Trail Difficulty:  Easy | Moderate | Strenuous | Tough

Trail Head: Bridge over “Hariyawa Dola” stream, Lankagama, Neluwa

Nearest Town: Neluwa                Nearest City: Deniyaya

Access to Trail head:

Route to Hariyawa Dola, Lankagama

Route1: Colombo-> Kalutara -> Nagoda -> Mathugama -> Horawala -> Meegahathenna -> Palawatta -> Neluwa (Take left turn at bridge overGinRiver, 1 km before Neluwa town) -> Kosmulla -> Lankagama (approximately 130KM)

Route2: Colombo->Galle-> Udugama -> Hiniduma -> Neluwa -> Bridge overGinRiver(1 km from Neluwa town on Palawatta road) -> Kosmulla -> Lankagama (approximately 180KM)

Last few kilometers of Neluwa-Kosmulla-Lankagama road can only be tackled with a serious four-wheel drive at present. Road construction work is underway and hopefully the road will become drivable soon.

Trail End: Ura Wetuna Ella (waterfall)                Total Length: 1 km

Elevation Gain: Negligible (Elevation at Trail Head: 220m | Elevation at Trail End: 263m)

Approximate time: 1.5 hours

Hiking Season: Best months are December to April. July, August is also fairly dry. Avoid monsoon months.

Permit Required: NO

Lankagama is a remote village in southernprovinceofSri Lankasituated at the boarder of sinharaja rain forest. One of the most interesting natural attractions in the area is the presence of a complex of beautiful waterfalls with in less than 1 square kilometer area with in SinharajaForest.

You can see four major waterfalls and one small waterfall during this hike. The waterfalls are Brabhmana Ella, Dhuwili Ella (Lankagama), Gal-Oruwa (Rock Chasm) Ella and Ura-Wetuna Ella.

0 to 350m: The trail starts off from the small bridge (a concrete slab) across the stream “Hariyawa Dola” (waypoint:LG01), in Lankagama village, about 1km before the Lankagama School when traveling from Neluwa towards Lankagama, on Neluwa-Kosmulla-Lankagama road. From this point, one of the waterfalls (Brahmana Ella) can be clearly seen. Starting from the bridge walk about 10m towards the Lankagama village and locate the trail in to forest through a small tea field on the left side (waypoint:LG02).

Continue to walk along the trail. After about 100m from the road, the tea field will end. You can see the stream and the waterfall (the one which was seen from the bridge) on your left side. Trail splits in to two at this point (waypoint: LG03). Walk along the foot path towards the stream (Left branch).

The trail on to your right which goes uphill, climb straight up to the last waterfall “ura-wetuna Ella”. You can use this trail to climb down quickly, once you reach the last waterfall after visiting all waterfalls.

When you walk a short distance along the left branch you will reach an open area (waypoint: LG04). You have now climbed up to the top of “Brahmana Ellla” fall which you observed from the bridge at the trail head. Passing the open area continue to walk along the foot path. The footpath ends at the stream at a place where there is a small dam built across the stream to feed a micro-hydro plant (waypoint: LG05).

Cross the stream along the small dam. When you look up stream from this point, you can see that two streams are meeting at a point which is few meter up stream from the dam. You will also see a small waterfall which is about 10m high, on the left hand side stream out of the two. This is “Thattu Ella”. Walk between the two stream and reach “Thattu Ella” (waypoint: LG06).

350 to 650m: Cross the stream at LG06 and climb up to the top of the “Thattu Ella” fall (waypoint: LG09). Continue to walk about 50m along the left bank of the stream until you reach a large waterfall. This is “Dhuwili Ella” (waypoint: LG10).  After this you should walk back to the bottom of “Thattu Ella”, cross over to the right hand branch of the stream and walk along the right hand branch upstream to reach two more waterfalls.

650m to 1km: Walk along the left bank of the stream on the right side. As you climb you will notice that you are climbing a large, wet slab rock. As you climb about 150m you will see a large rock chasm and a large water fall above crashing in the narrow rock chasm. This is the base of “gal-Oruwa” fall ((waypoint: LG14)

Since it is almost impossible to climb along the edge of the chasm you will have to cross over to the right side bank, climb up a bit in to the forest and walk up until you reach a point were there is an opening towards to stream at a point above the chasm and the waterfall (waypoint: LG16). When you look upstream from this point you can witness the magnificent sight of the “Ura-wetuna Ella” which is crashing on to a large slab rock.

Tips, Notes & special remarks:

• This area of the rain forest is heavily infected with leaches. Take necessary precautions such as wearing leach proof socks or carry a repellent such as soap or Detol.
• Water from streams flowing in the forest is safe to drink without treatment. Water is so plentiful in this trail and you can safely leave your water bottles behind!
• Extra caution must be taken when walking along the flowing streams. Wet rocks can get extremely slippery and an accidental fall can be fatal.
• Even during the dry months occasional heavy showers can be experienced. It is always a good idea to carry rain coats and a plastic bag to protect electronics.

Way Points