Wattegama - mini canyon of Rahas Ella
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Wattegama, also transcribed "Waththegama", is a town in Kandy District, 13 km (8 miles) northeast of Kandy city, halfway to the scenic Hunas Falls hotel of the Hunnasgiriya mountain Range. The main attraction of Wattegama is the natural pool of Rahas Ella 1.3 km (0.8 miles) east of the railway station, which is at the Peradeniya-Kandy-Matale rail line. Rahas Ella is a group of waterfalls in a small canyon, with a safe bathing opportunity in some distance of a cleft. Altogether, the cascades measure arouns 15 m (50 feet) in height.
Rahas Ella is surrounded by legends. Locals believ e that visitors of the falls, who spot a mysterious red treasure in the water and try to retrieve it, come to death here. A cave called Wavulugala, which translates to "bats rock", is said to have been a refuge of King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha, the last monarch of the Kandy Kingdom. According to local folklore, the king placed his royal umbrella under the waterfall, which caused it to divert and reveal an entrance to a cave.
Rahas Ella is surrounded by legends. Locals believ e that visitors of the falls, who spot a mysterious red treasure in the water and try to retrieve it, come to death here. A cave called Wavulugala, which translates to "bats rock", is said to have been a refuge of King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha, the last monarch of the Kandy Kingdom. According to local folklore, the king placed his royal umbrella under the waterfall, which caused it to divert and reveal an entrance to a cave.
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Pani Ella, is a very small, but photogenic waterfall (see right image above), situated in only 300 m (1000 feet) distance to the south of Rahas Ella, hidden in the forest but only 100 m upstream from the bridge.
