Seeking the Veiled Princesses Surrounding the Sacred Mountain – Tour de Waterfalls 8…

After 7 consecutive successful waterfall tours, I thought it’d be a long time before I could continue where I left off due to the variable rain patterns and severe drought in many areas. However, the late arrival of the South-Western Monsoon made me perish my previous thoughts and revive these journeys and what a time Atha and I had on 14 Sep when I re-started the program.

I’m a passionate fan of the waterfalls, the most wonderful creatures of the Mother Nature. Just a glimpse or a piece of news is enough to make me travel many miles regardless of the weather or terrain to see these Pristine-White Virgin Beauties. They can make you feel relaxed, refreshing, reinvigorating, calm, energetic, special, etc. I’ve felt a whole lot more when I’m with them and my vocabulary is not so rich to express all those feelings.

I’ve a penchant for being with them as long as possible, simply looking at them can make my all sorrows, no matter how terrible they are, vanish into thin air. I’ve already a collection of more than 100 waterfalls in my Facebook page and I hope to visit as many as possible before they disappear from the face of earth thanks to ignorant, careless and heartless activities by many idiots.

I got a sudden craving to go see some of these beauties in and around the Sacred Mountain, Sri Pada and Atha too decided to jump in and this was a very last minute journey making only the two of us this time. We left around 4.00am on a rainy dawn and reached Kalugala Junction while the sun was battling an unwinnable fight against menacingly thick and grey clouds. The Kelani River that runs parallel to A7 was not so rich making us anxious to the water levels of the falls. We were nonetheless fully committed to the mission by then to turn around.

Tour Highlights:

1. Gerandi Ella, Morahenagama.
2. Laxapana Ella, Laxapana.
3. Mulgama Lower Falls, Mulgama.
4. Mohini Ella, Nallathanniya.
5. Mulgama Upper Falls, Mulgama.
6. Gartmore Falls, Gartmore Estate.
7. Peak Field Falls, Peak Field Estate.
8. Peak Field Mini Falls, Peak Field Estate.
9. Cluster of Seasonal Falls, Gangulthenna.
10. Yaka Andu Ella, Gangulthenna.
11. Peace Pagoda, Gangulthenna.
12. Sri Pada Ella, Gangulthenna.

Morahenagama Gernadi Ella

Kehelgamu Oya, usually very rich and jumpy during the rains was not so alive. I was feeling a bit depressed inside as I longed to see more water in the falls. We chose the upper road at Bodhigira Junction that runs to Norton Bridge passing Laxapana Power Station. The morning light was appearing over the misty mountains while we savored the fresh air. For those who, including ourselves, living most of our lives in the concrete jungle of the city, filling our lungs with poisonous air, this is a very welcome opportunity and I always want to travel with lowered shutters.

We came to the Morahenagama Gerandi Falls around 6.30am and got down to see that she still had the same amount of water like we saw last time. I felt like it was high time to open the shutter count for the day and we both got out in the drizzle and started shooting away. She’s so tall yet again I could find no record of her anywhere.

Morahenagama Gerandi Ella

The top of her

Portrait

Not much water flowing down

Laxapana Ella

Passing her we continued our merry way until we saw the glorious Laxapana Falls to our right. None of us needed to say to the other what we should do. Atha stopped the vehicle automatically and without a word being said, we got out and captured her from a long way away on our lenses.

Unfortunately, the water levels were not like what they were last we visited yet confirming our fears of not enough rains. The milky white water flow kept plunging down to the base where we couldn’t see. Gosh, how beautiful these waterfalls really are. Even though I was compelled to go see both Laxapana and Aberdeen once again having come so close to them, I had to restrain myself continuously repeating to myself that our agenda was something else. Hesitatingly, we both got back in and drove away towards the Maskeliya turn off while the seven virgins hid themselves like always in a thick veil of mist adding to their mystery.

Misty mountains and she’s falling nicely in the distance

My friends will know that I’d dearly take a cable cutter with me

Not much water but on our return journey we noticed the water levels had risen

Portrait

Mulgama Lower Falls

Passing lusty green hills and the dancing drizzling of water we reached Maussakelle around 7.30am. This is when we decided that enough was enough and we had to eat something no matter what. Interestingly enough, I learnt that Del House is the English name for Nallathanniya and felt pretty stupid not to have known it all this time despite having come across it numerous times, especially in trip reports. It proved that there’s plenty to learn still. After a poor meal of fish buns and black coffee (usually we have a sumptuous meal for breakfast as almost all the time we skip lunch (ask Kasun, Dhanushka, Tony, Sheham and even Hasi) and devote that time to keep exploring.

Arriving on the Maussakelle Dam which was completely devoid of life was a godsend as I spent nearly half hour walking from end to end enjoying the breath-taking view of the placid Maussakelle Reservoir and never ending mountains. Unfortunately, sacred mountain had decided to cover herself completely with an impregnable veil of light grey muslin cloth. We were offered some fruit from a Poojawa at the Saman Devalaya off the dam by a lady. Atha munched on a piece of pineapple while I grabbed a grape and took on the mesmerizing view. Further away we could see the twin falls falling either side up in the hills of Gartmore Estate. They looked very narrow and so far up giving me more jitters about the water levels.

We then got underway and closer to Mohini Falls noticed a fairly large waterfall to our left and jumped off the vehicle trying to capture her on our lenses. We found a path that runs down towards the Maussakelle Reservoir and the waterfall directly fell into the reservoir marking one end of the reservoir. It’s amazing to see the number of waterfalls falling directly into the reservoir and we saw 5 of them including Mulgama Lower Falls. Others were Mohini Ella (the lower most part), Gartmore Falls, Peak Field Falls and Peak Field Mini Falls.

The view was somewhat blocked by the overgrown trees but there simply wasn’t a way to get any closer. We decided to try from somewhere else and headed towards Mohini Falls that’s right by the roadside about 150m away.

Mystery solved, Del House = Nallathanniya

Isolated Maussakelle Dam

Simply breath-taking

Further in the distance is the Gartmore Estate and we could see the Gartmore Estate Falls from here

Sluice gates not open yet

Still good enough, Canadian-made

Powerplant?

We happened to come across her

Gorgeous looking greenery

We got to the path and came this close but not a hope of reaching the base

Zoomed in and she’s fairly large

Hitting the reservoir

The top covered by the trees

She’s so beautiful

Endless greenery but what’s up there?

Ooops!

Mohini Falls

She had a lot of water but not overflowing. It’s believed that this falls resembles a devil named “Mohini” thus the name for the falls. Villagers are believed to be very reluctant to go anywhere near her after its dark due to this reason. Despite all these folklore, we didn’t give a toss about the place being haunted or full of ghosts but her sheer beauty. She falls from a height of 30m right down to the base and then flows under the bridge and joins Maussakelle Reservoir.

Talking of Mohini Falls, I’d come across two very wrong descriptions of her. First being that she has a so much taller upper part and the second claims she has an even bigger lower part as well. From what we saw, you can neither see the top nor bottom parts from the road, just the 30m main body. However, if you drive along Moray Estate Road from the Mulgama Junction, after about 600-800m, you can see the top of Mohini Falls from the distance. Its height, I’d imagine, is around 20-30ft maximum in height and falls to a pool in the middle before making the main body of the falls. However she has this top most part where she slides along a rocky surface at an angle probably increasing her height but not by much, probably 10-15ft more.

I also wanted to check the bottom of the falls to make sure that there’s no such a long part. However, looking at it from the road made us think it was unlikely she’ll have a higher bottom part. On our return having visited Mulgama Upper Falls, Gartmore Falls and Peak Field Falls, I decided to climb down from Fishing Hut Road towards the Maussakelle Reservoir to check this and to get a better view of Mulgama Lower Falls. Unfortunately, after about 600m downhill journey and an elevation about 200ft, I came across two guys who were fishing in the reservoir and to my horror the falls was blocked by a large rocky boulder. I tried walking parallel to the reservoir bank but it was too slippery and dangerous thus abandoned on the idea.

Nevertheless, this served one other purpose. I saw the bottom most part of Mohini Ella that was not taller than maybe 10ft falling through bushes to the reservoir. What horrified me was the amount of garbage collected at the base of her on the surface of reservoir. There must’ve been a few tons of rotten garbage including plastic and polythene stuff. This is how the Sacred Mountain cleanses herself. Most of our rotten devotees to the Sri Pada leave everything they’ve used up dumped anywhere they find destroying the environment and adding onto Mother Nature’s burden. What those fools don’t understand is the Sacred Mountain doesn’t intend to be treated like that and she throws them all back at us by sending them in waves during the heavy rainy season cleansing her ruined beauty.

It was threatening to rain at any moment and we spent as long as we dare without putting our plans in jeopardy and went further up the road.

Beautiful Mohini, from the road

Close

Plenty of water

Right at the top

Silky smooth

The full package

Parting shot, that cable almost ruined the pic

Mulgama Upper Falls

Just as we were passing the top of Mulgama Lower Falls, I heard (we were travelling shutter-lowered) another roar of falling water. It’s now a familiar sound that has embedded in my brain and I seemed to have developed a very good sense too in knowing where the waterfalls are. We stopped by and I could see a falls about 15-20ft in height. No second thoughts and I ran down what was only visible path towards the Seetha Gangula but landed on the top of the falls. There was no way to reach the bottom but we saw a person chopping up some wood on the other bank and below the falls and decided to come around and do likewise.

After a few pictures and half a dozen leech attacks I got back on the road and insisted Atha drive as quickly as possible. We reached the Mulgama Junction and turned to left which is the Moray Estate Road, rather Fishing Hut Road. About 500m to the road, we stopped by and took the path through the tea patch parallel to the Seetha Gangula but after 150m or so it became so slippery and muddy. Having labored so much, we reached the bottom to be rewarded by a mini version of Sera Ella or Ramboda Oya Centre Falls.

She was as I said before about 10-15ft in height and that much wide. The rain was imminent and I was thankful for the umbrella but Atha very lazily and not wanting to wet his umbrella had left his in the vehicle. We took the pictures and rain came hard and fast at us with the winds. We squeezed under the umbrella protecting our phones and cameras as best as we can (I’m glad I’m a point-n-shoot guy not a DSLR one) and waited for it to pass. The rocks were like okra, very slippery and we had a tough time getting back. I wanted to tackle the water stream and reach the top of Mulgama Lower Falls and headed on downstream.

There were two more ladies and another guy who had joined the first person in chopping up some sticks for their farms and we headed towards them when out of nowhere I was looking up the sky lying on my back. Yeah, you guessed right, I had fallen off and my back and legs and right arm all started to hurt at once. I didn’t know what to do but simply stayed like that and Atha came and gave me a hand. My next picture was him falling face down next to me having slipped on a rock. The ladies nearby scream “Ai Ayyooooo” as if we were killed on the spot.

Atha got up and inspected him for injuries and found most skin on his right elbow has been peeled off and a scary looking stream of blood was beginning to come out. I got up and found no serious damage except some more bruises. Thankfully none of our electronics were damaged in the fall (thanks goodness for the point-n-shoots). I took it as a sign not to press ahead with our plans for the downstream journey and got back, with so much difficulty on the road and went back towards Mulgama Junction searching for plasters for the wounds.

Where I got down to see the falls

The top, we had to come around from the other end and managed to get to the bottom

More water

From the Moray Estate Road

Searching for Mulgama Lower Falls

Here she is

Amazing

Close up

The downstream and about 100m further down is the Lower Falls but our attempts to reach her simply got washed out

The base

All the garbage and plastic bottles had been washed ashore

One of my mandatory requirements in a journey

Cherry?

Wow

Long shot after our fall

Gartmore Falls

The road is not in very good condition, typical estate road but can manage even in a car if you drive at a snail’s speed and the caution of a deer. However not ideal to do so when it’s raining as the water-filled pot holes can be deeper than they appear. It’s about well 3-4km and stick to the Moray Estate Road that leads to their factory.

The road is one of the scenic ones you’d ever see and as I mentioned above you could see the top of Mohini’s about 800m into the road to your left. The view is not so clear due to the towering turpentine trees but should be ok so long as you keep an eye out for it. Please make sure it’s the passengers that keep an eye out for it not the driver, if not you’ll all be able to have a nice bath in the Maussakelle Reservoir.

We kept going till we reached the turn off to Fishing Hut (it’s to your right that goes uphill with the name placed in big letters using white stones). We could see the factory downhill (go straight) but waited for somebody come to get the proper directions. Gartmore Falls can be seen from here in the distance and the rain had decided to leave us in peace for the time being when a motorbike arrived from the factory side. He was the veterinarian of the area and told us that there’s a nice summer hut along the fishing hut road about 2km away where you could get a majestic view of Maussakelle Reservoir and Gartmore Falls. Unfortunately he wasn’t aware of Moray Falls that we wanted to see.

We drove up the road which was even more scenic and let me tell you now that Moray Estate is one of the most beautiful ones I’ve ever seen despite its road conditions. At the beginning of the road it’s said on a notice board only 4WD vehicles allowed. However, we took the chance of going in Atha’s Jeep and it struggled but managed to drive up. After about 15mins drive and around 2km we got to the two-storied summer hut. The view was, we’ll I’m beyond words to say how I felt. It was one of the most scenic views I’ve seen so far (I’ve seen quite a few of them) and it was simply spectacular. You could spend hours looking at this wonderful creature of the Mother Nature.

The summer hut was built of bamboo and hay mainly and had two floors. A two-storied summer hut? And overlooking this gorgeous environment? What else a man can ask for except for a cup of steaming coffee to savor the beauty. We could see the lush greenery to the slope in front of us and beyond at the edge of the reservoir to our 10 o’clock was the Moray Tea Factory. Beyond all that was the placid Maussakelle Reservoir. Towering over her was the Gartmore Estate and mountain range. To our 1 o’clock was the lusty Gartmore Falls, falling straight onto the reservoir. To your right was the road towards Fishing Hut and Rajamale area. We couldn’t see more than a few km as the mist was so thick and coming at us fast. Beyond the Gartmore Falls up in the hills were the twin falls or some would say Gartmore Estate Falls. Maskeliya Town was visible in the far while the sun was peering through the cloud barrier.

The water started to glisten in the golden rays of sun while the cool breeze coming from Gartmore and Upcot area chilled our exposed skin. The mist was coming down from the Sri Pada enveloping us little by little. We still had no idea where Moray Falls was and I called Hasi several times to find out the directions but it being a Sunday he must’ve been fast asleep so instead tried the trusted old source in Tony Mama. He was at work and while we waited got into Lakdasun and Hasi’s Report and read out the directions. We had to get down to the tea factory and take a by road from there. The mist completely obscured our view and it started raining heavily and we spent the time in the shade of the summer hut.

You can check the Documentary from the Summer Hut I shot here.

Getting back in the vehicle and we started to drive downhill but I got myself dropped about 1.5km from the turn off and started walking through this heavenly beautiful surroundings.

You can check the Walk the Talk Video here.

It was a heavenly experience but the sun had completely shut himself and the constant drizzling would’ve been a nuisance if it wasn’t for my umbrella. I walked and joined Atha at the turn off and we headed downhill towards the factory in search of Moray Falls.

One of the most beautiful estates I’ve seen

The reservoir in the background is simply great

Take the right hand path

Gartmore Estate beyond the water

The road we came up to the Fishing Hut turn off

Easy to find, to the right is the Fishing Hut road and straight on is the Factory and then Peak Field View

View from the junction

Carbon-copy of Devon Falls?

Portrait

Fishing Hut Road

After about 2km is this

Lack of maintenance probably has given it a dilapidated look

You can see the decaying bamboo

Panoramic view

Some more

There she is

Can see the Factory and the road that leads to it

Zoomed in

Gartmore Estate Falls, they join to make the Gartmore Falls

Other side bank

Just look at the color combination

Another portrait

I started walking

Lush greenery

Walking through heaven

Uphill

Manicured to the perfection

Couldn’t get enough of her

More to go

Yellow flowers adding to the already beautiful scenery

I guess you’d agree with me this is one of the most beautiful estates in SL

We’ll see what the board says

You can book it using the number

Endless

Droplets hanging

Here’s the warning note at the beginning of Fishing Hut Road

Here’s the path

Peak Field Falls

We managed to reach the tea factory which was closed and as mentioned in Hasi’s report found the two concrete paths to the right next to each other. Don’t take the one to right that goes uphill but the one goes downhill to the left. It’s almost invisible as soon as you turn to your right at the factory. They are very well paved and you can’t miss them. This is where things could go wrong if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

We asked at least half a dozen people where the Moray Falls is and none of them knew it. Everyone pointed at the Gartmore Falls that is clearly visible in the distance and when we insisted we wanted Moray Falls, they pointed back to where we came from saying, “That Moray Estate”. Oh dear, I was so frustrated and could recall what happened when we were desperately searching for Mount Vernon Falls in Dimbula Pathana. It was the same as nobody knew of the falls except Devon and St. Claire but with so much difficulty we managed to locate her.

However, finally one of the estate workers got our message that we were looking for a waterfall and he said some word which we didn’t quite catch. We followed him and about 600m on the road passing a shop too. As soon as you pass the shop which is on your right hand side the road will take a sharp bend to your right that goes uphill. From here you can see a green painted gate (most probably it’s open) to your left with a somewhat narrow road. This is the entrance to the Peak Field Estate and take that road but do stop at the gate.

Look at the notice on the gate. When you do, it’ll shock you coz there’s no Moray Falls anywhere near and you can search all you want but won’t find a thing. The notice on the gate has this both in Sinhala and English: Read carefully,

“Kindly note, due to the inconvenience caused, outsiders visiting the Peak Field Waterfall are only allowed through the Peak Field Estate Premises from 10.00am to 3.00pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Thank You

Management”

The moment we saw this, all the anxiety went away as we knew how hopeless it’d’ve been to keep looking for Moray Falls. The Moray Estate boundary is the factory and beyond that is the Peak Field Estate in which the falls is located after about 600m walk. We drove through and another 100m or saw was a closed gate and beyond that another 100m or saw was what looked like a bungalow. Beyond all this was lush tea plants followed by the reservoir and then at the far end falling majestically was, you guessed wrong, it was the Gartmore Falls not the other.

There were a couple of houses before the closed gate and a few workers were there and when we asked them about the Peak Field Falls, they simply pointed at the gate and said that we’d have to ask for permission. Remember, this was a Sunday, and people are not allowed on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Do keep that in mind as we were lucky but you might not be if you happen to go there on one of those days.

Having parked our vehicle, we walked through the opening next to the gate and reached the bungalow and the office. There was no one in sight even though a van was parked there. We hovered around looking for someone when an old uncle (Velu Mama) came walking up the path from the further below and he was surprised to see the strangers invading their territory. We then asked him about the falls and he said that we’d have to check with the officer in charge. He was sleeping and Velu went and knocked on the door while I was busy taking pics of the breath-taking Gartmore Falls. You remember I said before that Moray Estate was one of the most beautiful estates I’ve seen so far and you can now add Peak Field Estate too into that list. It’s the Maussakelle Reservoir, Gartmore Falls and Peak Field Falls that make it into that top category without a question.

We managed to wake him up, Mr. Rathnayaka, who was very friendly and after listening to our pleas and of course looking at Atha (he must’ve remembered his grandpa) he said we could go see the falls. It was helpful that only two of us were there. He then went onto say the troubles they have with visitors coming and dumping all sorts of garbage and drink liquor and throw everything at the reservoir. It is the same story wherever we go and we felt very sad and humiliated too.

Velu mama offered to take us to the falls and we walked along the footpath and all along Gartmore Falls was with us, smiling down at our soaked bodies. She must’ve wondered what on earth we were doing in the rain. As soon as we started walking towards the falls, there was a seasonal cascade to our right but not much water. Just bear in mind that to our right about 500ft up was the Fishing Hut Road and our summer hut (sorry it’s not our summer hut, slip of the fingers). That’s why we couldn’t see the Peak Field Estate clearly.

Walking further downhill I heard the sound of an M6 coming towards us. Now don’t look flabbergasted, I know you think I’m crazy from the toes to my head to imagine M6s in such a location but it was the same sound. I can still remember the sound Aberdeen and Laxapana Falls made (more like a dozen or so M6s coming bearing down on us) and suddenly it clicked that this could be the Peak Field Falls. Gosh, she must be huge and there should be plenty of water. I was dancing down the path practically running waving my umbrella like a sword heading into the battle.

Atha beat me to it and at the first sight he turned around and shouted “Sri, Andenawa Thani Ehata” and I ran downhill and turning to my right what I saw stunned me and stopped me in my tracks. There was this massive body of water coming through a dense forest and falling down about 100ft right into the reservoir sending a cloud of water drops all around. It was one of the greatest moments in my travels. We went slowly along the path to the edge of the reservoir to get as closer to her as possible. She was so rich and ripe and I couldn’t get enough of her but the hovering dark clouds made the lighting rubbish but as if hearing our pleas, the sky cleared as if in magic and there was a stream of sunlight across the falls making her radiant. Only thing lacking was, a rainbow.

There was another waterfall so close to us falling onto the reservoir but there was very little water in her despite she was as tall or even taller than Peak Field Falls (hard to say that name, ain’t it?) proving that there were two different streams feeding these two beauties even though they were so much closer to each other. We named her the Peak Field Mini Falls and Velu mama was so surprised to see the mad rush in us having seen these ladies. There was a worker too helping out clearing the paths and very reluctantly having taken a few dozen pics.

We got back to the office and woke Mr. Rathnayake once again to thank him and got back having tipped Velu Mama for accompanying us. As if on cue, the moment we got into the vehicle it started pouring with rain. We were given that window to go see this lady in style. We headed back towards Del House and on the way I got down to Reservoir trying to get a better pic of Mulgama Lower Falls but was not so lucky but realized there was no bigger lower part of Mohini Falls.

Moray Tea Factory

Please note this

Red flowers, common in upcountry

The closed gate

Garbage collection points… amazing, ain’t it?

The road to the bungalow cum office, in the distance is Gartmore Falls

No one in sight

What wouldn’t I give to be in a place like this?

Atha and Velu Mama heading towards Peak Field Falls

Gartmore with us all along

She simply won’t stay away, tempting me all the time

Through the tea estate

Portrait

The path and the falls

Seasonal cascade at the beginning of the path

Anyone home?

Rain eased…

The mountain in the background of Gartmore Estate

Here we are

Oh my gosh!

Top of her

Middle

Portrait

Serene Maussakelle Reservoir, just beyond is Gartmore Falls

She’s super

Velu mama on the left and another worker we met

Sun appeared out of nowhere

“Mysterious girl, I wanna get close to you”

The falls nearby, we named her Peak Field Mini Falls

Not much water

Very high

Time to go

One of the nicest quotes

Heading back

Top of Mohini

Clear shot

The bus that goes to Moray Estate

The part we see on the road of Mohini

Here she is

Full pic

Started going down

Greenery

After a lot of difficulty, got down

Base of Mohini, no big part

See the garbage collection

They were fishing

The Waterfalls along the Path from Del House to Peace Pagoda

We arrived at Del House and stopped at Mama Kade just passing the giant Buddha Statue. The town was pretty much muddy and isolated save for a few rain coated villagers going about their business. We stopped and asked the girl if there was anything to eat and she said there was Roti. The imaginary pic of hot Roti with Lunu Miris made my mouth salivating and we ran into the shop. All my dreams evaporated in seconds to find ice cold Roti and not so good looking Lunu Miris but did we have any choice, afraid not.

There were only three of them available and we washed them down with tasty coffee (that girl knows how to make coffee) and got ready to walk the path. Most of them thought that we were planning on climbing the Sri Pada but when we said that we were on visiting waterfalls; most of them looked at us as if we were aliens. It was still raining and we took shelter in our umbrellas and carried along the muddy path jumping over the puddles. The Seetha Gangula looked ferocious sending hundreds of thousands of gallons of brownish water downstream. The stalls normally full of vendors and buyers during the season were abandoned, their roofs partially gone in the strong gusts, doors stood ajar and the racks were falling down. Stray dogs and cats found shelter in these crumbling structures and looked forlornly at us.

We could see the top of a mighty big waterfall and thought it could be the Sri Pada Falls, I know now you’re confused coz you know Gartmore Falls as the Sri Pada Falls but not in my book. I guess Shareez and Uncle Tony had found out and confirmed the waterfall close to Makara Thorana is not Rajamale Falls but the actual Sri Pada Falls. Any how it’s very unlikely for this falls to be called Rajamale as it’s on the other side of the mountain. So we’ll stick to Sri Pada Falls if you guys don’t mind.

Getting closer we saw suddenly to our right a few streaks of white lines, do you guys remember the rocky surface that runs all the way to your right around Makara Thorana and Peace Pagoda? Looking closer we realized they were seasonal cascades that come down the rocky slab among bushes. I remembered a pic taken by Shareez some time ago and ever since was dreaming of taking something like that. Looking at the scene unfolding in front of me was exactly the same thing and I forgot that it was raining in my rush to take a pic. There were maybe half a dozen or so waterfalls; one making a few cascaded on the downward journey.

We reached the Makara Thorana and then the skeleton bridge at Seethagangulagama where these cascades were visible nicely. What amazed me most was the waterfall under the bridge, not right under it but about 20ft away from it where the Seethagangula crosses the path and then falls down about 30-40ft creating this mighty waterfall. During the season, there’s very little of this and there’s no path to get down and take a clear pic so most of the times, this waterfall goes unnoticed. The ones climbing up are in a hurry to go up as soon as possible, if they do it at night, this is out of the question and for those who coming down have nothing but getting to Del House ASAP.

The amount of water in this simply amazed me but there was no way of taking a clear pic of her. We could see a hut someway down on the other side but it has been a place used by a monk who had passed away about one and half years ago. There were a few Tamil people who got so scared when we said that we’d like to get down to the hut and take some pics. They frantically warned us not to go there saying the place is haunted. I cared nothing about ghosts but there simply wasn’t a way to get down even after we checked with the Civil Defense Forces (CDF) soldiers who were at work nearby.

We then went on towards Peace Pagoda maneuvering through the slippery path and in the distance we saw the super tall Yaka Andu Ella. There wasn’t a sign of the Sacred Peak due to the fog but the Peace Pagoda rose majestically towards the sky which was laden with water-clogged clouds. To the left of it was the Yaka Andu Ella falling down from at a guess about 600ft above. There was a person who was supplying basic items for the CDF soldiers such as rice, vegetables, etc. and he was very interested to speak with us.

When I said that we were there to see the Yaka Andu Ella he said that even he wasn’t aware of the falls name was that. He was boasting that this could be the tallest in SL and so many of my attempts at convincing him that she wasn’t fell in deaf ears. The rain eased as if on cue allowing us some time to take pics in peace. I was so hungry and asked if he’d have anything for us to eat but even the CDF soldiers were still cooking their lunch, time was around 3.30pm. Feeling ravenous but so content in our minds we started walking back towards Makara Thorana hoping to visit Sri Pada Falls when it started raining once again.

Having reached the Makara Thorana we sheltered nearby the wildlife office waiting for a break to visit the falls. She was about 50m away but the view was blocked by the trees and we had to walk up through the tea estate to get a clear view of her. The rain was relentless and I was praying for a break. The time had gone 4.30pm and it was getting darker by the minute and out of nowhere I got this feeling to start walking towards the falls despite the rain. We both tackled the slippery rocks and reached a point we got a majestic view of the falls.

What happened next was truly intriguing. The rain stopped immediately the moment we reached a point where we could take a pic of the falls. You might say I’m too superstitious which I’m not but I had so much faith in Mother Nature and she delivered it in style every time we needed a break to take pics. Looking back, it was the same throughout the day. Talking about the Sri Pada Falls, she was one grand beauty and you could simply keep looking at no matter what happened around you.

She’s about 120ft in height and wider than most of the falls we saw that day. This was the perfect ending to a perfect day. We got even closer and took few pics and videos before calling it a day and heading back towards Del House.

We reached Mama Kade once again hoping for a good cuppa coffee made by that little girl but she wasn’t there but there was a single Roti they had made which we ate like beggars. The coffee made by the Mudalali was nowhere near the quality of that little girl (he needs a lesson from her) but it warmed our chilled inside.

We left and on our way saw the water levels of Mohini Falls have risen and stopped by to take a few more pics even in the rain and were on our way.

We took the same road back and the mountainous road was covered in mist. We were practically lost in a world of its own. All in all, it was a super duper day and we enjoyed every minute of it to the maximum. The weather was very kind to us and Mother Nature looked after us.

The bridge across Seetha Gangula

Water levels rising

Mini Falls under the bridge

I simply love this board, maybe coz it has my name on it

Seasonal cascades all around

Misty and you can barely see some of the white streaks

Mini cascades all along the water stream

Skeleton bridge under which goes the Seethagangulagama Falls

Left of the bridge

The right and at the end is the top of the falls, to the left of the downhill is where that monk used to stay

Still standing

The pic I was dreaming about

Closer and compact

Singling out

Individual cascades

Individual cascades

Individual cascades

It’s a view one can keep looking at without getting bored

Atha leading the way

At the foot of the steps

Frontal view

Commemoration plaque

The writing underneath

The steps from the top

Isolated

Peace Pagoda and Yaka Andu Ella in the background

Golden Buddha Statue placed in front of the Pagoda there

Misty Yaka Andu Ella

Closer

Plenty of tears

Peace Pagoda looking majestic amid all this

At the Makara Thorana

Waiting for a break

Our target, too close yet too far

Close up

The path to the waterfall is from here to the left

If you climb these you can get a better view from the distance, to right path will take you to the base

From a distance

Zoomed in

Going towards the base

She’s unbelievably beautiful

Portrait

Upper part

The Bottom

Saying good bye

On the way back, Mohini got more water

Plunging down under the bridge

Ciao…

Well guys, I guess you could take a look at the Panos I took during the journey.

Pano 1

Pano 2

Pano 3

Pano 4

Pano 5

Pano 6

Pano 7

Pano 8

So there ends yet another of my Tour de Waterfalls, the 8^th to date and this was one of my favorite. Guess what, I was asked a few times what my favorite waterfall was and found out that I was stuck to give an answer. There are so many I’ve seen so far, (close to 200) and can’t put my finger on any one in particular. However, on second thoughts, St. Claire has been very close to my heart and if she was alive, I’d have had no trouble saying it was her that my favorite. However, now I’m reluctant to do that coz most of the people will remember a rocky surface with a few cascades falling down when I say St. Claire.

Thinking of her always make my heart aches but what to do. Hope you guys enjoyed it and loved the pics as much as I did taking them.

Hoping to do another soon always supposing time permits.

Take care and keep travelling and curse the ones who killed my beloved St. Claire.

Cheers

Sri…