Voyageur Vol:1 | Page 17

V O Y A G E U R 16 adulla marks the southeast extremity of the Hill Country and is a gateway to the east coast. It is one of Sri Lanka's oldest towns, and has a local reputation as a base for black marketers. The Portuguese occupied it briefly, and then torched it upon leaving. For the British it was an important social center, although the teeming roads have changed the atmosphere quite drastically today. The railway through the Hill Country from Colombo terminates here. 1)-Ella is a beautiful, small quiet town on the southern edge of Sri Lanka's Hill Country. It is situated in the middle of beautiful countryside, with small vegetable plots in the valleys, tea plantations on the hill slopes and forests on the tops. It's basically a nicely relaxing base for exploring the surrounding country. Track bashers (rail enthusiasts) should particularly enjoy the line to Badulla, where at the village of Demodara, it does a 360 degree loop before crossing over itself. 2) -Bambarakanda Falls (also known as Bambarakele Falls) is the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka. With a height of 263 m (863 ft), it ranks as the 299th highest waterfall in the World.[1] Situated in Kalupahana in the Badulla District, this waterfall is directly visible from the A4 Highway. The waterfall was formed by KudaOya, which is a branch B of the Walawe River. The Bambarakanda Falls can be found in a forest of pine trees. 3) - Dunhinda Falls is a waterfall located about 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) from Badulla town in Sri Lanka. The 193-foot (59 m) waterfall is created by the BaduluOyariver which passes through the Badulla town. The Dunhinda Falls is one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful waterfalls located about 5 km off Badulla town. The waterfall, which is 210 feet (64 m) high gets its name from the smoky dew drops spray, (Dun in Sinhala means mist or smoke) which surrounds the area at the foot of the waterfall. The water fall is created by the river called BaduluOya which goes through the Badulla town. 4) - The Ravana Falls (popularly known as Ravana Ella in Sinhala) is a popular sightseeing attraction in Sri Lanka. It currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country. This waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft.) in high and cascade from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. During the local wet season, the waterfall turns into what is said to resemble an areca flower with withering petals. But this is not the case in the dry season, where the flow of water reduces dramatically. The falls forms a part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary and is located 2 km (1 mi) away from the local railway station