When a waterfall emits dust-like spray, people used to name it as a Duli ella. (Duli / Duwili mean “dust” in Sinhala). Other than the famous Duwili fall at Kalthota, there are several Duwil falls situated in various parts of the island. It’s a common experience that each an every waterfall has a unique beauty, though they are varies in height, width and capacity. Duli ella at Kosmulla, Neluwa is such a beauty, which allow travelers to explore her with a minimum effort.

It’s good to see the effort bared by the Local authority on maintaining the environment in an acceptable manner. Since this place was ideal for one day outing for natural lovers, I preferred to add this report as a one day trip, though this was the first day of our visit to explore the southern boundary of Sinharaja rainforest.

Day 01: Duli ella @ Kosmulla

Having running number of hours, the jeep engine got a little relax at a gate, until it was opened. In the next couple of minutes, the jeep was parked at the visitors’ car park of a huge tea factory. That was the head office of Andaradeniya Estate (Pvt) Ltd. Dr. Gunarathne; a Director of the group invited us for the breakfast. It was arranged at his bungalow located in a top of a hill, opposite to the tea factory.

Arch bridge over Kalu Ganga at Anguruwathota

This trip was organized by Mangala & Thusitha, two of my friends working in the National Hospital, Colombo. Our aim was to visit Duli ella fall @ kosmulla in the first day and explore the rain forest at Kanneliya in the next day. Since Dr. Gunarathne was a colleague of Mangala, we were his guests for the day.

Tea factory of Andaradeniya Estate

The tea factory at Kosmulla village was also belonged to the Andaradeniya Estate (Pvt) Ltd. But the nearby waterfall was hardly visited by Dr. Gunarathne. Therefore he asked us to visit there first and he would join with us in the middle of the event.

The Tea factory of Andaradeniya Estate visible to Manager’s bungalow

The jeep was driven towards Pelawatta until find a bridge

The jeep was driven less than one kilometer passing Neluwa towards Pelawatta until find a bridge over Gin Ganga. We turned right at the junction there & moved more than 5km to reach the tea factory. The former Kosmulla tea factory was renamed as Duli ella tea factory. Since Dr. Gunarathne had informed, we were warmly welcome by the second officer of the tea factory. In the next 30 minutes, we left for the waterfall having a little change there.

Direction	former Kosmulla tea factory was renamed as Duli ella tea factory
Path	First cascade
A little cascade	Another cascade

Paved path with Safety fence

This water fall was located in the southern margin of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Emitting a dust-like spray (mist) by the cascading water caused to be given the name for the waterfall. (Duli / Duwili means dust) The falls was cascaded to several. A stepped path was there to reach each cascade. The rocks in the stream were deadly slippery. Travelers were advised to visit the fall with bare foot to maximize stability. It was not safe for bathing in the base pools or climbing upstream even in dry seasons.

Duli Ella. - feel the dust like spray

Safety tips

The stepped path was laid up to the base of the final cascade. There was a trek to the top of the upper most cascades. Though the trek was continued further, we returned having seeing the upper most position of the waterfall complex. It was wise to be prepared for leach attacks on the trekking though we did not see any.

The top most cascade

Green

The important thing was that the fall and the environment were well managed by the local authority (Neluwa Pradeshiya Sabawa). And also they had provided a twine swimming pool for the travelers wish to have safe bath with the cool & natural water obtain from the Duli fall.

When we get in to the pool, two friends of Thusitha were joined with us. One was Nalin & the other was Ruwan

Twin swimming pool for the travelers wish to have safe bath

Facilities provided by the Local authority

Mr. Siripala (We called him as Siripala ayya); the representative of the local authority, at the waterfall was also a very interesting & diligent character. He was the one who gave us the hot news on the road to Lankagama was concreted & closed yet for curing. On the other hand that was the red light of exposing a lonely village in Sinharaja forest, to the common society. We changed our minds to explore Lankagama, though we had already decided to visit Kanneliya the following day. Because we realized, that was the most suitable moment to visit Lankagama, prior to get it wasted by the urbanization. Siripala ayya promised to provide a good guide for us & Dr. Gunarathne also agreed to join with us since even he had not been there.

A tractor of tea leaves transporting to the Duli ella tea factory

Our lunch was arranged at the manager’s bungalow of the Kosmulla tea factory. Having hours of dip in the cool water, we had our lunch lately. Though Dr. Gunarathne invited us to stay the night at his bungalow, we went for Nalin’s house at Tawalama as per our schedule of the day. Further we promised Dr. Gunarathne to join with him by 9.00 a.m. at Neluwa the following day.