Last few hours of Uma Oya / උමා ඔය දිගේ……..

Uma Oya is one of a main tributaries of the longest river of Sri Lanka-Mahaweli River (මහවැලි ගග). It gets birth from eastern slope of central hills and forms number of waterfalls including Bomburu Falls (known as one of the widest fall in SL). In middle part of it’s course, Uma Oya contributes to an emerging development project of the country-Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project. At the end this beautiful lady gets hands of super king of rivers-Mahaweli at Rantambe reservoir.
We have noted the final course of Uma Oya through the forest window from top of Hagasulla and it was included to our to-do list. So our main objective was to follow Uma Oya through VRR forest reserve till it ends at Rantambe reservoir with extra hopes of visiting Uma Oya falls marked in Google map. Eventually we were gifted by another beautiful waterfall, so called Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls (උමා ඔය දුන්හිද ඇල්ල)

Please note: Ashan also has mentioned Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls in his report. This fall is situated another few kilometers above, near Bathmadilla anicut. He has been informed by villagers at Godunna area it as Dunhinda Falls in Uma Oya. Don’t know which one is correct or there are two Dunhinda Falls in Uma Oya. People at Theripaha mentioned this as Dunhinda Falls in Uma Oya. If there are two falls, this is Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls-2.

Summary of the journey: Starting point at Moragolla, Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls and end at Rantambe reservoir.

A bend of Uma Oya. This was taken when were at Hegasulla.

Course of Uma Oya through VRR. This was captured when we were at Hegasulla.

Let’s move to the journey:
We have planned to reach the starting point of this journey from Theripaha which was a remote end village at Walapane. Theripaha is a familiar place for us now and I have done number of trekking and hiking starting from Theripaha.
Map reading before start the journey was really helpful. We have marked our starting point and it can be easily reached from Theripaha. There were rows of paddy fields at side of Uma Oya before this starting point. The gravel road started from Theripaha junction descend to these paddies. Villagers of Theripaha and surrounding villages walk daily to these paddies for the work. A long ago it was their village but they had to move out after establishing VRR reserve (Victoria-Randenigala-Rantambe). It’s hard to think these people walk about 8-10km daily for working at paddies. And there are some permanent houses closer to these paddies.
With aid of a three wheel we have reached the village called Aswedduma. Then we followed the gravel road till it ends at blocks of paddy fields. There was a group of farmers who were working at paddies warned us about wild elephants roaming near the river.

I have caught these two chaps for this journey. Actually this is an idea of Eshan.

Gravel road we followed to Uma Oya.

Half abounded village.

Still they are using cattle

There are some permanent houses as well

Hegasulla is popping up above paddies

The giant of the area-Hegasulla

There was an elephant fence separating paddies from Uma Oya.

First sight of Uma Oya

According to my past experience on walking along rivers, I expected a trek with the river. Then it would be bit difficult task and it would take more than a day to complete this stretch. Surprisingly there was a clear pathway along the left bank of Uma Oya for certain distance and rest of the stretch also happened along the left bank without much difficult. Therefore most of the time we could walk on side of the river rather than get into it. This part of the River is fairly wide and gently seeking it’s path to Mahaweli River. We could assume and notice the flow in a rainy day as river bank has extended for another few meters. After about first kilometer rocky appearance of river base and bank came across. But it didn’t make any issue with our journey. Uma Oya gets number of feeding streams in either side to make it’s flow big.

Along the River…

Uma Oya is shaded by branches of trees in most of the time.

Left bank of the River

Clump of ants

There was a clear path on left bank of the River

There was a clear path on left bank of the River.

Rocky appearance of River base

These shaded boulders were nice rest points

Fairly wide section of the river

It is an island

View of Hegasulla

View of Hegasulla

Hegasulla and peaks at Korahana area

Sandy…

How long it would extend in a rainy day to make a wide river

A reef

Beauty of Uma Oya

Rough appearance

Posing…

Rapid flow

Such a wide river…

A feeding stream

A narrow part of the River

A good camping spot…

Steps were noted on a side rock

After walk about three to four kilometers, the river gets an acute drop with a bend to form Dunhinda Falls in Uma Oya (might be Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls-2). Here the whole flow goes through a cleft to form three steps cascade with about 15-20m height. We were so happy by seeing this waterfall. It was difficult to reach the base of it. After descend further 30/40m we were able to get down but a wild boar was aiming at the path. We enjoyed the view of this beauty in distance and restarted the journey.

Uma Oya gets prepare to form Dunhinda Falls.

Mini cascade

Three steps Dunhinda Falls in Uma Oya. Probably Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls-2.

Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls / Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls-2.

Upper two steps of the fall. This waterfall is formed by flowing of whole water through a narrow cleft.

Last part of Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls

We can’t reach the base of the fall due to acute slope.

I was so happy after seeing unexpected beauty.

Steep boundaries on either side

These holes might be formed by jet flow of the water

Distance view of Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls / Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls-2.

Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls / Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls-2

Exact place of Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls (Uma Oya Dunhinda Falls-2)

Soon after the fall, there was an acute descend

Distance view of the fall

If one can wants to reach the fall, can get down here and walk upstream

This was quite common.

Parasites….

Another feeding stream of Uma Oya. There was a beautiful waterfall here, as we were in other side of the river we couldn’t make it.

Macro

Round stones

Another mini cascade

Rapid flow

Unknown Mountain at VRR reserve

Mini fall

What a place…

Uma Oya Falls / උමා ඔය ඇල්ල
This 3m tall but wide fall is situated in Uma Oya closer to Rantambe reservoir. It is marked in Google map.

Uma Oya Falls

Short but wide Uma Oya Falls.

Uma Oya Falls in distance

Uma Oya after forming Uma Oya falls

When we were at Uma Oya Falls

Uma Oya falls like a princess if Dunhinda Falls in Uma Oya is the queen. We didn’t come across any waterfalls hereafter and it slowly flows to join with Mahaweli River. We could notice an old anicut built across the river to divert water. We have started the journey from Moragolla by 8am and finished at Rantambe by about 4pm. Total distance might be 8-10km. When it is closer to the main road, river banks were covered with heavily grown Mana. Therefore we had to walk bit inside the forest. Unfortunately we couldn’t find a proper place to have a bath to wind up the journey as river base was filled with mud.

Further along the river

Uma Oya is ready to finish the journey.

Old anicut

Last few hundred meters of the journey. Hereafter we changed our track to other bank due to Mana cover.

I would like to share this picture to end the report. Here Uma Oya joins with Mahaweli River to form Rantambe reservoir. We have finished our trek closer to the bridge. This was captured when we were at Randenigala hills.

Same picture at the end.

Mahaweli River soon after Rantambe reservoir.

Thanks for reading