Roaming around Morawaka for Ginigedara/ Marakapu/Makeli Falls

Year and Month	25-June-2017
Number of Days	One
Crew	02
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	Motor Bicycles
Activities	Hiking, Nature Exploring, Photography, Sightseeing
Weather	Good
Route	Moratuwa -> Horana -> Bulathsinghala -> Kalawellawa -> Bulugahawatte Road -> Ginigedara Ella -> Bulathsinghala -> Morawaka -> Makeli Ella -> Morawaka -> Athweltota -> Marakapu Ella
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Carry enough water Do not try in rainy days Ask the directions from local Do not disturb to the villagers Do not litter Leave only footprints
Related Resources	None
Author	Ranshan Fernando
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Roaming around Morawaka for Ginigedara/ Marakapu/Makeli Falls

Ginigedara Ella Falls – ගිනිගෙදර ඇල්ල

Cascading 14m down two protruding rock formations, the fall plunges into a dark cave – a feature that sets it apart from others. It was an unfortunate incident 50 years ago that gave the fall its name. A local family’s shack caught fire and the inhabitants perished.

The fall does not receive many visitors due to the tortuous journey, but it is a major landmark to environmental students who visit the site annually, due to its biological diversity.

The fall is near Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara District (Bulathsinhala Provincial Secretariat Division, Kalawella village). Three roads lead up to the fall. The most accessible is the Horana Bulathsinhala road to Kalawella. At the minor junction 4km on from here, turn left onto the deteriorating Bulgahawatte road and continue for 2km. It is then a 50m trek through a rubber plantation to reach the fall.

You can reach the Samagipura junction from Matugama or the Horana side. Pass Samagipura Temple and take the left path on the folk. Pass a rubber patch and take the left route again. After 20-30 meters you will come across a small bridge and then a few houses. The waterfall is situated about 100m away from the last house. (Source – srilankanwaterfalls.net)

Scenic road to our destination

Freedom of riding

A Landslide

Lower part of it

We had to skip this route

Going to the village

The final part of the ride

Parking

Footpath started

More to go

Small cascades

Nirosh’s camera never stops capturing even this small cascades

Here is it, Ginigedara Fall

Closer view

Lower part of it

Its amazing

Ginigedara Fall

Nature

Rocks

Full view of the area

Small cascades

Nirosh in action

Small cascades

Return Journey

Almost completed

Makeli Falls – මාකෙලි ඇල්ල

The 10m Makeli Ella Fall is said to resemble a bride’s veil from a distance, and round weather-eroded granite stones pepper the landscape. Before the fall there is a large natural pool, and 6m downstream a fairytale-like islet watershed, known as Thumodara. Later the streams fuse and flow to the Kuda River, and via the Kaluganga River to the sea.

Unfortunately, the natural beauty of the fall and its surrounding area are at risk due to the nearby Kukule Ganga Development Project. It seems possible that the resulting displaced soil could seep into the stream, causing it to silt up.

The Makeli Falls is situated in the Kalutara District. Take the Matugama – Agalawatte road to Lathpandura and then the Molkava road to reach the fall.

Though this was a popular bathing place before the Kukuleganga Project, now a viewing platform has been built upon the river and bathing here is prohibited. The fall can be reached on the route to Kukuleganga Holiday Resort. (Source: www.srilankanwaterfalls.net)

The stream

Small cascades

Makeli Fall

Water

Small cascades

Side views

Like Milk

Through the trees

Hidden view

Small cascades

Beautiful

Marakapu Ella Falls – මරකපු ඇල්ල

Marakapu Ella Falls lies in the Kalutara district Agalawatte in the world heritage Sinharaja Forest Conservation. Passing Matugama Baduraliya come to the Athweltota area. Travel on the Morapitiya Mahawatte Kandy Road for about 2km up to the to Athweltota village. The route is difficult being the route via Hettiyawattehena is over a slope and mountainous country. A km from Manaragoda the fall is in the border of Sinharaja.

The fall cascades errantly from a huge rock protuberance. During rain, the water spews about 8m from the base and the milieu is shrouded in mist with howling winds. However, during the dry spell, we see the necklace getting thin.

The woodlot is depleted due to denudation and plantations also had coursed environmental depletion. The dam constructed *about 50m above making a rescuing feels about 200 homesteads. About half of its water supply is stored in a tank, with the spill overflowing to a brook. The fall itself is threatened with extinction. The name of this fall is said to into we the death of a Malay chieftain

Morapitiya Junction is just before Athwelthota. Take the first road to the right after you pass the bridge after the Moratpitiya junction. Travel about 1.5Km on this route to reach the road that leads to the left (just before the factory). After walking 500 meters you will come to a point where you have to take another left turn and continued uphill through a rubber patch, and finally, reach the water tank at the end of the road. From here it is a small footpath towards the last house, and from there onwards one needs to follow the water pipe which diverts water from the waterfall towards the water tank to reach the top of the fall. (Source: www.srilankanwaterfalls.net)