Waterfalls in A4 road (Eheliyagoda to Rathnapura)

Rathnapura is the district where highest number of waterfalls are situated in Sri Lanka. This is my attempt to visit waterfalls around A4 road (Colombo-Batiicalo) when it crosses Rathnapura District. There are separate waterfall routes branching from this main road. Ex-Rathnapura-Kalawana road. These are waterfalls around A4 road only from Eheliyagoda to Rathnapura.

Let’s start from Bisodola Falls situated at Eheliyagoda.

1. Bisodola Falls/ බිසෝදොල ඇල්ල (6.864990, 80.273128)

Directions: Eheliyagoda->Dehiowita road-> Eheliyagoda estate road->Bisodola Ella

Bisodola Falls is situated at the border of Eheliyagoda rubber estate. It’s height around 6m (though waterfalls book mentioned it as 3m). Queens (Biso) of King Maya Dunne (මායා දුන්නේ රජතුමා) have bath here to give the name Bisodola.
As it is so closer to the main road, has been popular as a bathing place. Therefore in threaten of pollution.

Scenic Eheliyagoda-Dehiowita road. This is the bend we have to get on to Bisodola Falls

First appearance of Bisodola Falls

First appearance of Bisodola Falls

Bisodola Falls

Bisodola Falls-closer view

Bisodola Falls

I am with Bisodola falls. Imagine the height of the fall.

Beauty around Bisodola Falls

Beauty around Bisodola Falls

Beauty around Bisodola Falls

All in one-Sacred peak, Kunu Diya Parwathaya and? Bana Samonala

Garbage collection around the fall

We came back to A4 road and turned to Eheliyagoda-Nadurana-Kiri Ella road ඇහැලියගොඩ-නැදුරන-කිරිඇල්ල පාර (B222, just after Eheliyagoda town in right side) to visit few waterfalls: Kiri Ella Falls, Kachchaputa Ella (කච්චපුට ඇල්ල) 1 & 2.

We drove along the main road and turned to the by road goes to Nedun RMW (නැදුරන රජමහා විහාරය) at Nadurana junction. Road condition is utterly bad here and noted couple of cascades which are situated closer to each other falling from the mountain with B222 road (on our left hand side). I got clarification from villagers, mentioned its name as Dola Palle Falls. Pictuers and its place are similar to Kachchaputa Falls 1 & 2 described in amazing Lanka site. But nobody knows the name Kachchaputa Falls.

2. Dola Palle Ella /දොලපල්ලේ ඇල්ල 1 & 2

Couple of cascades falling from the mountain closer to Eheliyagoda-Nadurana-Kiri Ella road. Though it is situated closer to the road, can’t be seen from it’s base due to the angle. It is best seen from the road to Nadurana RMV. (6.765896, 80.256102) is the best place to watch these waterfalls in Nadurana RMW road.
Both waterfalls have height of 20-30m. They are not seasonal.

Dola Palle Falls-1 and 2 circled

Dola Palle Falls-1

Dola Palle Falls-1

Dola Palle Falls-2

We continued along the road and got right turn to Handu Kanda (හාන්දු කන්ද) in view of Kabaragala Falls / Kiri Ella falls. Kabaragala falls is well known by people at this area. Handu Kanda road is a carpeted road and we parked our vehicle near Handukanda Praja Shalwa (හාන්දු කන්ද ප්‍රජා ශාලාව). There was a concrete road opposite to Praja Shalawa. At the end of this road, there was a house and we found a foot path starting behind the house to base of Kabaragala falls through a tea patch. Kabaragala falls appeared as a silky sheath with the end of tea patch. There was a short hike to reach its rocky base.

3. Kabaragala Falls / Kiri Ella Falls (කබරගල ඇල්ල / කිරි ඇල්ල) (6.756381, 80.250054)

Directions: Colombo->Eheliyagoda->Nadurana road->Handu kanda-> Kabaragala

18m tall Kabaragala Falls origins at the edge of Kabaragala Mountain (Mountain looks like an Alligator’s back.) It is also called Kiri Ella as it’s white water flows like milk.
But most villagers call it as Kabaragala Falls. We were directed to a cave situated near the fall by villagers. There is a separate path to reach the top of the waterfall. (Not from here) Seems it has low water level without the rain. And villagers are getting drinking water from the fall.

Kabaragala

First appearance of Kabaragala Falls

Kabaragala Falls

Kabaragala falls with it’s spiky base. It is difficult to stand over there. No such a base pool. Therefore protection from pollution by bathing.

Closer appearance of Kabaragala falls

Closer appearance of Kabaragala falls

It’s difficult to get a picture from it’ base

Closer view of Kabaragala falls

How it ends

View of Thoranakotha Kanda from Kabaragala Falls

The cave near Kabaragala Falls

The cave near Kabaragala Falls

Entrance of Mahauskanda (මහඋස් කන්ද) forest reserve situated at Handu Kanda road.

Then we came back to A4 road and got Kurugammodara road (කුරුගම්මෝදර පාර) at Baduwatta (බදුවත්ත) junction to reach Manan Falls. Manan Falls is marked in Google map. It is easy you can come to Kurugammodara road from Nadurana road rather than coming to A4 as both these roads lie parallel to each other.

4. Manan Falls / මනo ඇල්ල (6.788287, 80.269008)

Directions: Colombo->Eheliyagoda ->Baduwatta Junction-> Kurugammodara Road-> Pahalagama Estate road (5km along Kurugammodara Road) -> Manan Falls

The board of Pahalagama Estate is seen in left hand side and road is situated in right hand side (next to Kaju kade) when you travel from Eheliyagoda side. This road ends at a Cinnamon estate. We parked our vehicle at the beginning of the road. We entered the estate through the gate. After 50m walk there was a road to right and we walked about 1km along that road. Manan Ella can be viewed from far when we walked along this road.

Manan Ella flows in three parts. Can go to top of all three parts. We walked up on the left side of 3rd part and reached both 2nd and 1st part. Middle part is a small cascade compared to other two. After reaching the top of 1st part there was a foot pathway to right, to be connected with main road.
Height of 1st part is around 10m, second part is about 3-4m and third part is 15m tall.

At the end of the foot path we reached Manan Falls

First glimpse of Manan Ella

Third part of Manan Ella

Third part of Manan Ella

Close-up

Third part of Manan Ella

At Manan Ella

Selfie time

Elated…

Side view….

On top of third part…

1st and 2nd parts

Second part of Manan Ella

First part of Manan Ella

First part of Manan Ella

Imagine the height of 1st part

Sacred peak again….

On top of 1st part. A foot pathway is there to cross

The water stream

Risky

Again we came back to A4 road and reached Kuruwita town to visit famous Bopath Ella and Dodan Ella which are situated in same road. Devipahala road (දෙවිපහල පාර) which is situated next to Kuruwita police station will bring you to both falls.

5. Bopath Falls / බෝපත් ඇල්ල (6.801782, 80.369443)

Directions: Colombo->Kuruwita->Dewipahala road-> Bopath Falls

This must be one of famous waterfalls in Sri Lanka and most visited waterfall. There is a name board in right side of Devipahala road indicating the by road (after 2-3km) to Bopath Falls. Boutiques are situated on either side of this road and few parking premises available for high prices. A ticket is issued at the entrance.

This 30m tall falls resembles a shape of a leaf of Bo tree and formed by Kuru Ganga. The base of the fall can be reached in two ways: either to get assistance of a “Paru” and reach left side of the fall. Or directly cross the stream to reach the fall. But this might be difficult in high water level of the fall.
It is not advised to climb along the fall (some people do) as it has cost number of lives.

Bopath Ella

Bopath Ella

Like a leaf of a Bo tree

Bopath Ella

How it ends making water vapor

Bopath Ella

Bopath Ella

After it flows

Path to reach Bopath Ella

6. Dodan Ella / දොඩන් ඇල්ල (6.809489, 80.365135)

Directions: Colombo->Kuruwita->Dewipahala road-> Dodan Ella

Dodan Ella is situated in the same road of famous Bopath Ella. Pass the by road to Bopath Ella, drive another half a kilometer. There is a concrete road in right side (ask directions) which divides into two after about 200m. Follow the left side one to cross the tunnel. There is a foot path to left side to reach both parts of Dodan Falls. If you follow the right hand side road you will reach the fall but with more troubles. It had low water level during our visit.
Devipahala Ela forms Dodan Ella when it flows at Demada village. As it has a shape of a Dodan (an orange) it is called Dodan Ella. It flows in two sections and total height is about 53m.??

This the left side road to cross the tunnel and can reach the fall

Diversion of water into this tunnel makes skinny fall

Dodan Falls-Both parts, low water level

Dodan Falls-Both parts

Dodan Falls-Both parts

Dodan Falls

After flow…

Cave near Dodan Ella

After visiting Bopath Ella and Dodan Ella we were back to A4 road. It was hard to forget Batathota Lena and Batadomba Lena when we passed Kuruwita Town.
Both caves are situated in Kuruwita-Erathna (Sri Pada) road.

Batathota Lena / Diwa Guhawa / බටතොට ලෙන /දිවා ගුහාව

Directions: Colombo->Kuruwita-> Erathna road (7km) -> Batathota Lena cave temple

According to the history Lord Buddha has spent the rest of the day with 500 disciples at this cave after making sacred foot print at Sri Pada. Therefore it is called Diwaguhawa.
King Nissankamalla (නිශ්ශ0කමල්ල රජතුමා) (1178-1207) has built this cave temple during Polonnaruwa period. It is said King has visited this cave on his way to Sri Pada.
“Makara Thorana”-මකර තොරණ is seen at the entrance of image house belongs to Polonnaruwa period and a part of it has been renovated by the villagers later.
Later this temple was forested and Ven. Sri Subethi Thero has rediscovered in 1908. The Devale situated outside the shrine house was built at that time. After the demise of Sri. Subethi Thero it has been forested again and rediscovered by Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithree Mahanayaka Thero in 1995.
Most of current development occurred after that.
This is a popular tourist attraction among Buddhists now.
After the car park you have to walk along the path with boutiques on either side and then have to follow hundreds of steps to reach Diwa Guhawa / Batathota Lena cave temple.
The cave with shrine house, Devale, pond and the statue of Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithree Thero are the important things you have to visit here.

It says Sthreepura cave-(ස්ත්‍රී පුර ගුහාව) is situated about 200m away from this temple, but I was not able to find it.

Entrance to Batathota Lena cave temple

Shrine house and Dewalaya on left side. Ancient Makara Thorana can be seen at the entrance of shrine house. There is a reclining and standing Buddha statues are seen at shrine house belongs to Polonnaruwa period. No photographs allowed inside the shrine house.

Paintings at outside of shrine house with Makara Thorana

Statue of Balangoda Ananda Maithreeya Thero. And the stupa at cave

The bell…

Cave opening. Cave pond is marked by a fence in right side.

View of Sri Pada from Batathota cave

Shrine of god at Batathota Lena cave temple

Old clock

Flowering Sal tree

කිරිටොපි හා බෙලි මල්

Boutiques on either side of the road to Batathota cave temple

Unknown waterfall is seen in far from Batathota temple.

Kuruwita Batadomba Lena /කුරුවිට බටදොඹ ලෙන

Directions: Colombo-> Kuruwita->Erathna road->Guruluwana road-> Waladura village->Batadomba Lena

It is easy to locate Guruluwana road as turn is right at Eknaligoda Walawwua. You have to drive along a winding road (4.5km) to reach the foot pathway to Batadomba Lena.
This is a pre historical cave where Balangoda Manawaya lived. The foot path starts from the main road first with stone steps and then come to a path with ascends and descends (1.5km). At one stage it goes parallel with a water stream with minor cascade.
There are there are three caves here including main cave with excavation has been done and two accessory caves. Balangoda Manawaya (බලoගොඩ මානවයා) have lived here about 31000 years ago. They have found human remains, marine shells and stone weapons here.
There is a tiny waterfall falling from the top of Batadomba Lena. A Buddha statue and recent construction indicate presence of a cave temple in later stage.
Bulathsinghala Pahiyangala Lena and Kithulgala Beli Lena are other places you will find evidences of pre historical man.

Path to Batadomba Lena

Path to Batadomba Lena. Highly infested with leeches.

View on our way to Batadomba Lena

Road side cascade

Lizard

Dun tree… / දුන් ගහ

මීවන	Reaching Batadomba Lena

The fall at Batadomba Lena

Cave fall

Cave fall

Main cave where excavation has been done.

Through cave opening

Through cave opening

Buddha statue at cave

Excavation. Archeologists have found a human skull here and kept it back for future researches with good technology.

Later constructions of a temple

Separated from main rock

Stone weapons / ගල් ආයුධ

Place where hearth is situated

Trio at cave

Trio at cave

View on our way back from Batadomba Lena

Beautiful evening

Beautiful evening

Eknaligoda Walawwua (එක්නැලිගොඩ වලව්ව) and Irahanda Payana Falls (ඉරහද පායන ඇල්ල) are also situated in Kuruwita-Erathna road. But we couldn’t visit them due to lack of time.
Our next turn to Thepulangoda Falls which is situated at Panukarapitiya-Palm garden road before Rathnapura town.

7. Thepulangoda Falls / තෙපුලන්ගොඩ ඇල්ල / Elle Gedara Ella /ඇල්ලේ ගෙදර ඇල්ල (6.801782, 80.369443)
This waterfall is marked in goggle map. We drove along Palm garden road about 2km and fall was viewed beyond a bridge. It is a bathing place of villagers. Thepulangoda falls is about 4m in height. We moved beyond the fall and found another beautiful fall which is about 5m in height. I would like to name it as upper Thepulangoda Falls. (උඩ තෙපුලන්ගොඩ ඇල්ල)

Thepulangoda Falls is seen over the bridge

Thepulangoda Falls

Thepulangoda Falls- closer view

On top of Thepulangoda Falls

Along the stream

Upper Thepulangoda Falls

Upper Thepulangoda Falls

After visiting at Thepulangoda Falls we continued along Palm Garden road to Goluwawila (ගොලුවාවිල) area to search a fall called Wandura Mala Ella (වදුරා මල ඇල්ල) described in waterfall book. But we were not able to find such a waterfall.

Next set of waterfalls would be described in waterfalls in A4 road (Rathnapura to Balangoda).

This sktch will give you an idea where these waterfalls located.

Click image to enlarge

Thanks for reading