Lover’s leap falls and Piduruthalagala Cascades

Year and Month	2015 November 8th
Number of Days	One day
Crew	3-Sudesh, Lahiru (guide) and Myself
Accommodation	Not applicable
Transport	Train, bus, three wheel and walking
Activities	Waterfall seeing and Photography
Weather	Earlier it was excellent then gloomy
Route	Colombo->Nanu Oya (නානු ඔය)->Nuwara Eliya (නුවර එළිය)->Boralanda (බොරලන්ද)->Pedro Estate->Lover’s Leap Falls->Piduruthalagala Cascades (පිදුරුතලාගල ඇලි)->Back in same route->Colombo
	You can reach Boralanda by any bus travelling in Udupussallawa road. Be careful in climbing along the waterfalls and water streams. Whole journey of Piduruthalagala cascades depend on going up along the water stream. If water flow is high (soon after rain) it is not wise to attempt this. Bear foot is the ideal way to go along streams. Never spend too much time at the top of the fall. If people notice they will inform to police. According to Lahiru there are 6 significant waterfalls as Piduruthalagala cascades. We were able to visit only five of them. You may come across leeches. But not that much problematic. We started from Pedro estate by around 8am and reached Piduruthalagala cascade-5 around 1pm. But our return journey was done in two and half hours. Better carry something to eat.
Author	Niroshan
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Lover’s leap falls is a major tourist attraction of Nuwara Eliya. It is situated at south east border of Piduruthalagala forest reserve. The water stream which forms Lover’s leap fall, makes another 5-6 small cascades above the fall. These falls are mentioned as Piduruthalagala Falls in waterfall book formulated by Mr. Darman Wickramarathna.
In my previous visit to Nuwara Eliya, my curiosity of these hidden beauties made by Manjula and he introduced Lahiru as the guide to explore these cascades.
As Nuwara Eliya is getting the rain at evening during these days, waterfalls have considerable amount of water. Early morning is the high time to visit at waterfalls.
I came from Colombo to Nanu Oya by night mail and joined with Sudesh who came from Badulla (බදුල්ල) by night mail. Then we got the earliest bus to Nuwara Eliya at 5.00am from Nanu Oya. Only two food stalls were opened at Nuwara Eliya when we reached there. Following breakfast we met Lahiru and got the bus to Boralanda.
Lover’s leap Falls (ලවර්ස් ලීප් ඇල්ල)
Lover’s leap falls is 30m tall waterfall flows from Piduruthalagala mountain range and it supplies drinking water to surrounding area. The name was derived after jumping of two lovers from the top of the water fall. But nobody knows the exact history or when it happened.
During colonial age the water from the fall was used for brewing. This beer factory was situated at current Nuwara Eliya hospital premises.
There is a clear foot pathway to the base of the waterfall.

Getting directions from Boralanda junction

Pedro tea factory

Pedro tea factory. Hakgala is seen far away

Lover’s Leap Falls

Lover’s Leap Falls makes a rainbow

Journey to Lover’s leap falls provide a nice view towards Nuwara Eliya town and surroundings.

Hakgala (හක්ගල) range

Towards Kikiliyamana (කිකිලියාමාන)

Single Tree Hill, Glen Falls and Nuwara Eliya town

Edge of Piduruthalagala Range

Towards Handa Thanna-හද තැන්න (Moon plains) world’s end

Hortain plains and wind mills at New Zealand farm

Bomburu Ella reservoir-බෝඹුරු ඇල්ල ජලාශය

After enjoying the beauty of Lover’s leap falls we stepped up to reach the top of the fall. It was an acute ascend and foot pathway lied on right hand side of the fall. After about 10 minutes hike we reached the top of the fall. There was a clear foot pathway up to the top of the fall.

Top of the Lover’s leap falls

Then we continued along the foot pathway and it ended up at the water stream which becomes as Lover’s Leap Falls. Next task of the journey was to visit at cascades made by the water stream of Lover’s leap falls. Therefore we walked up along the water stream.

Piduruthalagala cascades-පිදුරුතලාගල ඇලි

Minor cascade met at the beginning

Lahiru and Sudesh are climbing up…..

Bluish sky

A place for sit and bath

It was not easy to walk with shoes in water

Fairly flat section for walk

After about 500m walk along the water stream we came across the first waterfall of Piduruthalagala cascades. It has three sections and total height is about 10-15m.

Piduruthalagala Cascade-1

Middle part of Piduruthalagala Cascade-1

Upper part of Piduruthalagala cadcades-1

Next beauty was situated about 250m away from first waterfall. It was not a difficult task to go along the first cascade. Piduruthalagala cascade-2 was about 15m tall waterfall.

Piduruthalagala Cascade-2

Lateral view of Piduruthalagala Cascade-2

Next waterfall is about 10m tall.

Piduruthalagala cascades-3

Human traces within the forest

Fourth cascade was also about 10m tall and we divert our way to the just lateral to the waterfall.

Piduruthalagala Cascade-4

On top of Piduruthalagala cascade-4

Minor cascade

A lizard….Sorry for unclear picture

After walking about another 500m we entered an open area like a plain. It was full of “Gawara Mana”-ගවර මානා. Piduruthalagala Cascade-5 was come across in next stretch of the journey. We decided to turn back as the rain was on the way. Luckily we were not caught to the rain till we reach the Lover’s leap falls.