Ending the Drought of Travelling – Tour de Waterfalls 20…

Hi folks, hope you’re doing great despite the incessant rains that have wreaked havoc with the day-to-day life in all over the country. However, the waterfall lovers must’ve found this a blessing as the waterfalls in all the areas were revived with these new found energy boosters. Even the ones who were mercilessly killed by those brutal mini hydro power plants received a lifeline. However, even this time, I was not lucky enough to go see my beloved St. Claire.

Oh, before we go on with the story, I found this nice quote on Facebook (the biggest on-line university on earth covering all the aspects of the human life) and thought of sharing it with you folks, especially the parents who’re reading these will find it very useful. Here it is:

“Buy your children a camera so that they will have neither the money nor the time to spend on drugs”

It’s so good I decided to put it in bold letters. Thinking about that, I realized it is so true coz if you get your children interested in the nature from the early stages, chances are of them becoming very good citizens are very high. I’m sure it’ll achieve more than all the rules and regulations and now the increased number of police stations combined. So that’s some food for your thoughts when you’ve nothing much to do.

Well, I’m an addict, I must admit that coz I’m not good at hiding it further. I’m so much addicted despite getting hooked later than many and I simply can’t stop it or stay away from it for longer. It simply drives me nuts and I feel like screaming and pulling all my hair (not that I have much hair left) when I don’t get my required dosage. Oh my bad, I didn’t tell you what my addiction was, did I? But I’m sure you must’ve figured it by now. Travelling is my biggest addiction which I sort of started in 2012 and since then I was hooked. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to kick the habit.

It’s an extremely rare occurrence since July 2012 that I’d stay without going anywhere for more than 3-4 weeks. However since 18 Oct until 15 Nov I spent all of my weekends feeling depressed beyond imagination with nowhere to go. It was like a living hell having to spend my time dreaming about the places and things I wanted to go and see. I was scared I’d actually go out of my mind and will have to get admitted to the hospital you-know-where.

Finally Hasi became my savior when he managed to escape his busy schedule for a quick one-day tour. As he’s not been to Waterfalls of Colombo and it was so convenient, we decided to give it a go even though I’d been there once before. So we finally left, armed with umbrellas and raincoats, for Kaluaggala on the 15 Nov morning when the rains were falling cats and dogs. The sky was gloomy and charcoal grey with no sign of sunlight when we started our journey around 6.30am.

Tour Highlights: 

1. Dambora Ella, Dambora.
2. Ranmudu Ella, Thummodara.
3. Ella Uda Ella, Ilukovita.
4. Kumari Ella, Hewainna.
5. Uduwaka Ella aka Dunu Mala Ella, Dunu Mala.

Map of the Waterfalls. From bottom: Dambora Ella, Ranmudu Ella, Ella Uda Ella & Kumari Ella. Source: Amazing Lanka

We arrived at Hanwella and stopped for breakfast. There was no sign of the rain easing off so our hopes of seeing them in good light kept fading. Even around 7.30am, it felt like 5.30am as it was so dark. Thanks to Hari’s report, map directions on Amazing Lanka and my old memories, we followed the route carefully.

Dambora Ella

We arrived at Kaluaggala around 8.30am and turn to the Labugama Road that goes through Waga and Thummodara old Iron Bridge. Go straight through the bridge (there’s an alternative bridge built to the side of this as it looks very ancient and might not last long) for another 1-2km. When you reach a bus stop to the right with a road that runs through the Ayr Estate, it’s time to stop coz you’ve overshot by about 300m. Turn around and come back along the same road and remember the stream (Wak Oya) that makes the Dambora Ella is now to your left.

Keep an eye out for a house to the left among the rubber trees. It’s located at a lower level than the road about 50m from the road so you have to be very careful. When you can see it, it’s time to stop but remember the road is well-carpeted but narrow so you’ll have to find a suitable place to leave your vehicle. Take the tiny path to the house and be careful coz there’s a ferocious doggy but he’s chained most of the time so you might not have that much of a problem.

Go and ask them for permission to get to the falls as the clear path is behind the house. So then you may traverse through the overgrown path to the stream which is very close by, not even 50ft. When you reach the water is the tricky point coz there’s not clear path to the falls which is about another 50ft upstream. So you need to take it nice and slow and go upstream. Always try to go barefoot but be careful about the jutting rocks and pieces of sharp junks that had come along the water.

After a short walk along the Wak Oya, you’ll find the beautiful and sensually curved Dambora Ella with a large base pool. She is probably the most beautiful out of all four waterfalls in Colombo District due to her sloping curvy shape. However, it’s best if you can curb your temptation to go for a dip in the base pool as there had been deaths reported according to the folks in the house. So look at this gorgeous lady as long as you can, leave nothing, do not disturb the environment, no hooting or playing drums please coz the noise of her is soothing to your mind and body and lastly, come back safely without slipping or tripping.

Here are the pictures you’re itching to see:

Hasi ready without the shoes

It was pouring with rain

She looked amazing

Closer look

More

Portrait

With the deep base pool

Portrait with it

Those sexy curves

Close up

The stream is not that visible

Yeah, I’m ecstatic

Ranmudu Ella

I hope you got enough of Dambora Lady and ready for the other one who is not so far away. Come back to Thummodara Junction. Yeah, you thought right, it’s where the old iron bridge is. Now take a right turn which is the Puwakpitiya Road. When you drive along this, say about 1-2km, you will get a right hand road which is according to the Google Maps is called “Pagngnagula Road”. This road crosses the stream that carries the water of Ranmudu Ella.

Drive along this road which is bordered with rubber plants for about 500-600m or could even be more. When you take a sharp bend to the left, take a look to the right. Oh, don’t do that while you’re driving and it’s better if you get the passenger to do it for you. You might even have to get down coz the road is somewhat lower than the grass bank to the right. You will see a bridge through the rubber plantation and if you see that, well you’ve come to the correct place. If you go on a weekend or a public holiday, you’re more likely to find many other vehicles too and you may even hear the raucous laughter, loud bangs on drums and many other unpleasant noises coming from the area overpowering the soothing flow of the water.

Now trace your steps along the tiny footpath through the rubber plantation for a very short walk and you’ll arrive at the tiny bridge which separates the second and third parts of the falls. To your left is the mid-section which is about 8-10ft in height. It’s fairly wide and has a base pool of its own before flowing under the bridge and making the lower and the longest part that’s about 40-45ft in height. Ok, enjoy your time with the mid-section now and if you want to see the top part, just go to the other end of the bridge and get to the left which is the mid-section and walk up along the right hand side of the falls to the top section. Don’t worry, there’s very little to walk and you will have plenty of handholds to get there.

When you do that (remember there’s a safe bathing place on the top too), come back to the bridge and walk a few feet (remember only a few feet, probably 10-15ft) from the end of the bridge and turn to the right. There’s a path that goes downhill and it’ll take you to the base of the bottom part which is the highest about 40ft. Going can be tricky coz you’ll have to walk along the rock. If it rains, be extremely careful and the best method is to monkey-crawl. If you don’t know what that is, use all four limbs given to you so that the chances of you slipping and falling are at a minimal. To your right, the water is gushing down and I know it’s very tempting to photograph or admire the beauty while you’re going downtown. However, if you wanna come back in one piece and tell your story, make sure you stop with a good foothold and enjoy the beauty. Don’t do it on the move. No matter how much we are cautioned, we’d still be doing the same thing coz we are overconfident, aren’t we?

Oh, one other thing that you need to be very careful is the broken pieces of glass scattered along the rock. They’re not visible to the naked eye clearly as the glass pieces are tiny and without a color. Take great care coz Hasi’s wife had to be almost airlifted (the thick tree cover, gloomy weather and above all lack of high-ranking government contacts prevented us doing so) coz she cut herself thanks to an ignorant drunkard who had apparently been suffering from a nervous breakdown.

Ok, this is probably the tallest girl in Colombo District and boy, isn’t she a beauty when in full flow. The overhead bridge across the stream can be an eyesore for some as it might not sit well with the contrast and the surrounding but some might find this an added bonus in their photography. Remember the Weddha Peni Ella in Atanwala? Ok, folks, I’m gonna let you enjoy this beauty. The rain doesn’t look like it’s gonna stop anytime soon so hurry.

The bridge

Full length but some railings are missing

Mid-section

Covered with plants

Lot of water but must have more when it rains really hard

Dripping flowers

Lower falls from the bridge

Getting to the base

Falls alone no bridge

Lower section

Portrait

Just the bottom of the bridge is visible

Plenty of water

Time to go

Ella Uda Ella

Ok, if you’re done with the Ranmudu Ella, come and hop in coz there’s another lady waiting our arrival impatiently. Now come back to the main road that goes to Puwakpitiya. Remember you took a right turn to go to Ranmudu Ella. Once on the main road, turn right towards Puwakpitiya and go towards Ilukovita. Well it’s not far, about 3-4km if I’m not mistaken. The clear landmark is the newly opened Sithawaka Wet Zone Botanical Gardens. Just before that you’ll be at Ilukovita Junction with a road to the right with a name saying “Kodikanda Aranya Senasanaya”. This road leads to an area called Koswatta.

Travel on this road till you come across a bridge with a stream flowing underneath. That’s the water coming from Ella Uda Ella. Now don’t panic coz I’m not asking you to follow the stream upstream. Even though that won’t be a bad idea for the extra adventurous types. Now the road will be a steep climb and when you climb about 300m, there’ll be a small Buddha Image House with a Bo Tree to the right. Just passing that you’ll see a house, yes you guessed right, it’s on the right hand side. This is where you need your charming skills coz you’ll have to go talk to the people in the house and ask for permission to go across there garden to the path. It’s to the left of the house.

If you were nice enough, they’d let you go through the garden. Now walk along and you’ll find a wide rocky surface (about 100ft in width) over which the water flows onto make this beautiful two-segmented falls to the right. But you’re not going to follow the stream downstream, ok. Cross the stream to the other side where there’s a rubber plantation. Now trace your steps to the right along the path goes downhill parallel to the stream on your right. After a few dozen steps, there’s an opening to the right which will lead you to the falls. Oh, just be careful coz the rocky bed where you’ll get down is very slippery.

So climb down slowly and watch out for any broken pieces of glass and you’ll be in business. She has two major parts almost in equal heights and very wide, definitely the widest in Colombo District. Now I’ll leave you to enjoy the beauty and come back in a while to take you to the last beauty in Colombo.

Have to cross this

Hasi coming with his wife

First glimpse

Two sections

The top

Closer look

Both parts at an angle

Lower

With the base pool

Full package

Portrait

Going back

Kumari Ella

Right, we’re back on the main road, aren’t we? If not, retrace your steps, say thank you to the household and come back to the main road. Now, if you’re tempted, you may pay a visit to the Wet Zone Botanical Garden close by. But you know I can’t wait that long, so you need to come with me now to go see the last in line for Colombo Waterfalls. Let’s go further towards Puwakpitiya. On the way you will pass Digana (not the one in Kandy). Passing Digana you’ll see a shop to your right.

Just passing that there’s the Hewainna Road. If you’re not sure, do ask from the shop. Remember, this is not a suitable road for a car unless it’s one of those old Toyota Wagon type. It’s recommended to leave your car here and walk coz it’s only a short walk about 400m. The road runs parallel to the stream where the water stream that makes Kumari Ella. You’ll be able to easily spot where you need to get to the stream to your left.

You’ll get to the top of Kumari Ella and will have to cross the stream and come around to get a front view. Remember this is also known as Kumari Wala coz there’s a large base pool here which is more prominent than the waterfall itself. She’s the smallest of all among the Colombo Waterfalls and due to the easy access, she’s fallen victim to the many misdemeanors. You can see piles of garbage, leftover food cartons, empty and broken glass bottles, etc. So by all means, watch your step and tread carefully.

The rains made it too difficult for us to cross the stream so had to be content with a few pictures take at an awkward angle with a fall tree acting as a barrier. Ok, I’ll wait for you to come coz now we’ve a long journey ahead coz we’re about to travel some 40+km to see one of the two documented waterfalls in Gampaha District. So make it snappy guys.

Upstream of Kumari Ella

Where she begins, for a better look needs to cross the stream and come around

Ferocious

The This fallen tree was a real nuisance

Where she hits the base

Further upstream

Closer look

The stream downhill

Making cascades on her way

Uduwaka Ella aka Dunu Mala Ella

Map of the Uduwaka Ella aka Dunu Mala Ella. Source: Amazing Lanka

Right, you have a few options getting to this waterfall. As we were already at Puwakpitiya, we were contemplating on two routes. One was going to Avissawella and then to Ruwanwella-Galapitamada Road. The second was Avissawella-Thalduwa-Amithirigala-Urapola-Attanagalla-Alawala Road. As the distance via Amitirigala was about 6km shorter, we chose to take that road. If you read my previous report, you’ll find the directions via Attanagalla-Haggala-Algama as well.

Well, as you might already know, there’s a confusion pertaining to the name. Some say this is Dunu Mala Ella and some even refer to it as Devin Penna Ella while others used Uduwaka Ella. When we checked with a person in a shop on the path to the falls, he confirmed that this is in fact Uduwaka Ella coz it’s located in Uduwaka Village. Dunu Mala Village too located right next to this thus the confusion of the name.

So you may refer to her as anyway you please but we saw a name board nailed to a tree or could’ve been a lamppost when we visited her last time saying “Uduwaka Ella”. Right, we took the Avissawella-Amitirigala-Urapola-Attanagalla Road and turn to the Alawala Road near the Attanagalla RMV on Pasyala Road. Pre-historic Alawala Cave is also located on this road. I was initially under the impression that there are two falls Dunu Mala and Uduwaka so hoping to see both of them, we drove towards Galapitamada and turn to the Dunu Mala Road and after a few kms and asking from a couple of villagers, we found the place and alas, it looked very familiar. The reason was I’d come here before and seen the falls.

There were a couple of vehicles had parked despite the heavy rains signaling that this is one of the hot stop among not just enthusiast but also drunks. So be careful and expect some nasty surprises if you go there especially on weekends and holidays. Try to go as early as possible or on weekdays in order to enjoy the true beauty of this falls. We spoke to the shop owner I mentioned earlier and cleared the doubts and I felt sad coz we were down to just one falls. Let’s go and see what she looks like coz last time she was in minimal flow and was swarming with people.

It’s about 100-150m walk to the falls and we heard the typical shouting and screaming of the people playing the fool. Oh dear, there’s not gonna be any peace for us today either. Sure enough, there was a group of people sitting and playing this and that in the middle of the falls so taking a decent picture of the falls alone was out of the question. Another gang was having a ball nearby and the garbage pile was still there stinking the whole place. Well, the falls was in full flow and she had a few mud stains on her otherwise pristine white dress showing that she’s been naughty.

We just had to bide our time until those devils got enough of water and got down to take a picture. It was raining and we waited anxiously willing them to move soon. Finally after a good half hour or so, they decided to start getting ready to leave and we got that precious window to snap a few pictures. However, it didn’t last long as another group of heavily intoxicated youths took on their places and decided to move in. It was so frustrating but we had to be content with what we got coz there was no point trying to talk to those folks.

After a few pictures, we decided to go to top of the falls. All you have to do is follow the footpath that goes on the right of the falls uphill. It’s very slippery when raining so be careful. However, there was nothing much to see coz I was hoping for an angle-view on the way up but the tree cover was too much. After a few pictures we came back to the base hoping for a clear view but still no luck. So enjoy these pictures and don’t mind the eyesores in them.

Can you see the crowd?

No sign of them moving so took the upper part

See the tinge of mud

Muddy base pool

Finally a break

Portrait

She’s really beautiful

Upper part

The second gymnastic group arrived on scene

See the drama

Took the right hand side without them

If you look closer at the center of the falls where there’s a rock, you’ll see a sort of a dead body. That’s of course a drunk fellow lying after his dances

Waited for this

The top

Further upstream

Oh, the two of us

Didn’t miss them

I had to take a picture even though it wasn’t the proper setting

Backward glance

Close up

On the path

Close up

Thorny

Very prickly

Unfortunately we didn’t have time not the feeling to go see any more of the falls so decided to come home early and have some Kottamalli just to be on the safe side after all the soaking we got throughout the day. So we left for Colombo and reached well in time for an early dinner and bed.

So guys, this is the end of that and I wish I could’ve shown you more of those beauties but there were no means to do that. So enjoy the journey and do pay a visit to them whenever you can.

This is Sri signing off for now. Keep travelling but stay safe.