The island of Ceylon is not for nothing called the country of waterfalls, because there are more than three hundred of them hidden in the jungle of Sri Lanka.
Going on a beach vacation to a paradise island, many travelers are happy to combine lazy relaxation with active excursions to the waterfalls. In Colombo, you can buy day trips to the most famous ones located east of the Sri Lankan capital.
Heart shape
One of the closest waterfalls to Colombo is Bobat, 15 km from the highway leading from the capital to Ratnapura. In the local area, he is considered the most beautiful, and the Sri Lankans can tell many legends and stories about him. The waterfall got its name because of the shape of its own top. It resembles a heart-shaped leaf of the Bo tree, sacred to the inhabitants of the island.
The water stream itself rushes down from a thirty-meter height, and its surroundings serve as a favorite place for picnics in nature. The distance from Colombo to the waterfall is just over 80 km and can be covered by taxi or rented car. Organized excursions are sold by many tourist offices in the capital of Sri Lanka.
In the nearest neighborhood
The closest to the capital of Sri Lanka are several more beautiful waterfalls, in excursions to which most of the tourists in Ceylon participate:
- The Makeli waterfall located in the Kalutara region can be reached by road from Matugama to Agalavatta. Near the village of Latpandura, turn to Molkava - a natural phenomenon will be literally a couple of kilometers from the exit from the main highway. Makeli is not too tall, but the view from the observation deck is mesmerizing. Swimming in the Makeli waterfall is prohibited!
- There is a road leading to Laxapana Falls from the A7 highway leading from Ravanuela to Balangoda. Sri Lanka's Peak Wilderness Nature Reserve is nearby and a trip to this waterfall from Colombo can be combined with an excursion to the famous national park. The height of the water flow is 126 meters, which makes Laxapana one of the top ten highest waterfalls in the country.
- Kirindi Ella is not small either. Its waters rush from a height of 117 meters into the Diyagatwala basin, and the mountain from where the Kirindi Oya river falls is called Kuttapitiya.
Ceylon record holder
The highest waterfall in Sri Lanka is considered the Bambarakanda waterfall, whose waters fly from a height of 262 meters. By world standards, he is not at all a record holder and takes only 299 place in the list of waterfalls on the planet. But the Sri Lankans love and respect their champion.
Bambarakanda is noisy near the A4 highway near the city of Badulla and its flow can be seen right from the road. The Kuda Oya River, which forms the falling stream, is usually shallow and the best months to visit this natural miracle are from March to May, when high water coincides with favorable weather conditions, making the excursion pleasant and comfortable.
