Funday Times

Gaveshaka continues the fascinating trip across waterfalls in association with Lanka Council of Waterfalls
Where King Walagamba hid from invaders
The 30m-high Aradunu Falls is so named because of its bow shape. According to folklore, King Walagamba took refuge from the South Indian invaders inside a cave found near the fall. There is also said to be a tunnel at the rear of the fall that leads up to Passara Raja Maha Vihara.
Currently, the fall is dammed for the nearby tea factory and hydro-electricity project. As a result, the fall can only be visited during the dry seasons, when turbines are inactive.

Situated in the Badulla District's Passara Electorate on the Loggalla Oya, which begins in the Namunukula mountain range, this fall flows through an abandoned savannah grassland that is now used for agriculture. The nearest town is Passara. From there, head along the Madolsima road for 3km and turn left after the power loom, down a narrow road that leads to the fall.

The beautiful Bomburu Falls is a collection of about ten little-known jungle waterfalls, situated between 1500 and 2000m above sea level in the Sita Eliya Kandapola Forest Reserve. They are served by the upper segment of the principal tributary of the Uma ganga, known as the Duulgala ganga.
The location of the fall is in both the Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts and belongs to Uva Paranagama Divisional Secretariat Division. From the Welimada - Pusselawa road, turn off at Ambagasdova junction and follow the Pewella bus route. The route then ascends and becomes a slightly perilous-looking winding track, with difficult boulders and jungle to negotiate, before the fall is reached.

Ahupini Falls is a 30m fall in the Kandy District that forms part of the Maha ganga that originates from both sides of the Raksawa mountains, and is itself 570m above sea level. The upper area of the fall winds through an area known as Uda Palatha, upstream of which is the Divisional Secretary's Uduwella GS area, in the backdrop of Apalawatte Pallegama village.
According to folklore, the fall derives its name from a desperate suicide attempt, where a mounted monarch leapt from its upper reaches. Villagers say that the fall sometimes emits a fearsome roar that can last for 15 minutes, and that this signifies that it will claim a human sacrifice within a two-month period.

The fall forms a plunge pool strewn with rocks where people are not encouraged to bathe due to the risk of drowning. Also at the base of the pool are crevices known as Pinikandawela and Tissakumarawella that are said to house treasure by villagers.

According to ancient books written about border demarcations, this fall acted as a demarcation between the area of Satara Korale and Paranu Kuru Korale. The fall is 49km from Pussalawe and 44km from Kitugala. The upper reach is about 5km from Dolosbage in the Kandy District, and can be accessed by passing Aranayake. The foot of the fall can be reached by travelling through Mawanella in the Kegale District, across Aranayake. A four-wheel drive vehicle is the best option.

Ahasabokku Falls in the Kalutara District can be reached when you go on the Matugama - Baduraliya road to Kalawana pass. From Athweltota go ahead for 5km up to the Ambatenna bridge. To the left is the Kumburhena road. Travel for 1.5 km, and the fall could be viewed to its left in a slope of about 200m.

Maduwanwela Doovili, a 25m fall is a creation of a branch of Adaluwa ganga, called the Arapora ganga, beginning from Sinharaja. The fall is located in its precincts at Ratnapura District in the Kolonna Electorate. There is a two-stream fall located above. But the main is the Maduwanwela Falls. The two other minor falls located below measures 10m & 12m respectively. The minor fall called Aralu Falls is situated below the Dooli Falls. According to a villager, the name epitomizes the water flower created by a rock situated at its midst. It cascades in a misty spray.

A conduit above the fall supplies water to Chandrika Wewa via Panamura Irrigation Network. To get to the fall travel from Embilipitiya along Kolonna road, which is in front of the Maduwanwela Walauwa. Another route is the Kolonna Road, running from Ratanapura across Madampe over Rakwana-Suriyakanda towards Maduwanwela where the fall is situated.

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