This beautiful waterfall flows as a cascade from Handapanella Thanna (හදපාන් ඇල්ල තැන්න). Although books say it’s height is 23m, it is wrong as it is a collection of few waterfalls. Handapan Ella can be captured in Rakwana-Kalawana road (another route full of scenic views) in between 3rd and 4th mile post

It was end of the monsoons and everywhere seemed to be flooded. I did have few free days in hand but couldn’t think of a better thing to do other than a rail hike. Since I dint get a chance to do a long distance hike after last year’s 90km “Pada Yathra” I thought of walking 70km along the railway backwards from Badulla. Usually many hikers do not do the Badulla – Haputale stretch because nothing much to see but you won’t believe, there are plenty to see around.

It was one of the dream trip for Dhanushka and myself to Go around Srilanka on our motorcycles. We thought why not call it “Around Srilanka in 80 hours” and to circumnavigate around Srilanka in less than 80 hours. We decided to leave on 18th February 2012, Dhanushka rode 35 km from Colombo to Negombo and we both left around 11am. The plan was to ride to Jaffna and stop over for the night.

Few months ago myself and Mithila got together and thought of doing the last two remaining trails of Sripada which were Dehena kanda/Hapugastenna trail and Morray/Rajamale estate foot path. We intentionally postponed this journey to march hoping that the path would be cleared off by then. This was a long awaited dream for me and this year it came true. This time our group was a huge one comprising 7 Lakdasun members and others been Theshantha’s family members. I knew this was going to be a unique experience that i will never ever forget and indeed it was.

We were trying to explore Doowili falls since few years. Our previous attempts from Walpolamulla(due to poor preparation and injury), Babarella (misleading Guide called Mr. Ranjith) failed due to various reasons. But we agreed among ourselves to try for one last time.
We started form Ragama about 4.00 in the morning. The crew was 4 and used car as our mode of transportation..

As my 2nd journey of my 2012 vacation I decided to take a trip to Matale to visit few cascading beauties around the area. As many of our members has done it is no means a hike or some sought of. But just a road trip where we went on search few places where you could find the waterfalls around the area.

The Monsoons seems to be coming to an end and most of the waterfalls were at full flow so the temptation was too much that I could handle so finally decided to give it a shot though I was not feeling very well. As usual within few minutes after the idea popped out I gave a call to Lahiru who simply loves waterfalls and he was in to it within no time. So as planned we met on the next morning at Avissawella and took off earlier than expected.

We started our journey from Nuwera eliya to Nanuoya station in the early morning. There was a train from Nanuoya to Ambewela station at 9.20am. It took 30-45 minutes to travel from Nanuoya to Ambewela.( 8Km) Elgine water fall can be usually seen when you are travelling in this railway route.

We all met at Avissawella at sharp 11.00 as discussed earlier. We took a bus to Deraniyagala and got in to the Uda Maliboda bus which left Deraniyagala at 12.30 p.m. After reaching the Udamaliboda tea factory we hired two Tri wheelers to the base of First fall. After spending some time there we visited the second fall after a tiring walk through a footpath. But the journey was rewarding. We had a safe bath in the base pool and had our lunch there.

We started around 5.30AM from Colombo. We were 15 in the team 4 girls and 11 boys. Had to pick up every one and when we left Colombo it was around 6.15AM. We took the Southern Express highway. We exit from Welipanna exit point and traveled along Matugama Pellawatte Road about 75 Km. to Neluwa. 20 Km from Neluwa to Lankagama the place is just opposite Bharmaha Waterfall.

I took the 5.30am bus from Nugegoda to Kandy and reached there by 9.30am (frustratingly slow going) and met Sanjeewa at the station. Then I went to see those 3 musketeers (actually 3 innocent and playful bunnies that I had mentioned in my previous report Nuwara Eliya & Welimada – New Dimensions). To my joy, they were playing with each other. I wanted to give them something to eat but Sanjeewa said that we could do it in the afternoon coz I was planning on returning on 3.00 pm training.

Finally the monsoons seem to be over and it was all what I needed to stretch my muscles a bit. Following my last visit to Ihala Galagama I jotted down the name of beautiful mountain range called Havagala which is linked to the Ravana folklore “The arrow released in war games by King Ravana is said to have pierced seven mountains and penetrated two more mountain peaks.