EXPLORE MOST STUNNING WATERFALLs

Explore the most stunning Blue Mountains and Silver Waterfalls

We set off early in the morning for our journey on Colombo Rathnapura road. Sun was started to beam through city buildings, most of the shops and houses along the road were closed when we passed the city. We were all excited and longed for a holiday after hectic work. Getting rid of the hot sunny city, we decided our destination be o the cold, stunning hill country. After two hours of driving the surrounding alongside side, the road changed into more green with trees and long spread paddy fields.  It was really beautiful the square shape slots of paddy fields along the roadside. The wind blows through the field mad making the surroundings cooler. The flock of white storks among the paddy field was such scenery. The flocks of storks gather here because the paddy fields are rich with the food they need. The small streams of water running along the fields are full of fish and the warms coming out from the plowed ground for paddy cultivation are a feast for these birds. At distance, a few blue mountain stands like giants made a stunning view.

When we were passing the major towns Rathnapura, Pelmadulla, and Balangoda the crowd gathered to fetch their daily needs and the shops made heavy traffic. It took fea w minutes more time from our journey. Between the towns the roads are quite good.  Buildings along with the roadside increase due to the rapid rise of population and development in the area. But still, the majority of beautiful landscapes remain unchanged.  We felt the change of climate as we travel away from the city, instead of the dusty thin air and the unbearable heat in the city, here the breath cool fresh air and the beautiful nature relaxed us.

Belihuloya is a famous tourist destination among locals as well as foreigners, where a traveler can enjoy breathtaking views and lots of stunning waterfalls. We had our lunch at a small restaurant situated in an edge of a small cliff. The place was quite crowded due to the long New Year holiday in the country. Lots of families with kids made the place a little bit noisy. We wait quite bit long to get our food. The restaurant staff struggled to cope up with the customers. We ate the hot and tasty food with fresh vegetable dishes sitting near the glass window, enjoying the stunning view of the Blue Mountains. The randomly passing cool winds chill us for a moment. We were enjoying such chill after exposing year adorning hot in the city. The sun is almost p of the sky still the climate varies against the cool wind.

The Surathali Ella falls ma et few kilometers drive from Belihuloya, and between Belihuloya and Haldummulla.  Unless you carefully watch the signboard you might have missed the point to turn to see this beautiful waterfall.  It was a few meters walk the n narrow path along the grass-grown ground through shady trees to reach the fall. You can hear the never-ending sounds of water falling from a distance evidence a fall is nearby. We carefully went down, the chilly water running over the slippery stones. The waterfalls from the mountain turn the way down through stones making unique shapes to the fall. We climb a little further towards the fall stepping on the stones. We chose a good spot with a view of the waterfall there to dip our feet into the water. We stay there for a moment admiring the amazing beauty of the waterfall and enjoying the break from the tiring long drive. It was almost late evening; we reached the small cottage at Belihuloya. 

As to the owner of the, rest there are lots of waterfalls around the area. We had chosen a few to explore to match our time schedule. After breakfast, first, in the morning we went to a nearby fall Pahanthudawa fall. We found the fall after a few minutes’ walk from the cottage. The place was isolated and surrounded by mounts. Huge stones make climbing a little bit harder. The water was falling like a thread to a basin-like deep pool end of the fall. The falling shape resembled an oil lamp, so its name.   There was a mysterious atmosphere around the fall with dark clouds in the sky that morning. We were enjoying the fall at distance. Water drops on our faces signal the rain so we rush back to the rest.

We depart from Belihuloya toward Haputhale soon after we return to the rest.  The tallest waterfall in the Sri Lanka the Babarakanda fall is on our way. After one of r drives w,e reach Kalupahana Junction on our left, turned from the junction we drive about 2 km to the entrance to Babarakanda Fall. A ticket was issued at the entrance. This money had been used to develop and maintain the surrounding path to reach the fall. It had been very difficult route to reach the fall through the most difficult trek years back. But as to the development of , the area the path had been cleaned, put up some steps and rail to make the climb easy. Trekking through a path with stunning views of mountains and tall trees growing up to the sky was a great experience for an adventurer.  In the end, nature deserves a treat for your hard walk to the breathtaking waterfall, falling along a tall mountain cliff.  It was slow and thin when we were there, but in rainy season that fall widen with the heavy force of water. There was a viewing stage, where people can see the fall from a little distance. As waterfall fancies we reach down to the end of the fall, climbing stones up to the fall is one of the things we enjoy very much. There was a little crowd similar to our interest in the fall dip themselves in the cool water. It was really refreshing after such climb to get rid of the sweat and tiredness on your body. The travelers of local and foreigners were among the crowd.

Spending the morning hours in the fall we headed to Haputhale. We stop at the first restaurant we met but place was heavy with a crowd. So, we brought lunch packets on our way, we parked our vehicle on a spot with a view, and sat on a rock in the open air  to enjoy our meal.

Within one-hour drive we reach small Haputhale town. The town was congested; it was soon after New year most people visit to their relatives. They come to town to buy gifts and sweets for their visit. So, most shops are open for their customers. The majority of the crowd are Tamils were wear colorful glittering clothes, and women wearing fresh flower garlands as headdresses can see with families. And most of the city people like us, travel outstation in this vacation. So, the smells of smoke from a large number of vehicles traveling to such destinations are polluted air in the environment. However, Haputhale is a beautiful town with views of stunning misty mountains. Even on the sunny days, you can witness the mist everywhere. We Sri Lankan, enjoy the cold climate as foreigners from cold countries prefer the sunny weather.

We pass the town and turn our way to see Adisham Banglow, the most popular place among locals. The place was quite isolated when I first visit in 1989. As the place become more popular, now the place is quite crowded. When the British rule the country they had build their residence their style and the environment quite similar to their motherland, they felt quite at home in this town. The garden is beautifully maintained to attract tourists and there are some natural food products such as jam, cottage cheese, goat milk, honey, etc. to be sold at a small shop in the premises. People mostly visit to see the beauty of granite stone bungalow which was built time far back in 1893. Only part of the bungalow is exhibited for the visitors. All the furniture and accessories which were used in the past were protected to exhibit. The visitors are enjoying the stunning view, of where the bungalow is situated as well as the architecture of the bungalow. We enjoyed a few hours in the place and head back to explore another beautiful waterfall.

more reading: https://lanka.com/about/attractions/st-benedicts-monastery-adisham-bungalow/

We were driving back on the road a few kilometers and turned right to Beragala Koslanda road. After one and half hour's drive, on a road with lots of bends, with a stunning view of tall trees and breathtaking views of Blue Mountains, we saw a silver thread draw along a far away mountains. After another half an hour we reach the water fall near to a bridge along the road. Diyaluma fall is the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. As it is easy to access, it is very popular among locals. Anyone traveling from Katharagama on Thanamalwila road via Wellawaya to Haputhale can see this beautiful view of the fall. The fall takes three parts, the upper Diyaluma falls and the top of the fall is very popular among adventurous tourists, they climb with a guide. Most travelers cross this place and stop for a moment to view the beauty of this amazing waterfall. We stepped through a narrow path down to reach the water, climbing on huge and slippery stones we reaches a little further to have a good view. We had been dipping our legs in the freezing water for half an hour enjoying the view of w the water falling like a long veil of a bride.

We were continued our way headed through bending roads on the hill country to our next destination. You can see the roads like snakes are running below. The equally spread tea plantation covering the mountains are very unique to the upcountry of Sri Lanka. The woman plucking tea leaves, and wearing colorful sarees were a common sight on these tea plantations. There are many tea factories in this area, for those who are interested in the tea-making process, have the opportunity to visit some tea factories. And there are tea factory outlets to enjoy a good cup of tea and buy many flavors of tea products. A sip of world-famous Ceylon teacup was quite a treat for foreign or local travelers amidst the beauty of nature of this cool misty hill country.