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Alawaththagoda, Aradunu Ella, Arawakumbura, Badalkumbura, Devathura, Dunhinda Falls, Ella, Ellawala Ella, Gerandi Ella, Habaraththawa Falls, Milla Ella, Namunukula, Naya Kandura Ella, Paraviyan Falls, Passara, Passara Raja Maha Viharaya, Peessa Ella, Punchi Dunhinda Falls, Punsisigama, Ranugalla, Ravana Ella, Wellawaya, Three Days, November, Dry Zone, Mountains, History, Scenic Drive, 2012, Photograhy, Trekking, Waterfalls

Author: Ashan (216 Trips)

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Nayakadura in Purple | Arawakumbura Dunhida in green – Click Map to Enlarge

Orange = Peessa ella | Red = Gerandi Ella | Brown = Aradunu Ella | Black = Passara RMV – Click Map to Enlarge

In yellow Ravana proper falls – Click Map to Enlarge

Lite Green = Devathura falls | Gray = Ranugalla falls | Blue = Pareiyan falls | Purple = Menik Ganga Dunhida falls – Click Map to Enlarge

So the Monsoons arrived for us at last and it was time to visit few waterfalls but I had to wait until the showers subsided a bit. I was checking the weather forecast daily and I suddenly noted that it was going to shine a bit for few days.
On a gloomy day I took a bus towards Bibile and from there onwards I took another bus towards Alawaththagoda on Lunugala Rd. After getting down from Alawaththagoda and inquiring about Alawaththagoda falls few people directed me further towards Arawakumbura for 1.5km’s after passing a huge bridge I came across a second bridge and continued upstream until I reached a beautiful waterfall called Alawaththagoda Naya Kadura Ella. I did hang around a bit to enjoy this hidden beauty before I decided to walk further 3km’s towards Arawakumbura to see a locally famous waterfall called Arawakumbura Dunhida falls

side view of Alawaththagoda Naya kadura falls

through the falls

plunging down

The 2 km walk along the scenic road was simply great and there were very few people around too. Once I arrived at the District boarder I saw the beautiful cascade formed by the Ibban oya which is a main tributary of Gal Oya. Unfortunately there was no clear path to get to the base so I wasted about 1hour tumbling downwards on a muddy path until I came to a place to get a direct picture. After climbing up through this difficult terrain and arriving at the top of the falls I was told by locals that there was a path to the base directly which begins from the top of the fall. But this would not produce a full view of it. I had to wash myself from the top of the falls before I said good bye to this beauty.

a glimpse of Arawakumbura Dunhinda falls

front view

Lower part of Arawakumbura Dunhinda falls

starting point

base of the fall

starting point of Arawakumbura Dunhinda falls

I took a long distance bus from Arawakumbura to Yapamma, Peessa junction and from here onwards hired a trishaw towards the famous Peessa waterfall. The road was carpeted and the stretch was about 7 Km from the main road. After getting down at the point where the steps begun my journey was a lonely one through a small jungle patch. Tackling the well paved steps was bit difficult because water was flowing along them. Somehow once I got to the small stage near Peessa falls I didn’t feel like leaving this marvelous beauty. Peessa which is formed by Kubukkan oya is one of the most scenic waterfalls I have seen. On the way towards the main road I did notice another waterfall which may be Milla Ella.

Yellow it is

First glimpse

slippery steps

steps towards Peessa

it was difficult capture the whole waterfall

a miniature falls near Peessa

Beautiful Peessa Falls

turbulance

gush……

note the cave behind the fall

getting back

a cascade of Kubukkan oya

My next stop was Passara, from here onwards I hired a trishaw and asked the driver to take me to Aradunu Ella. So we took the road which led towards Passara Raja Maha viharaya for about 3Km’s and after taking few by roads we arrived at a tea estate where we had to travel further downwards towards Loggal Oya valley on a 4WD road where our trishaw got stuck in a mud hole. Unfortunately the waterfall was not flowing because the water had been diverted for a mini hydro project which produced energy to a factory. So I had to leave the place disappointed but with some hope. Next we somehow got back to Madolsima road and proceeded towards Medawalagama and from there we went further towards Gerandiella village. The total distance from Passara might have been around 8 Km’s. After getting to the village we took a path which went parallel to the stream until we came across a paddy field, there is a small house with some kind hearted occupants who volunteered to show us the path towards the waterfall (2km trek from the village). From the house the hike was roughly 300m’s until we reached the middle of the cascade. It seems to be one of those cascades which is been separated to many parts. After hanging around a bit we decided to get back to Passara.

what a view

Loggal oya reservoir

Gerandi ella kandura

first glimpse of Gerandi Ella

Upper reaches of Gerandi Falls passara

lower parts of Gerandi ella

Partitioned

a sweet puppy

Just before reaching Passara I was tempted to visit Passara Raja Maha Viharaya after seen the Archeology board. There is an ancient “Awasa Geya” with an inner garden and a modified image house with ancient tiles. I also came across an ancient Buddha statue close to the newly built Pagoda. I returned back to Passara and found a place to spend the night and have long nap.

ancient awasa geya at Passara RMV

note the garden inside the awasa geya

the pagoda

Chuda manika

ancient statue at Passara RMv

entering the image house

inside the image house

On day two my main objective was to get to Aradunu Ella before 8am and view the waterfall which I desperately wanted to see. I visited the place around 7.15am and the waterfall was in full flow. This beauty is formed by Loggal oya and if one wishes to visit it during rainy season you need to be there before 8am 🙂 . After having taken few snaps I ascended along the path enjoying some breath taking scenery towards Namunukula.

dawn at Passara

on the way to the m

DOF	a beautiful tea flower

Aradunu Falls

formed by Loggal oya

starting point

base of the falls

After getting to Passara I took a trishaw towards Higurukaduwa, actually my destination was an infamous waterfall called Ranugalla Dunhida ella. Just before Ranugalla we took the cart road towards Kirigalpoththa and after about 1Km at a random point shown by a local we descended until we reached the tributary of Menik River. We went down stream in search of the waterfall but we couldn’t locate it. At this point we noted two guys following us through the bushes with knives; we did approach them in search of help. And to surprise us these locals were spying on us and were not happy at all to find us at this position. They thought we had come to take a hidden treasure at this location but after having few conversations they understood our intentions and showed us the waterfall. I didn’t want to hang around anymore so as soon as possible we returned back towards our trishaw.

a tributary of Menik ganga at Ranugalla

Top of Ranugalla Dunhinda falls

Ranugalla dunhida falls

cascades at ranugalla

After passing Ranugalla we took the turn off towards Meeyanakadura and Devathura which is an area which I’m very familiar about because I have worked at Devathura few months back. There is a small road which goes towards the left that starts at the Co-Op building. This road will lead one towards a small foot path which will end on top of a beautiful waterfall called Habaraththawa falls. To view this waterfall one needs to get down a bit from the left side. After washing the mud off us, we returned back to Devathura where I previously worked and sent off the trishaw guy. I met Bandara a staff member at this point, both of us together left towards a nice icy cold water hole in the estate and had a nice bath before we took our lunch and left Devathura towards Namunukula. The road towards Namunukula is one of those routes I really love because of its scenery and for a moment I forgot that I was still in Monaragala district.

daisy’s

spicy

a cascade at Devathura

top Of Habaraththawa falls Devathura

Beautiful cascade of Habaraththawa falls

Habaraththawa Falls

Beautiful cascade of Habaraththawa falls

starting point

along the tea estates

time for a snap

When we reached Namunukula I had to say goodbye to Bandara and leave towards Ella. As always the road towards Ella via Balleketuwa was very scenic. After reaching Ella I walked along the railway towards Kithal Ella to view Ravana Falls (proper). I had to wait for 30 minutes until the mist cleared off for a clear photograph but the images with the mist also came out well. Since time was running out I returned back to Ella and left towards Badalkumbura via Wellawaya to spend the night at one of my staff member’s home.

Scenic Balleketuwa

Ravana falls as seen from Kithal ella – bandarawela road

misty railways

upper reaches of Ravana falls(proper)

Ravana falls(proper) covered with mist

upper part of Ravana falls(proper)

mid part

perfect timing

lonely tree of Ella rock

Day 3 we got up early morning and left towards Punsisigama where we got off and hired a trishaw to get to the famous Badalkumbura Paraviyan Falls which was 2km away from the main road. There was a well paved path towards the waterfall but one need to descend to its base to view it properly. It is an extremely dangerous location to hang around because of the slippery nature of the rocks. If you are not careful you would easily fall in to the 70feet deep base pool and already this waterfall has claimed more than 20 lives. I was so happy to view this magnificent beauty of Menik River but to surprise me there was another huge waterfall less than 200m downstream called Menik Ganga Dunhida falls. Yes it’s another Dunhida falls  it seems like many waterfalls in Uva have got the Dunhida part to its name. The rock formation of the river gives a good idea about the turbulent nature of the flow during thousands of years.

caused by a turbulent flow

Pareiyan falls

with its deep base pool

upper part

another starting point

base pool

couldnt take my eyes off

multi species gathering, must be discussing a global issue

another gathering

Somehow we got to the top of Dunhida falls which is another massive waterfall but we didn’t attempt to get to the base. After enjoying some side views we returned back to the main road (Buttala-Badalkumbura) where I said good bye to Manjula and left towards Wellawaya.

Dunhinda Falls of Menik river

side view

a cascade of menik river

front view of the cascade above dunhida falls

the best view i could get

upper part

the base pool

At Wellawaya I hired another trishaw and asked him to take me to Ellawala Ella waterfall which is about 4km’s from Wellawaya. We drove few km’s on Ella Rd and at the junction where the Iran and Sri Lanka friendship Pillars are placed we took a left turn. After traveling about few hundred meters we took another road which had a causeway. From here onwards it was a very difficult 4WD trek towards the base of the waterfall. Now this is one of those hidden cascades that one needs to visit. The area surrounding the waterfall was extremely cool and I just didn’t feel like leaving the place. But since I had to return to work at Inginiyagala I had to cut short my trip and rush back with some splendid memories.

Ellawala oya flows calmly few kms further down

my guides

Ella wala falls

note the deep base pool

and it falls

gushes down

dripping