This is a waterfall where we need to have a hard hike throughout the day. Even though you come from the usual Nagrak roadside it is more difficult for you to reach up to the turning bend near to the Nagrak Bungalow. Ihala Galagama/ Landuyaya road is the road to Hawagala Mountain.

We had a relaxing drive to the southern province as we received an invitation from our friend to visit his village as well as we need to have a drive to Matara via the Southern Expressway. Since my other members didn’t see Andahelena Fall I marked it at the first thing on our trip. I visited Andahelena Falls in May, 2013 while on a Funeral of an office mate’s cousin. However, we were able to visit Madol Duwa, Martin Wickremasinghe House, and the Museum and finally stopped at Dondra Light House which is closed to that friend’s home.

I have visited Anuradhapura sacred sites for about 5 times before and this was my last visit which is done in 2018 with friends. Captured some beautiful sceneries and this was a day trip as we visited another important place for our team.

We had a one day tour to see the Richmond Castle and then Thudugala fall which was famous at that time.  Richmond castle is an amazing place with beautiful architecture. It is also close to the Kalu river and it owns a huge land area as this was the remains of a Sri Lankan history. After we spend 2-3 hours over there, we left for Thudugala fall and it is not so far from this destination. We reached Thudugala Ella within an hour and spent a few hours and finally had a bath and left in the evening.

The Rakwana mountain range, which is located in the margin of the northern side of Sinharaja, a UNESCO world heritage site, is an area having rich bio–diversity. The recent excavations of the alluvial deposits in Sabaragamuwa basin associated with northern side of Sinharaja area revealed that the existance of caves in the vicinity of Pannila mountain. The cave formation is seen within the rocks of crystalline limestons (marble),which is popularly known as ‘Pannila Hunugala’ is of 550 m in length and 350 cm height at its entrance of which 60 cm filled with water, where special cave characteristics are visible. Stalagmite and stalactites of 2.5 m height at the core of the cave was believed to be formed after re-crystallization of pre-existing crystalline limestones- the basement rock – in the Highland Complex of Sri Lanka belongs to the Precambrian age. Speleothem dimensions were used to measure the volume of stalagmite and stalagtites. The action of chemical weathering of crystalline limestone followed by limy solutions makes it secondary features like stalagmite and stalactite.It is postulated from the Geological map of Sri Lanka that the same crystalline limestones bed is extended to the Rakwana Pannila Hunugala’ ,Samanalawewa, Handagiriya caves.

Wewelwatte road is one of my favorite route in my travel life, I went more than 10 times on that road specially before it gets carpeted. There are plenty of waterfalls located in that road. Here I visited these falls during my journeys and they are list down in order below. Kindly note that there are some more waterfalls at this route such as Anda Ella, Goxin Ella, Pareiyyan Ella, Madde Kanda Ella, Polwatta Amuna Ella, Halmehi Ella, Kunissan Ella, Dodam Gallena Ella, Demala Ella, Batahena Ella etc.

You can plan this waterfall journey as per the given GPS coordinates. Without telling any description you can create your own route from Bopath to Beruwatte falls by using below GPS coordinates. It will be more attractive if you can travel in this route soon after a heavy rain. And remember do not visit them during heavy rainy season as there are so many flash floods and even we cannot get in closer to them during that time as they are acting crazy.

We had a journey to explore all the waterfalls in Sinharajaya. But we had to do it in two separate dates as per the time availability. However we have covered many waterfalls located at the border of Sinharajaya and some other falls located nearby villages too. They are Neluwa Duwili Ella, Lankagama Duwili Ella, Lankagama Brahmana Ella, Tattu Ella, Gal Oruwa Ella, Hathmale Ella

Once ghost towns along the Puttlum – Mannar coastal line bordering Wilpattu National Park, these small towns and villages have now woken up form the 30 year slumber after the end of the LTTE terrorist occupation.

This stretch of sea was world famous for thousands of years for for producing finest pearls in the world but today a waste land with few fishing villages due to over exploitation. Portuguese, Dutch and British all had considerable interest in the region and the best example is the massive bungalow of the British Governor, Sir Frederick North (1798-1805) built for the supervision of pearl fishery operations in the region.

I and Nirosh had another sudden ride to see some waterfalls situated at the border of Western Province and Sabaragamuwa province. Unfortunately that time was bit dried and we couldn’t see much water in few waterfalls. How ever we were able to see 5 waterfalls on that day and couldn’t reach to two more falls located in Labugama due to the time. Hence, I hope to see them and Kumari fall, Ella Uda Ella again soon after a rainy season in future.

Exploring the west fall of the Walawe river is in my list for more than 6 years, I know this fall from the book written by Dr Ebehad Kawutsh (A Guide to Sri Lankan Waterfalls). But due to the forest path difficulty mentioned in the book I postponed this for several times. But on this day I explored the waterfall deeply surfing the google maps satellite and 3D maps. Then I found that I don’t want to start my hike from Mulgama village and have the dangerous forest hike around where the wild elephants are roaming.

Arugam Bay (Tamil: அறுகம் குடா), known locally as “Arugam Kudah”, is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s southeast coast, and a historic settlement of the ancient Batticaloa Territory (Mattakallappu Desam). The bay is located 117 kilometres (73 mi) south of Batticaloa, 320 kilometres (200 mi) due east of Colombo, and approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the market town of Pottuvil. The main settlement in the area, known locally as Ullae, is predominantly Muslim,[1] however there is a significant Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala population to the south of the village, as well as a number of international migrants, largely from Europe and Australia. While traditionally fishing has dominated the local economy, tourism has grown rapidly in the area in recent years. Arugam Kudah’s literal Tamil translation is “Bay of Cynodon dactylon”. Tourism in Arugam Bay is dominated by surf tourism, thanks to several quality breaks in the area, however tourists are also attracted by the local beaches, lagoons, historic temples and the nearby Kumana National Park.

My First hike to Uthuwan Kanda done in 2003 when I’m in grade 10. I still remember that we went there as Alter service association of our church. We went to a Church at Mawanella and in the evening our Rev. Fr. took us to show the Uthuwan Kanda. We were guided by a villager and we sent to the top of the mountain but our Fr. didn’t give the permission to climb up the giant rocks. This is a beautiful mountain in this area and a best place to check the surrounding and it was clear that Saradiel used this mountain for that purpose. This is the beginning of the valley of central province mountains.

After a decade I was able to visit this smallest beauty again with my Sobasiri friends and were able to climb up the mountain. Those days there were no many people around hence we feel the freedom. Later we went to a small waterfall called “Bo Ella” and had a wash on our return journey from Kandy after another adventure.