Thudugala Ella
Are you a nature lover who is seeking beautiful natural places in Sri Lanka but having a tight schedule to wander off to the hill country? Glad you’re here. I’m going to let you know all that is required to know about this serene fall called “Thudugala Ella”.
Thudugala Ella falls is the closest waterfall to the sea and Kalu River out of 26 waterfalls in Kalutara district. And It ranks 262 out of 382 identified waterfalls in Sri Lanka based on the height.
Being so close to the west coast beach havens, the falls attract a decent number of local and foreign crowds to enjoy the tranquility of this cascading beauty.
You can easily get to the falls from Colombo, Kalutara, Matugama, Horana and even from Bentota. I’ll show you how. If you have a day to spare while in Colombo, you can easily arrange a day trip to the falls and comeback with ample time to spare.
Location
The falls located in Thudugala which belongs to Dodangoda divisional secretariat in the southern section of Kalutara district. Here’s how to get there.
Please note that there are two entrances to the falls. Lower entrance and the upper one. I’d recommend using the lower entrance, using which you can quickly get to the falls. Directions mentioned below are for the same.
Tips to Visit
• It is better to visit during the rainy season (May-September) to witness the falls in her full capacity. But be extra careful of slippery stones.
• Falls can be overcrowded on weekends and holidays hence, visit on weekdays if possible.
• Enter the falls from the Thudugala road as instructed above.
• There is only one small store in the vicinity which serves a limited number of local food items, hence bring the necessities from Thudugala town to be on the safe side.
• Please be conscious of the environment and DO NOT leave non-degradable items such as plastic bottles, polythene behind.
Raja Maruna Ella
The Raja Maruna Ella Falls is a popular natural attraction in that part of the island, and though Sri Lanka has many beautiful waterfalls to its name, this falls holds a special place too.
Falling down in between two large rocks, the Raja Maruna Ella falls is a beautiful sight indeed. Behind the water streaming down, you can also find a cave that goes in as far as 5 kilometres. The cave itself is not visible or even accessible unless there is an extreme drought.
Legend has it that when a king tried to hide in this cave while being chased by enemies, he got trapped inside due to heavy rainfall and died inside then caves, thus the name Raja Maruna.
Please protect the environment while you visit the place. Leave only footprints and take only memories.
Makeli Ella falls in Kukuleganga
The Makeli Ella Falls is about 10 metres tall and from afar, looks like a sheer white veil spilling off a bride’s headpiece.
Surrounded by granite stones that have been eroded by water over the years, this waterfall flows amidst a scenic part of Kalutara, namely, Thumodara. The water flows down and forms a pool at the bottom, and beyond that, going 6 metres downhill, it meets the Kuda River and mingles with the sea through the Kalu River.
The area around the Makeli Ella falls and the falls itself is at risk due to a new project that is underway near Kukule Ganga. The soil that is displaced by the developers could result in collecting up at the stream and silting it up permanently.
Before the project began, this falls was a local favourite for baths, but now, you can find a viewing platform only, and bathing is prohibited in the pool below the falls.
from the of themakeli falls
The sheer drop to the deep base pool
Location
This fall is one of the prominent waterfalls in Kalutara district and can be easily reached from Matugama or Kalutara. Routes are as follows.
Kalutara ➡️ Nagoda ➡️ Neboda ➡️ Kalawellawa ➡️ Bulathsinhala ➡️ Molkawa ➡️ Makeli Ella
Mathugama ➡️ Lathpandura ➡️ Molkawa road ➡️ Kelinkanda road ➡️ Makeli Ella
A Word of caution
DO NOT get into the water in the base pool no matter how good a swimmer you are. According to the villages, about 39 lives were lost in this place due to the sheer depth. You can, however, have a safe path upside of the falls. Use the platform built for observations to safely admire the beauty of the fall.
Ginigedara Ella
Pouring between two mighty rocks and dropping down a height of 14m, this waterfall is a sight to behold and must not be missed when touring the area.
How to get there
Located near Bulathsinhala in Kalutara, you have to cross three main roads to get to these falls. The most opted route is the Horana road that leads to Kalawella. You will come across a junction at the 4th kilometre and then, take a left turn and travel for another 2 kilometres.
The trek
Once you reach the end of that path, it takes a steady trek through a rubber plantation and a short walk from the last house in the area to get to the Ginigedara Ella Waterfall.