starting from western slope of Unulugala Mountain. It flows in two parts. Reaching to the base of Manna Kethi falls is somewhat difficult task due to sloping slippery rocks and deep base pool.
Villagers wash their Manne (මන්නේ) and Keththa (කැත්ත) from this waterfall causing the name Manna (මන්නා) +Kethi (කැති) fall. Another reason might be the curved appearance of waterfall like Mannakathha (මන්න කැත්ත)
Though it’s height is mentioned as 60m, I feel it is less than this.

Classic view of Manna Kethi Falls from its base. Note it flows in two parts.

Upper part of Manna Kethi falls

Lower part of Manna Kethi falls. Note it flows into a deep base pool.

Closer view of Manna Kethi Falls

Base pool of Manna Kethi Ella

How it falls after forming the water fall… I can remember our first journey to Manna Kethi falls in 2009. We reached the base of the fall from somewhere down the stream.

Manna Kethi Falls

Manna Kethi Falls

Manna Kethi Falls

Then we came back to same foot path and get on to the top of the fall in it’s left side. Upper Manna Kethi falls (ඉහළ මන්න කැති ඇල්ල) is situated above the top of Manna Kethi falls. It is about 15m tall waterfall. We didn’t try to go beyond this waterfall.

On top of Manna Kethi Falls. Nice bathing place.

The drop of Manna Kethi Falls

Upper Manna Kethi Falls

Closer view of Upper Manna Kethi Falls

Upper Manna Kethi Falls

Compare the height of waterfall…

Distance view of Upper Manna Kethi Falls

Our last place of visit of the day was Sampath Ella which was situated at separated area. We came back to Kithulgala town and drove along Malwatta road (මල්වත්ත පාර). After passing the bridge (get directions from locals) we got left side turn to a gravel road and ended up at non mortable narrow concrete bridge. We parked our bike there and got left side turn to reach the water stream from Sampath Ella. It needs to cross few private premises. Walking upstream about 30 will meet Sampath falls. Actually this falls is a cascade and upper part only can be seen on our way in Malwatta road. What we are visiting as Sampath Falls is, it’s lower part.

Non mortable narrow concrete bridge to reach Sampath Falls.

4.Sampath Ella / සම්පත් ඇල්ල (7.027764, 80.418201)

Directions: Colombo->Kithulgala->Malwatta road->Sampath Ella

Liyan Oya which is a branch of Kelani River forms 30m tall Sampath Ella at Ampana area. Seems this waterfall has low water level when there is no rain.

Sampath Ella-Lower part-water level is low

Sampath Ella

Sampath Ella-most lower part

Sampath Ella-Upper part

Sampath Ella

Sampath Ella-Upper part

Looking at us

Last shot of the day

Thanks for reading