Waterfalls in Sri Lanka

The country is home to more than 100 waterfalls. These waterfalls are mostly located in the Hill Country. Some of the waterfalls are man-made but still doesn’t stop short of being breath-takingly beautiful. Unknown waterfalls are still present, those that weren’t officially discovered. Most of the waterfalls are very difficult to find because of the dense forests and are sometimes totally inaccessible. Only a handful of waterfalls are used to bathe in, whereas the others are too dangerous to do so.

Bambarakanda Waterfalls

Bambarakanda is the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka. There is no access to the pool but the downpour can be seen from a little road that climbs up the hill. Bambarakanda looks at its most impressive after the rains but is even harder to get to due to the mud.

Height: 263 meters
How to Reach: Off the A4 highway (Colombo – Batticaloa), it is a 5 km walk in a narrow valley from Kalupahana.

Diyaluma Waterfalls

This majestic waterfall is located around the Koslanda-wellawaya road, where the Poonagala Oya is situated. Because of it appearance and location most people believe that it is the tallest water fall.

Height: 220 meters
How to Reach: It is 6 km away from Koslanda, Badulla District.

Bopath Ella

Bopath Ella is a favorite for it’s unique shape. The name Bopath means, Bo leaf. The Bo tree is the sacred tree of Buddhism and very important in the island. Bopath Ella resembles a Bo leaf with its thin short stream that opens up to a wider fall towards the bottom. Bopath Ella is quite easy to visit as it’s in vicinity of a village close to the mining town of Rathnapura. It’s possible to swim in the base pool.

Height: 30 meters
How to Reach: Located in the village Agalawatte, it is easily accessible by car.

Devon Waterfall

This cascading waterfall constitutes of 3 falls. Named after a coffee planter named Devon. It is easily spotted along the Talawakele – Navalapitiya Road. It is a glorious waterfall. Despite its gigantic appearance the waterfall is itself very graceful and serene that it can relax any mind from turmoil. However, this beauty is endangered by the Kotmale Power Plant.

Height: 97 meters
How to Reach: 6 km away from Talawakelle town, which falls on the A7 highway (Colombo-Nuwara Eliya).

Ravana Falls

Named after the epic of Ramayana. The cave behind the waterfall is one of the places that Ravana hid Princess Sita after abducting her from India. Although it is comparatively shorter than most waterfalls, it has a wide flow of water and is quite beautiful to look at.

Height: 25 meters
How to Reach: Just a 20-minute drive from Ella in Badulla.

Dunhinda Waterfalls

Situated 2 km off the main road that leads to Taldena. One of the easily accessible waterfall and also it is famous because of its misty-like spray of water that falls down along the stones. One of the most breath-taking waterfall in which is visitors can have a dip in.

Height: 64 meters
How to Reach: 5 km from the city of Badula can be covered in a tuk-tuk, but you need to walk the last 1 km.

Bakers Waterfall

Another waterfall located at Horton Plains and is also one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country. It is a cascading water fall with not one but several falls. However, it is a very dangerous waterfall to bath in. It is named after a well-known explorer in the name of Sir Samuel Baker. The fall originates from a tank called Belihul Oya. The scenery surrounding it will definitely take your breath-away.

Height: 20 meters
How to Reach: Bakers is an easy short trek from Horton Plains National Park.

St Claire Waterfall

It is known as one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, located in Talawakele. It is a cascading waterfall with two falls with its name derived from a nearby tea estate. St. Claire waterfall is so beautiful that most people call it the little Niagara. Most people find it easy to visit this waterfall on the way to Nuwara Eliya.

Height: 80meters
How to Reach: It is 3 km away Talawakele, a town in town in Nuwara Eliya. There is a 500 meters walk through the tea gardens, just before the fall.

Ramboda Falls

The 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, like every other waterfall it is located in the hill country. This waterfall has two main drops which tend to confuse people when they see it and most of the time the upper waterfall is not visited because most of the people are not aware of the fact that there are two drops in the fall.

Height: 109 meters
How to Reach: Located in Pussellawa, on the A5 highway, it is just 15 minutes away from Katukithula

Laxapana

Laxapana is one of the most important waterfalls in Sri Lanka. It forms part of the source of energy for the water plant of the same name. Quite easy to get to by car and only requires a bit of a hike, Laxapana is a misty wonder over a deep base pool. The location of this waterfall is in the highlands, so the weather is a bit cooler than the coast.

Height: 126 meters
How to Reach: It is located in Maskeliya area in Nuwara Eliya district

Kirindi Ella

In the middle of the Bambarakotuwa Jungle, Kirindi Ella falls is a towering waterfall that splashes into a great big base pool. Local legend says that there is treasure at the bottom of the pool but many droughts and dry seasons have cast doubt on this tale. Who knows, maybe the treasure is deep under the mud? Visiting Kirindi Ella is easy from Ratnapura or Pelmadulla. There are paths that take visitors to a viewing platform, the base and also the top of the waterfall.

Height: 116 meters
How to Reach: 7 km from Kuttapitiya road, which is reached by taking a left 600 meters before the Kuttapitiya junction.