Kolapathana Falls or Kolapathana Ella Waterfall is really a hidden gem in the central hills. It is situated by the boundary of the beautiful village called Mandaram Nuwara, in Nuwara Eliya district. The falls is at the bottom of the Piduruthalagala Mountain and it is fed by a stream originated in the Piduruthalagala Forest Reserve.
Kolapathana Falls has a considerable height, but since it has several steps, the exact height is not stated yet. But it is believed that it would be more than 50m. During the rainy season, a huge stream flows down the falls creating amazing scenery. There is a sub waterfall also by the side, which can be only seen in the rainy season. But, in the dry season, Kolapathana Falls looks very thin.
Mandaram Nuwara
As I mentioned earlier also the falls is situated by the boundary of Mandaram Nuwara and the Piduruthalagala mountain. The only way the falls can be reached is via Mandaram Nuwara, since all other sides are covered by the mountain. It is a very beautiful and interesting village, where growing vegetables and tea is the main source of income of the people.
The interesting thing about this village is that the village gets sunlight for a very limited time of the day. It is because the village is covered by the Piduruthalagala Mountain range from almost all the sides. And it is always covered by the mist. That is why the village has got its name in the first place. Mandaram Nuwara means the ‘town with a rainy sky’ in Sinhalese.
Route to Kolapathana Falls
To be frank, the path to Kolapathana Falls is more beautiful than the falls itself. There is a bit of hike from the village to the falls. The sights along the path are breathtaking. The first thing you should remember if you are ever going to visit this place is, it is a drinking water source. So, you are not allowed to bath under the waterfall or even to set foot on the pool under the waterfall.
There will be a little fee to enter the falls. Even though you are not allowed to bath under Kolapathana Falls, you are allowed to bath below a certain point of the stream (after the collection point of drinking water). But the water is pretty cold though.
And most importantly, make sure you do not the litter the environment or do any kind of harm to the surrounding, This is an untouched and fresh land.
Here is the exact location of Kolapathana Falls.
Can you spot a place called Purahangala Natural Pool on the map? It is one of the places where you can have a bath in the stream below the falls. So that is about Kolapathana Falls. But there is so much more to talk about Mandaram Nuwara. Let’s do it in a separate article. Please leave a comment below if you have anything to know in addition.