Magical Beauties

Adventurous  |  Picturesque

Infinity Pools

Sri Lanka is home to many picturesque waterfalls which attract both locals and tourists all year round. Their natural beauty is prized snaps for the photography enthusiast and their natural pools make them irresistible to vlogging travelling adventurer. Hiking through the mountain to discover and bath in our magical natural wonders.

Diyaluma Falls

In Sinhalese, Diyaluma or Diya Haluma means “rapid flow of water” or may be translated as “liquid light”. According to Sri Lankan historian, Dr. R. L. Brohier, Diyaluma is the setting of the folklore about a tragedy involving a young chieftain who had been banished to the highlands and the attempt by his betrothed to join.

As all the passes were guarded the young man let down a rope of twisted creepers over the escarpment, as she was hauled up she was dashed against the rocks and died. The Gods, moved to pity by the harrowing spectacle, caused a stream of water to gush from the mountain and veil all evidence of the tragedy in a watery light, hence the term Diyaluma

Ravana Ella

Ravana Falls is a popular sightseeing attraction in Sri Lanka. It currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country. This waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft) in height and cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. During the local wet season, the waterfall turns into what is said to resemble an areca flower with withering petals. But this is not the case in the dry season, where the flow of water reduces dramatically. The falls form part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, and is located 6 km away from the local railway station at Ella

The falls have been named after the legendary king Ravana, which is connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. According to legend, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sita, and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Ravana Ella Cave.

The reason for the kidnapping is said to be a revenge for slicing off the nose of his sister by Rama (husband of Sita) and his brother Laxmana. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of wilderness. It is also believed that Rama’s queen bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall. They believed that Ravana has played the Ravanahatha over here.

S. Claire’s Falls

St. Clair’s Falls is one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka and is commonly known as the “Little Niagara of Sri Lanka”. It is one of six waterfalls affected by the Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project. The falls are situated 3 kilometres west of the town of Talawakele on the Hatton-Talawakele Highway in Nuwara Eliya District. The falls are located along the Kotmale Oya, a tributary of the Mahaweli River, as it cascades over three rock outcrops into a large pool, running through a tea estate, from which the falls derive their name from.

The waterfalls consist of two falls called “Maha Ella” (Sinhalese “The Greater Fall”), which is 80 metres (260 ft) high and 50 metres (160 ft) wide and “Kuda Ella”, (Sinhalese “The Lesser Fall”), which is 50 metres (160 ft) high and located immediately downstream of the main fall. St Clair’s falls are the 20th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka.

Bambarakanda Ella

Bambarakanda Falls (also known as Bambarakele Falls) is the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka. With a height of 263 m (863 ft), it ranks as the 299th highest waterfall in the world[citation needed]. Situated in Kalupahana in the Badulla District, this waterfall is 5 km away from the A4 Highway. The waterfall was formed by Kuda Oya, which is a branch of the Walawe River. The Bambarakanda Falls can be found in a forest of pine trees

Ramboda Falls

Ramboda Falls is 109 m (358 ft) high[1] and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world.[2] It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda Pass.[3] It formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of Kothmale Oya. Altitude of the falls is 945 m (3,100 ft) above sea level.

Baker’s Falls

Baker’s Falls is a famous waterfall in Sri Lanka. It is located in the Horton Plains National Park, on a tributary of the Belihul Oya. The height of the Baker’s waterfalls is 20 metres (66 ft). The falls were named after British explorer and big game hunter, Sir Samuel Baker. Many Rhododendron and Fern bushes can be seen around the waterfall.

Dunhinda Ella

Dunhinda Falls is a waterfall located about 5 kilometres from Badulla in the lower central hills of Sri Lanka. The waterfalls are purported to be one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls. The waterfall, which is 64 metres (210 ft) high, gets its name from the smoky dew drops spray, (Dun in sinhala means mist or smoke) which surrounds the area at the foot of the waterfall. It’s also known as bridal fall, as the shape of the water falling is similar to a bridal veil. The waterfall is created by the Badulu Oya which flows through Badulla

Devon Falls

Devon Falls, known as the ‘Veil of the Valley’, is a waterfall in Sri Lanka, situated 6 km west of Talawakele, Nuwara Eliya District on the A7 highway. The falls is named after a pioneer English coffee planter called Devon, whose plantation was situated nearby the falls. The waterfall is 97 m (318 ft) high and is the 19th highest in the country. The falls are formed by a tributary of Kothmale Oya, which is a tributary of Mahaweli River. The elevation of Devon Falls is 1,140 m (3,740 ft) above sea level

Laxapana Ella

Laxapana Falls is 126 m (413 ft) high and the 8th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 625th highest waterfall in the world. It is situated in Maskeliya area in Nuwara Eliya District, about 16 km (9.9 mi) from Maskeliya town on Maskeliya-Norton Bridge road, in a village called Kiriwan Eliya. It is formed by Maskeliya Oya near the confluence of Kehelgamu Oya and Maskeliya Oya which forms Kelani River. The falls gives its name to twin hydroelectric power stations, Old Laxapana Power Station which generates 50 MW of electricity and New Laxapana Power Station which generates 100 MW.

Aberdeen Falls

Aberdeen Falls is a 98 m (322 ft) high waterfall on the Kehelgamu Oya near Ginigathena, in the Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka. Aberdeen is named after Aberdeen, the third largest city in Scotland and the capital of Aberdeenshire. Kehelgamu Oya is a major tributary of the Kelani River.

To reach Aberdeen Falls from Ginigathena town, one then must proceed along Ambatale Road up to the Buddha statue at the end of the road. Then one should park their vehicle and walk about 1.2 km along the road. Bathing in the middle of the pool and swimming to the middle has caused death to swimmers in the past. This waterfall is covered with a big stone complex behind. The waterfall is ranked as the 18th highest on the Island

Kalugala Geradi Ella

Gerandi Ella waterfall is situated on the Kandy – Nuwara Eliyamain highway at the 50th kilometer milepost, and the 9th culvert is constructed over the Gerandi Ella waterfall. When one looks at the mountain top from this spot, we could see a colossal rock that is shaped like a massive fortress.

The water cascading from this rock top comes down and half way the water thins out to a misty sheen. The height of this waterfall is approximately 100 meters (328 ft). It is approximately 1 1/2 Km from the highway. However, if we travel by the banks of the Gerandi Ella, we could not reach the waterfall proper.

Pundalu Oya Falls (Dusinane Falle)

Dunsinane Falls (or Pundalu Oya Falls)  is a waterfall in Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka. It is situated in Pundaluoya village and between the Tea estates known as Dunsinan and Sheen. Therefore sometimes this falls is called as Dunsinane Sheen falls. The water fall is created by the river called Pundalu Oya which is a tributary of Kotmale Oya.

The water cascading from this rock top comes down and half way the water thins out to a misty sheen. The height of this waterfall is approximately 100 meters (328 ft). It is approximately 1 1/2 Km from the highway. However, if we travel by the banks of the Gerandi Ella, we could not reach the waterfall proper.

Rathna Ella

Rathna Ella (“field of gems”), at 111 meters, is the 14th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, situated in Hasalaka, Kandy District. The area surrounding the waterfall is extremely verdant. The main occupation of the villagers in Rathna Ella is paddy cultivation. The Raihna Ella waterfall is very important to the village, as it supplies water to the irrigation works and paddy cultivation. In the past, people built small anicuts to get water from Rathna Ella for their agricultural activities. Rathna Ella supplies enough water to assist 200 farmers to earn a living in paddy cultivation.

Sera Ella

Sera Ella is a waterfall located in Pothatawela village, a place near Laggala in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. It is formed by the waters of Kitul Canal which runs down Kaudagammana peak and the Hunumadala River, which flows from the mountains of Gonamada and Deyuthu Gammmaduwa, combining to form the Puwakpitiya River, a waterway which joins Thelgamu Oya to create the waterfall at its point of joining.

The Sera Ella waterfall is separated into two sections as it falls down the rockface, both falling down a height of 10 m (33 ft) and are visible from the Dumbara Jungle. The fall flows all year around and is at its fullest during the monsoon season, between November and March. One of the interesting features of this fall is the cave behind the fall. Steps has been cut to reach this cave and can be safely reached even when the fall is at full flow.

Ellawala Waterfall

Ellawala Falls is a small but beautiful waterfall lying hidden inside the jungle on the Ella – Wellawaya Road. Not the closest waterfall to Ella, but still people go there to enjoy a bath as it got a natural pool like the area to have some fun. Nothing like an enchanting waterfall to provide you with a magnificent playground that you can truly enjoy.

Kithal Ella

Kithal Ella Falls are situated in Ella town. It stands at a height of 23 meters. It is a beautiful waterfall situated amidst a stunning backdrop and is best viewed during the rainy season. It is known to be as lovely as a snow queen during this period.