Though located in only 6 km distance to the north of a popular tourist destination, Kitulgala, the amazing Manaketi Falls remain a secluded attraction, which is rarely visited. The main waterfalls and their additional cascades at a natural pool just a few meters further upstream are definitely worth a hike, though it's not easy to find Manaketi. The 60 m tall main waterfall is “knife shaped”. The name of the river, which is a tributary of the Kelani Ganga, is Girankathi Oya.

When you are travelling from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya or Ella, you will be crossing the highest tea region of Sri Lanka. Along the road you will see lots of waterfalls in a distance. However, there is one waterfall very close to the A5 roads you won’t see when not leaving your vehicle. Ramboda Falls is just below the main road. It can be best observed from the restaurant and garden area of the Ramboda Falls Hotel. The two cascades of Ramboda Falls measures 109 m in height altogether. They are situated in an altitude of about 1000 m above sea level. There is more to see in Ramboda...

Ravana Ella in Uva Province is an often photographed waterfall in the famous Ella Gap, as it can be seen from the road from the hill resort of Ella to Sri Lanka’s southern plains. The main waterfall which has several cacades is about 25 m tall. Ravana Ella is named after the legendary demon-king Ravana, known from the Indian Ramayana epic to have kidnapped Sita, the consort of Rama. It is believed she had hidden her in the Ravana caves behind the waterfall.

Devon Falls, situated in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, can be seen from observation car parks when driving main road A7 from Hatton to Nuwara Eliya. The car parks are close to a Mlesna Tea Castle 6 km west of Talawakele. Devon Falls, named after the nearby tea plantation, is a 97 m tall horsetail waterfall in 3 casvades.

The waterfall known as Diyaluma Ella is 171 m high and the third or fourth highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. It’s situated 6 km away from the tea village Koslanda. Diyaluma Falls can be seen from the A14 highway. The waterfalls are formed by the Punagala Oya stream, which is a tributary of Kuda Oya, later on entering the large river Kirindi Oya. There is a famous etiological tale, known in a variety of versions, explaining the existence and the name of Diyaluma Falls.

Sri Lanka is the land of waterfalls due to their high number or density. However, most of the waterfalls are formed by streams and are horsetail falls. The widest waterfalls formed by a large river were Victoria Falls to the east of Kandy, but they disappeared after the constrution of the Victoria Dam. The widest falls now occuring in Sri Lanka are St. Clair’s Falls in the Dimbula tea region. They can be seen from the highland railroad as well as from the road when travelling from Hatton to Nuwara Eliya. They have less water than in previous years, because the river was dammed further upstream, but they are still impressive and deserve their nickname „Little Niagara of Sri Lanka“. Devon Falls are not far away from St.Clair’s Falls.

Dodan Ella, also spelt ‚Dodam Ella‘ and pronounced ‚Dodang Elle‘ and also spelt 'Dodam Ella, literally translates to ‚orange waterfalls‘. The name refers to the red colour of the water after heavy rainfall, when lots of coppery soil is washed away by the Kuru Ganga originating from the mountain massif of Siri Pada (Adam’s Peak). Dodan Ella near Kuruwita in Ratnapura District is not often visited, although it’s not far ways from the very popular waterfalls of Bopath Ella.  

Bopath Falls is a weekend destination popular with locals. The picturesque 30 m tall waterfalls are situated just outside Kuruwita in Ratnapura District. Bopath Ella translates to „Bot-tree-leaf waterfall“. The name refers to the eye-catching shape of the waterfalls, which resembles the leaf of the Sacred Fig, known as "Bo-tree“ in Sri Lanka or „Bodhi-tree“ in India. Local legends have it that Bopath Falls are haunted and hiding a treasure trove.

More about the waterfalls of Bopath Ella here...

Bambarakanda is by far the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka. The fall lies at the southern slopes of Horton Plains National Park in an evergreen pine forest in the area of Kalupahana. Concerning the amounts of water, this is only a thin horsetail waterfall during most of the year. Under extreme dry conditions, the waterfall can sometimes be almost invisible, when the Walawe Ganga tributary Kuda Oya forming the Bambarakanda Fall is almost dried out.

More about Bambarakanda Ella...