Funday Times

Gaveshaka continues the fascinating trip across waterfalls in association with Lanka Council of Waterfalls
An unusual sight at Nanu Oya Falls
From the Nanu Oya, the water flows through the Udaradella and Bambarakelle areas to the Nanu Oya Falls. The water cascades through mist down a sequence of 25 steps (60m in height) before joining the Kotmale and Mahaweli rivers. A hint of grandeur is added to the scene by the imposing bridge that spans the fall.

The fall is situated in Nanu Oya, 6km from Nuwara Eliya. Another 60m high fall is the Mannaketi Falls in the Kegalle district. The source of this fall is the Girankitha Oya Reservoir, that is served in turn by the western slopes of the Unagula mountain. Later, the Mannaketi Falls flows into the Kelani Ganga that enters the Indian Ocean in Colombo North.

To reach the fall, take the highway from Kitulgala, over a bridge, to Malwatte. From here, climb the mountain above the Girankitha Oya Reservoir (across the road at a small hamlet in the rubber plantations) for 3km until a footpath is reached. After about 400m, the footpath reaches the fall. Alternatively, take the highway from Kegalle, and 13km before the town of Bulathkohupitiya, Mannaketi Falls can be viewed on the right-hand side. The Kitulgala rest-house is 5km away.

The 53m-high Diyavini Falls forms part of a tributary of the Diyavini River, which is in a jungle 8km east of Balangoda, south of Vikiliya. The tributary, together with another stream created by the Diyavini River, flows into the Walawe Ganga. The Devagiri Vihare and an ancient Dagoba overgrown by the jungle are nearby.

Local villagers believe that a treasure trove is buried in the vicinity and that a village head disappeared when he tried to find it. They also maintain that Brahmin scripts are inscribed in caves and further assert that there are three stone vessels, each 3m deep, located here.

Take the Balangoda - Weligapola road to Kapugala road and the ancient village of Diyavini. The fall is located near the old Rajamaha Vihare Delta Fall has six streams and is 50m in height, flowing through shrubs down a rock-strewn slope. Its source is a tributary of the Kotmale river. This is also the site of Sri Lanka's first tea plantation. Introduced by the Dutch and owned by Rothschild Vomes, it proved unsuccessful.

Delta Falls is 6km from Pussellawa, at a bridge near the 41st mile post and can be reached by road or rail. The Pussellawa rest-house is 9km away. The 60m Alakola Fall is served by the Oban river, which follows the shape of a large 'V' beginning at the Buwalpola mountain (1955m). The fall is situated in the Hanguranketha area in the Nuwara Eliya District and the nearest town is Nuwara Eliya. Follow the Udupuddalewa - Kandy road for about 7km to Eramuthukelle where a Hindu kovil (temple) sits atop a rock formation. The fall is behind the kovil.

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