Dunhinda Falls-Palitha Udyasiri photography
Dunhinda Falls (Bridal Falls)
Height : 63 metres
District : Badulla
Dunhinda is considered to be one of the most enchanting falls in Sri Lanka and is in close proximity to Badulla town. The water resembles a thin cloud as it cascades 63m downwards into a large pool. The backdrop to the fall is known as 'Dunhinda Adaviya'. 'Dunhinda' translates to 'spraying/vapour waterfall' - the word 'dun' means 'gave/was given', while 'hinda' means 'evaporate'.
This fall is steeped in history. The area was once inhabited by indigenous people - the Veddha tribe. During the time of King Rajasinhe, a giant fern got stuck at the top of the fall, between two mountains. This acted as a dam, which resulted in the flooding of Badulla town. Seeing the gravity of the situation, the king entrusted the task of clearing the sluice to a person named 'Ranhavadidaraya'. After toiling for three months he managed to clear the water and the town re-emerged.
The fern was swept away but got stuck again at a place now known as Pussellawa ('pus' meaning fern). It was the first fall on the island where a fee was introduced to view it. This applies to both local and foreign visitors.
Dunhinda Falls is 5km from Badulla town and from the main highway it is a tortuous 1km walk. The Ella rest-house is 29km away.
Source : LankaLibrary Forum
Waterfalls are unique creation of nature which exemplifies it’s true beauty. Enriched with a plethora of natural resources. Sri Lanka boasts approximately three hundred and fifty waterfalls.
In comparison to other countries Sri Lanka is rich in it’s aquatic resources. Most of the waterfalls in the island have been identified by now. Sri Lanka could be considered as the country having the most number of waterfalls. In terms of it’s Geographic extent. The destruction of forests have cost a lowering of the rainfalls resulting the drying of natural springs which has become a severe threat to the existence of these waterfalls. By initiating steps to conserve rain forests and keeping the environment clean this valuable asset of nature could be preserved for the next generations.
Due to various nefarious activities practiced by mankind valuable natural resources such as these waterfalls are windingly at a rapid pace. It is our bounden duty to preserve these natural gifts for the generations to come with such an utmost cause in my mind. I explore the waterfalls in Sri Lanka capturing it’s glamour in order to give a truly unforgettable experience to the enthusiasts of nature as well as to others. I have done this through this web site www.waterfalls.lk
Through this web site it has enabled public who are unaware of the waterfalls in Sri Lanka as well as those who have not been to such places the necessary information of the waterfalls and their locations. They have the privilege to download the videos and pictures capturing the glamour of its true beauty.
However these waterfalls are excellent creations of Mother Lanka. I wish the Sri Lankan Waterfalls will remain ever so long soothing the minds of both local and foreign tourist.
Thank You !
Indrajith S. Kumara firstname.lastname@example.org )
Height : 30 metres
District : Ratnapura
The Bopath Falls cascades in the shape of a bo (Ficus religiosa) tree (hence its name) and is the most comprehensively studied fall in Sri Lanka. Its source is the Kurugana River that later joins the Kaluganga River at Kurugaomaodara.
The average temperature of the area is 26.9 - 27.8 degrees Celsius and the annual rainfall of the fall's catchment area is 5080mm. The mean speed of the flow is 6 cubic metres per second. The upper reach of the fall is made up of granite and biotite virin, and is covered by sand. The water from the fall irrigates the paddy fields of the Udakada and Kuruwita areas.
The surrounding plant and tree life includes attikka (Ficus racimosa), kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna), midella, dun (Doona spp), para (Wormia suffruticosa), ginihota (Cythia spp), rathmadiya, ketala (Lagenendra oveta), Beduru (Dryneria spp), orchids, varieties of meewana (Madhca) badal, hanassa, makulu and beduru. Animal species include wild boar, Meemina deer and reptiles, and the water is home to many species of fish including bulathhapaya, lellu, magura, korali, sonnu and eel. In addition to its rich bio-diversity, the fall is also steeped in folklore. One such story tells how a youth from Colombo made a pilgrimage here, and on losing his way was helped and sheltered by a local village girl.
A love developed between the two and she became pregnant before his departure. He left, promising to return but never did. Overcome with grief, she took her own life by plunging into the fall. Villagers say that her ghost (which appears as a floating blue light) haunts the fall.
Another local belief is that a treasure trove lies somewhere within the fall and that one thousand human sacrifices are needed to retrieve it. Bopath Falls is in the Ratnapura District, Kuruwita Divisional Secretariat at Agalwatte village. Take the road from Columbo to Ratnapura and turn left along Devipahala road. After 3km the fall is reached. (The Dodam Falls is located close by).
Source : www.srilankanwaterfalls.org
Author & Publisher : Dharman Wickremaratne
Waterfalls are a rich natural asset in any country. They are beautiful to look at and admired. Some, like the Niagara Falls are world famous and offer breathtaking views.
The Niagara is made up of two waterfalls in West New York, USA on one side and South Ontario in Canada on the other, lying between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, on the international border. American Falls are 55.5metres/182 feet high and 328m/1076 ft wide. Canadian Falls, known as Horseshoe Falls are 54m/177 ft high, 640 m/2100 ft wide. It has been a popular tourist attraction since the early 19th century.
Angel (upper fall) in Venezuela is considered the highest waterfall in the world. Its height is recorded as 975m/3212 ft. Among the ten highest waterfalls in the world, five are in Norway, two in South Africa, and one each in Zimbabwe and USA.
Sri Lanka, in comparison to its size, has perhaps the largest number of waterfalls of any country in the world. Indeed, there are nearly 400 in Sri Lanka. A recent study undertaken by the Lanka Council on Waterfalls (LCWF) - an organization set up to improve public awareness and understanding of water issues to promote the conservation and wise use of nature and natural resources - has recorded 382 waterfalls in Sri Lanka.
The waterfalls in Sri Lanka are well distributed and are not confined to the hill country. Even Colombo District has four waterfalls. Of course they are not very tall - two are just four metres each, another 10m and the fourth is 15m. Kurunegala District has just one - six metres tall. Gampaha and Hambantota districts have two each.
The largest number of waterfalls are in the Ratnapura district (109) followed by Nuwara Eliya (75) and Kegalle (40). Some of the waterfalls have very interesting stories attached to them, mainly folk tales and legends. The most beautiful waterfalls have been selected for stamps and there have been a number of issues featuring waterfalls.
Bambarakanda Falls is the highest waterfall in our country. It is 241 metres and it ranks 48th among the 100 highest waterfalls in the world. It is formed by the Uduweriya Haputale mountains’ Kuda Oya, a tributary of the Walawe River.
Situated in the Badulla district, where there are 33 waterfalls, Bambarakanda falls within the Haldummulla Provincial Council area. It is on the Colombo-Badulla highway and is 18 km away from Belihuloya, where the popular rest house is. It is 27 km from Koslanda and is also quite close to the World’s End, one of Sri Lanka’s major natural tourist attractions. The approach to Bambarakanda is not difficult.
Second in the list is Kurunduoya Falls with a height of 189 meters. Thus we see a difference of 52m between the first and the second. It ranks as the 58th in the list of highest world waterfalls. It is one of 75 waterfalls in the Nuwara Eliya district.
Also called the Maturata Fall, its source is the Kurundu river from where the water cascades down into a deep ravine before joining the Mahaweli Ganga. On the road from Nuwara Eliya to Kandapola, it is situated in the hill country.
Diyaluma, the third highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, is one of the most popular mainly because of its easy accessibility. The 114 metres high waterfall is in the Ratnapura district which boasts of 109 waterfalls - the most in the country. Situated on the Koslanda-Wellawaya road, it is just six kilometers away from Koslanda and 13 km from Wellawaya.