Hidden beauties of Nawalapitiya

Nawalapitiya is blessed with number of beautiful waterfalls as I described in my previous report. This is another set of beautiful waterfalls in Nawalapitiya but not famous among travelers. Mr. Mervin is a great informant and waterfall lover lives at Nawalapitiya. I have noticed all these cascades from his face book posts and counting days till rain gets over. It is hard to predict the weather in Nawalapitiya but I assumed a clear day following heavy rain over the country.

It was a two men journey in waterfall hunting as I couldn’t find any more for the trip. There was a filling of gaps in my waterfall hunting at Ginigathhena. It was the visiting of Morahenagama Gerandi Ella (මොරහේනගම ගැරඩි ඇල්ල) as the first task of the day. (You can read more details from report.)

It was a beautiful morning. Shining surface of Sever virgins and Maha Piduruthalawa is situated behind.

Morahenagama Gerandi Falls

Morahenagama Gerandi Falls

Wewalthalawa with towers.

We had our breakfast from Ginigathhena and contacted Uchira who lives at 2nd km post at Nawalapitiya-Ginigathhena road. Uchira and his two friends were the guides for Rambukpitiya cascades.

Ballahagala is seen to Ginigathhena-Nawalapitiya road

Rambukpitiya waterfalls (රඹුක්පිටිය ඇලි)
There are 2+ waterfalls in Rambukpitiya-Nawalapitiya area. It doesn’t have an exact name and the water stream is also unnamed. With the guidance of Uchira and his two friends we got into the stream and hiked upward along the stream to visit waterfalls. The stream has satisfactory water level following rain. But we have to be cautious due to slippery rocks. First couple of waterfalls were moderate in size and the last one was about 15m in height, reminded me Beruwatta falls in Rathnapura. I never forget the unexpected bath had while creeping along “Lissana Gala” (ලිස්සන ගල). We spent about one and half hours to two hours to reach the third fall.

Get into the stream…. First waterfall was seen in distance

First waterfall of the stream

First waterfall of the stream

We have hiked along the stream and came across number of cascades

Get into the wild back…

Slippery rocks were really challengeable

Second waterfall with one side blind wall

Second waterfall of Rambukpitiya cascades

Second waterfall of Rambukpitiya cascades

Most beautiful out of three waterfalls

Rambukpitiya waterfalls-Third one

Rambukpitiya waterfalls-Third one

This reminded me Beruwatta falls

When we were at base of the fall

Rambukpitiya Falls

Uchira and his friends with me….

Queen of the journey

After the third fall we have hiked to nearby Pinus forest and descend along abounded tea estate to get back to 2nd kilometer post where we have parked the vehicle. During the descend I was able to capture few surrounding mountains.

Ship mark on Kabaragala. This was well seen when I was at Kikiliyamana. People call this part of Kabaragala as “Nawugala” (නැව්ගල).

It is not hard to identify Sri Pada. Seven virgins hills are seen in front of Sri Pada.

Watawala Kanda with towers

Must be Rilagala / Pasmale Kanda

Great western in left side

Ballahagala. The mountain in front of Ballahagala-බල්ලාහෑගල (with Pinus cap) called as Alipukgala (අලිපුක්ගල) by boys.

Mahaweli River. The stream we visited also joins with Mahaweli River.

Nawalapitiya-Ginigathhena road at Rambukpitiya

It’s only two kilometers to Nawalapitiya town

We spent about four hours for Rambukpitiya waterfall hunting and it was lunch time when we returned to the village. After saying goodbye to our little friends at Rambukpitiya we drove back towards Ginigathhena to visit another couple of waterfalls. These two waterfalls were at byroad situated next to Rambukpitiya sub post office.
After driving about 2km along this road we stopped the vehicle near a boutique. (Second boutique in right hand side) There was a foot path next to this boutique to reach the waterfall. But latter part of the path was bushy and we were directed by a house owner to base of the fall. Again it doesn’t have a name, but old lady lived next to the boutique said they called the land with waterfall as Ellewaththa (ඇල්ලේවත්ත). Therefore it is bit correct to tell it as “Ellewaththa Ella” (ඇල්ලේවත්ත ඇල්ල). Few decades ago a water project has been involved this waterfall and it is a good clue to find this waterfall. Otherwise most of the villagers are clueless about this cascade.
Ellewaththa Falls is about 10m in height.

Ellewaththa falls in distance

Ellewaththa Ella

Ellewaththa Ella

Full view of Ellewaththa Ella

Full view of Ellewaththa Ella

The stream after forming the fall.

There is a clear path with cement steps in left side of the stream. But middle part of the foot path is not clear.

Our legs were full of mud as we had to cross a marshy land to reach Ellewaththa Fall. Luckily there was a stream closer to the road to get clear mud. To reach the next waterfall we had to move another 1.5km along this gravel road. It was called Kaluwala Ella (කලුවල ඇල්ල) as a deep “Kaluwala” is situated at base of the fall. Actually this fall is situated behind a private tea estate and Mr. Thissa who is the owner of the land was very supportive. The sad story behind the fall is their daughter was died after falling into “Kaluwala” about 20years ago. There was a nice rock to view this beautiful waterfall. Seems it has height about 6-7m.

Kaluwala Fall….Ideal for slow shutters

Kaluwala Fall. It is about 6/7m in height

Kaluwala Fall

Wow…..

Nawalapitiya Kaluwala Falls

This rock is a nice place to enjoy the fall…..

Then we headed towards Nawalapitiya town to have our late lunch. Next waterfall is called Shamrock falls as it is situated at the road to Shamrock estate.
This beautiful waterfall is situated closer to Nawalapitiya town at Nawalapitiya-Dolosbage road. There was a concrete road which becomes a clear foot pathway after about 1-1.5km. This is the short cut to Shamrock estate. As we were not sure about road condition we have parked the vehicle at Dolosbage road and hiked along this by road. It was a nice view point towards Nawalapitiya town. Gradually it became a foot path with cemented steps and crossed the stream which creates Shamrock Falls (ෂැම්රොක් ඇල්ල). We stepped down towards the base of the fall about 10-20m before this crossing.
Shamrock fall is about 15m tall waterfall. Sadly there were a lot of empty beer cans at base of the fall.

Shamrock fall

Shamrock fall

Shamrock fall

Shamrock fall

At base of Shamrock falls

Our last destination was a road side cascade called Diyathiri Falls (දියතිරි ඇල්ල) situated at Nawalapitiya-Dolosbage road.  Nawalapitiya-Dolosbage road is another scenic winding road. There was a view point called Craighead view point about 1km before Craighead tea factory. We were able to view Kabaragala, Ambuluwawa, Sri Pada, Watawala Kanda, Rilagala / Pasmale, Mahaweli Maha Seya and Peacock hills from Craighead view point. Diyathiri falls is situated just beyond 17km post of this road (Galamuduna junction)

View from Craighead view point

Sacred peak covered….

Watawala Kanda…

Towards Rilagala-Pasmale

Peacock Hills with towers

Mahaweli Maha Seya…Kotmale reservoir must be beyond that.

The giant behind….Kabaragala

Diyathiri falls (30m)
This 30m tall waterfall is formed by a tributary of Maha Oya. It flows from north-west slope of Gentry Box Mountain

Diyathiri falls…..framed by current wire

Diyathiri Fall

When you looked back from waterfall

Getting selfies with Diyathiri Falls

Successful two men team again…

It ends another successful one day waterfall hunting at Nawalapitiya area. We had a dip from a road side stream before go to our accommodation at Kandy.

Ambuluwawa with towers

Alagalla

Sun set…

Sun set…

End of the day….

Thank you for reading