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Trip Reports Archive » By Length » Two Days » Waterfalls of Rakwana-Climbing Handapan Ella

Waterfalls of Rakwana-Climbing Handapan Ella

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Tags & Author Archive

Arambe Ella, Dalwin Falls, Deepdon, Gal Dola Ella, Handapan Ella, Handapanella Thanna, Masimbula Ella, Rakwana, Rakwana River, Two Days, March, Wet Zone, Mountains, Hiking, 2013, Trekking, Waterfalls

Author: Niroshan (151 Trips)

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Year and Month March, 2013 (17th & 18th)
Number of Days Two Day Trip
Crew 4
Accommodation Rakwana Guest House. T.P. 0452246299
Transport Bus, Three-wheeler and Walking
Activities Photography, adventure and waterfall seeing and sight seeing
Weather Excellent
Route
  • Day 1: Colombo -> Rakwana -> 3rd mile post in Kalawana road -> Handapan Ella
  • Day 2: Rakwana -> Elton estate Nana Mankada (ඈල්ටන් වත්තේ නාන මoකඩ) -> Galdola waterfall in Deniyaya road -> back to Rakwana -> Masimbula waterfall and Arambe Ella in Godakawela road -> back to Rakwana -> Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  • Always ask and clarify your pathway from locals.
  • Don’t pollute the environment by putting plastic and polythene items. Surroundings of most waterfalls are still clean.
  • When you climb Handapan Ella, carry food items for eating as this journey takes 5-6hours and it’s a strenuous journey.
  • Need some protective measures from leeches. Although less in dry days, really a big issue following rain.
  • Get precautions from getting wet your electronic items in Handapan Ella journey.
  • Heights of waterfalls are different from book to book. Please bear it.

 

Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

  • Waterfalls of Rakwana-Climbing Handapan Ella

Handapan Ella (හදපාන් ඇල්ල)
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.

To reach Handapan Ella is somewhat challenging work. When we reach Rakwana from Colombo in early morning, Ashan has arrived at Rakwana and found how to reach there.

Following our breakfast we called a tuk-tuk to bring us to 4th mile post of Rakwana-Kalawana road. Our three wheel driver has a good idea about the area.

Rakwana river flows from Handapanella  Thanna to create Handapan El

Rakwana river flows from Handapanella Thanna to create Handapan El

Closer view of cascades

Closer view of cascades

After asking from locals about the route, we entered Deepdon tea estate and walked through tea bushes and came across a forest patch. We walked about 1hour through the forest patch and then came out again to the Deepdon tea estate. May be we missed the correct pathway.

Then we decided to reach the waterfall by walking up in the water stream.

Handapan Ella and Sooriyakanda mountain range

Handapan Ella and Sooriyakanda mountain range

Deepdon tea estate

Deepdon tea estate

The road we came

The road we came

Upper part of cascades-closer view

Upper part of cascades-closer view

Getting down in the estate towards the valley

Getting down in the estate towards the valley

We entered the Rakwana River through the tea estate. Mana bushes and forest patch covering the valley

We entered the Rakwana River through the tea estate. Mana bushes and forest patch covering the valley

Entering to the Rakwana river

Entering to the Rakwana river

Walking up in the water stream

Walking up in the water stream

Rakwana River...Started to ascend

Rakwana River…Started to ascend

Now  she started to show her beauty by making small waterfalls

Now she started to show her beauty by making small waterfalls

Ashan is leading in the valley

Ashan is leading in the valley

River started to bend

River started to bend

Slow shutter speed

Slow shutter speed

Another waterfall..

Another waterfall..

It was difficult to go through places like this. Needed to enter the forest and find our pathway

It was difficult to go through places like this. Needed to enter the forest and find our pathway

Now steepness is more…..creating more and more cascades

Now steepness is more…..creating more and more cascades

First place where we saw opposite  mountain range-Kabaragala pathana(කබරගල පතන)

First place where we saw opposite mountain range-Kabaragala pathana(කබරගල පතන)

One of a significant cascade...I think this is seen in far

One of a significant cascade…I think this is seen in far

Now it became more and more difficult

Now it became more and more difficult

Upper cascades

Upper cascades

Same picture-wider angle

Same picture-wider angle

More and more

More and more

Ashan is not trying to hide. He wants to come  through narrow gap

Ashan is not trying to hide. He wants to come through narrow gap

Surrounding view. Now we are in from sea level

Surrounding view. Now we are in from sea level

Following this waterfall it was difficult to going up in the river. Then we entered thick forest

Following this waterfall it was difficult to going up in the river. Then we entered thick forest

Full range of upper cascades

Full range of upper cascades

Upper part of the forest had a lot of trees belonged to palm family with thick undergrowth. Steepness was so high

Upper part of the forest had a lot of trees belonged to palm family with thick undergrowth. Steepness was so high

Finally we reached the most upper part of the cascade. This was captured through the forest

Finally we reached the most upper part of the cascade. This was captured through the forest

Good view

Good view

Most right part of the waterfall is bit difficult to capture as we reached the waterfall in her left side

Most right part of the waterfall is bit difficult to capture as we reached the waterfall in her left side

   Beautiful Handapan Ella covering with her misty clothes. Note we have only gone through her left side


Beautiful Handapan Ella covering with her misty clothes. Note we have only gone through her left side

Had a day

Had a day

Another night comes to Deepdon estate

Another night comes to Deepdon estate

We started to climb about 11.30am and came back to Deepdon estate about 6.00am. If we continued the climbing through the forest following most upper part of the cascade we would be in Handapanella Thanna… A marshy land. Although had numbers of leech attacks and fear of wild elephants it was a memorable journey.

Arrows indicating the part of Rakwana River we climbed. Small star shows the drop of Handapan Ella. Large star indicating the place of Handapan thenna. Total ascend in our path is about 500m. but within 1.5km

Arrows indicating the part of Rakwana River we climbed. Small star shows the drop of Handapan Ella. Large star indicating the place of Handapan thenna. Total ascend in our path is about 500m. but within 1.5km – Click Map to Enlarge

We spend the night at Rakwana guest house and started the next day to visit at three more waterfalls close to Rakwana.

Day 2

This day we have visited at three more waterfalls named as Galdoala fall, Dalwin waterfall/ ? Masimbula Ella and Arambe Ella.

Galdola waterfall (100m) ගල්දොලඇල්ල

This can be viewed from Rakwana town. But to get a closer view, we walked towards the waterfall in Rakwana-Deniyaya road

Galdola waterfall from Rakwana town

Galdola waterfall from Rakwana town

Galdola  flows from Rakwana mountain

Galdola flows from Rakwana mountain

 Galdola-closer view

Galdola-closer view

Scenic Rakwana-Deniyaya road.

Scenic Rakwana-Deniyaya road.

Searching for a pathway to get closer view of Galdola

Searching for a pathway to get closer view of Galdola

Lower part of the Galdola waterfall can  be captured at Kirimandiya area in Rakwana-Deniyaya road

Lower part of the Galdola waterfall can be captured at Kirimandiya area in Rakwana-Deniyaya road

Middle part of Galdoala waterfall. Have to climb up in the tea estate in Kirimandiya area

Middle part of Galdoala waterfall. Have to climb up in the tea estate in Kirimandiya area

Walking through Mana bushes

Walking through Mana bushes

Middle part of Galdoala cascades. It flows and joins with Rakwana River

Middle part of Galdoala cascades. It flows and joins with Rakwana River

View of  Rakwana town

View of Rakwana town

On our way back we got down at Alton tea estate and visited at famous bathing place called “Nana mankada”

On our way back we got down at Alton tea estate and visited at famous bathing place called “Nana mankada”

Then we came back to Rakwana town and went in Rakwana-Godakawela toad to visit two waterfalls made by Rakwana river on her way.

Masimbula Ella/Dalwin Ella මස් ඉඹුල ඇල්ල/ඩැල්වින් ඇල්ල

This can be captured at Dalwin tea estate on your way to Godakawela from Rakwana. Although books mention them as two separate waterfalls, locals use two names for the same waterfall. (May be wrong)

Beautiful Rakwana-Godakawela road. Initial part of the road (Rakwana side) is still under construction

Beautiful Rakwana-Godakawela road. Initial part of the road (Rakwana side) is still under construction

Masimbula/Dalwin waterfall-This is Rakwana River. Height is 30m

Masimbula/Dalwin waterfall-This is Rakwana River. Height is 30m

Above the waterfall there is a dam to divert water for hydropower generation. It makes this small reservoir

Above the waterfall there is a dam to divert water for hydropower generation. It makes this small reservoir

Waterfall from top

Waterfall from top

Another view

Another view

Arambe Ella (අරඹේ ඇල්ල)

To reach Arambe Ella, you have to further travel down towards Godakawela. From the main road, have to turn to a by road which is in right hand side in the Lenark estate. (Better clarify the road from locals) This road ends in the Rakwana River and we walked up in the River to view the waterfall.

Rakwana River..needs to walk up in the River

Rakwana River..needs to walk up in the River

A small waterfall made by Rakwana river

A small waterfall made by Rakwana river

Another waterfall made by Rakwana River

Another waterfall made by Rakwana River

Arambe Ella. Height is 54 m. Width is 14m. It is also a collection of few waterfalls.  The pool at base of the waterfall is somewhat deep

Arambe Ella. Height is 54 m. Width is 14m. It is also a collection of few waterfalls. The pool at base of the waterfall is somewhat deep

The word Arambe means the forest which is full of fruits and herbal plants. There is a forest patch around it

The word Arambe means the forest which is full of fruits and herbal plants. There is a forest patch around it

Following Arambe Ella, we had a bath from Rakwana River somewhat above the Arambe Waterfall. It ended our two day journey with waterfalls.

Last shot of the day...

Last shot of the day…

 

Thanks for reading

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