Bambarakanda falls stand at an impressive height of 263 meters, falling down the magical mountains extending from Horton Plains. The waterfall is situated in Kalupahana area of Badulla district, Sri Lanka and is ranked the 299th highest waterfall in the world. The water source of this beautiful horsetail type waterfall is Kuda Oya, which is the creator of many magnificent waterfalls among the hills and this water body later joins Walawe river after a beautiful journey.
About the destination
Bambarakanda waterfall is a must-visit destination when you visit Sri Lanka, not only because it’s the tallest waterfall in the country. The surrounding area offers many waterfalls to see, several mountain treks and 4-wheel tracks through the mountain terrains as well as mesmerizing mountain views like nowhere else in the country. The fall is situated 5kms away from the main road and you must travel upwards a narrow and winding road to meet this beauty. Though the fall is visible to the road, to get close, you need to walk along a pine forest patch to reach the base.
You will find a ticket counter on the road, which is the access route to the waterfall, and you have pay LKR 50 per adult and some items like camping tents are not allowed to take. The path is well-maintained with stairs and it’s a quiet easy trek. After about 15 minutes, you can reach the base of the waterfall and when you do, there’s a sitting area near the waterfall where you can have the best view of the waterfall from there.
You can also take a hike to the top of the waterfall through the pine forest and it will take about 1.5 hours, covering 1.6kms. The best period for such a hike in April to September, where the waterfall is not too dry as well as not harsh due to the gushing water flow. If you’re doing this hike, don’t forget to visit Lanka Ella, another magnificent waterfall situated in the jungle, close to Bambarakanda falls. It is a wonderful experience to take a bath in the cold base pool since it’s a safe place. The waterfall and the surrounding area is a great place for photography as well.
Hiking in Bambarakanda Falls
Bambarakanda Falls is a very interesting trail to hike on. The best season to go on hiking at Bambarakanda falls is from April to September because in the other seasons the waterfall is either very dry or very harsh due to gushing water. The difficulty rate of your hike is quite easy which starts from Bambarakanda rest in Kalupahana and ends up at the top of Bambarakanda falls. On your hike make sure to wear good hiking shoes, take salt, and a water bottle.
The total length of the hike is 1.6 km and it takes approximately about 1.5 hours and you don’t need a permit to go on your hike.
Reaching the destination
From Colombo
Take the Southern expressway and exit from Gelanigama interchange, travel along Ratnapura – Horana – Panadura road (A8) and join Colombo – Batticaloa highway (A4). Reach Kalupahana and turn left to take Kalupahana – Ohiya road to reach your destination.
From Badulla
Take Keppetipola Road to Bandarawela Road. Follow Bandarawela – Badulla Rd, and Colombo – Batticaloa Highway. Take a slight right at Kalupahana Stores to reach your destination.
