The tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka is Bambarakanda Falls, sometimes referred as Bambarakele Falls. And plummets through an almost vertical rock face. The surrounding area is rich in biodiversity, with lush greenery and various species of flora and fauna. The waterfall is a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors who come to admire its natural beauty and take in the scenic views. Visitors often engage in hiking and trekking activities in the area, exploring the nearby trails and enjoying the serene ambience of the surroundings. Standing at 263 meters high, it is the 299th highest waterfall on Earth and is located at the Horton Plains' base.
This waterfall is located around five kilometres away from the A4 Highway in Kalupahana, in the Badulla District. It should go via a small, twisting road off the main road. Kuda Oya, the artist behind numerous stunning waterfalls amidst the hills, sculpted the waterfall. This body of water travels a beautiful route before joining the Walawe River. Bambarakanda Falls receives much less water except during the rainy season and almost disappears during the summer. This waterfall drops as a thin line from a rocky outcrop rather than being broad. The monsoon season, when the surrounding landscape is at its greenest and the water flow is at its maximum, is the ideal time to visit the waterfall.The fall is visible to the road and to get closer, you need to walk from the car park where the ticket counter is also situated; along a pine forest to reach the base and the foot of the waterfall. This location is roughly around 1100m above sea level.
After about 15 minutes walk by passing around 0.5 km, you can reach the base of the waterfall. You can get a real and stunning view of the waterfall from the sitting area close to the basin. It will take approximately 1.5 hours to hike the 2 kilometres through the pine forest to reach the top of the waterfall. Wearing appropriate hiking shoes and taking other safety precautions is important when hiking. Photographers love Bambarakanda for its ability to produce breathtaking images of the surrounding countryside and the waterfall. If you want to experience the quiet and peace of the natural world, You should go to Lanka Ella Falls, another stunning waterfall in the jungle that is about 2 km from the base of Bambarakanda Falls, The waterfall and its surroundings make it a wonderful location for photographers with a cool and green atmosphere. Because of the altitude in the upper Bambarakanda area, visitors must take precautions and mindfully observe nature. The upper Bambarakanda area also has a small waterfall and a basin of water.In the recent past, experienced trainers have organized daring events such as descending from the upper Bambarakanda to the waterfall basin.
If you proceed along the narrow access road from the A4 main road toward Bambarakanda, you can reach the Horton Plains by traveling approximately 14 km through the Udaveriya area of Haputhale, which includes the well-known, daring, and extremely challenging Devil's Staircase Road. However, the journey back from the Ohiya access area in the Horton Plains towards Bambarakanda in the Kalupahana area is relatively easy due to the slope. Except for walking it is appropriate to have a motorcycle to travel in this path.
