Use the following link for the first part of the travelogue: Journey to Kataragama through the shortest route from Colombo

Sun emitted his first rays to Wellawaya memorizing us to be prepared for another rapture day. We were above to leave the Little Rose Inn at Wellawaya for visiting Buduruwagala, as the first travel location of the day.

Tank at Buduruwagala

Fishing …..

We had to travel few kilometers towards Tanamalwila and another few on a sub route to reach Budhuruwagala, where a series of giant statues carved embossing partly on a huge rock. The main was a statue of Lord Budhdha in “Abaya Mudra” said to be 43ft in height. Statues of “Avalokitheshwara” & “Manju Sri” Bodhi-Sathwa(s) and Goddess “Thara” had been identified among the rest. As per the view of archeologists, all the statues were belonged to Mahayana tradition in 8th century.

Statue of Lord Budhdha - Budurauwagala

Budhuruwagala – The rock where the statues of budhdha curved

Bodhisathwa statues at Budhuruwagala

There was a skin-deep cave beside the statue of Budhha, where aroma oil was trickled from the wall. It was believed that the holy oil trickled was an inestimable medicine.

Bodhisathwa statues at Budhuruwagala (in the middle)

The cave beside the statue of Budhha, from where an oil trickles

We came back to Wellawaya and turned in to Beragala, the scenic route. The narrow road showed a continuous raise up to Beragala. When we reached Diyaluma, we were gifted a tiny rain wrapped in a thin mist. But the fall was lean because it was August, the dry season.

skinny Dyaluma fall in the mist (height : 628 ft above the road level)

A tiny fall met on the way to Beragala

The weather changed frequently. Some time the road was covered with a thick mist. Some time it turned in to a mild rain and we met sunny patches in some segments of the road. How ever it was a sad fact that the mist prevented us having a clear view of the southern valley.

Misty road from Wellawaya to Beragala

Misty road from Wellawaya to Beragala

When we reached Beragala, weather became clear again. But in the next 15 minutes, we had to pass Haldummulla through a concrete mist. Though we had already planned to visit Duli fall at Kaltota turning from Pambahinna junction, we had to give-it-up. The reason was not having adequate time for passing the Samanalawewa reservoir, before the road closed for the day. Therefore we decided to go to Balangoda & try with the main route to Kaltota.

Though it was true that we were late, no one could ignore a beauty at road side. We stopped for a while at Halpe, for visiting Surathalee fall.

Gama : Halpe

Surathalee fall captured in a thin mist

It was 4.37pm when we reached Balangoda. Having turning in to Kaltota road, I stopped the vehicle for a while in collecting vital road information. Then a tipper driver informed me that he was afraid that we would be able to manage the 30km in a narrow & hilly road with the remaining time. Finally he wished us good luck and asked to beware on meeting sand tippers face to face suddenly in narrow bends on our way.

Since there was no alternative except giving up, I had to trust on the WEELS. Though it was not a recommended drive, we were at the car-park of Duli fall at Kaltota by 5.30pm at the end.

On our way from the entrance gate at the ticket counter to the car park at Duli fall - Kaltota

Getting down nearly 260 steps, we reached Duli ella to observe her beauty in dusk.
How ever we could return from the gate at the ticket counter located in a distance of 2km from the car park, before the last ray of the evening sun.

Duli fall with it’s Deadly & Giant base pool

Duli fall at dusk