Bambarakanda Falls

Bambarakanda Falls lies near the village of Kalupahana in Badulla District, in the south of Sri Lanka's hill country. It is about 5 kilometres from the A4 highway between Colombo and the east, on a narrow road that climbs from Kalupahana. It is also known as Bambarakele Falls.

At 263 metres, it is the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka. It is formed by the Kuda Oya, a stream that feeds the Walawe River, as it drops over a sheer cliff on the edge of the central highlands. The name is often linked to bambara, the Sinhala word for the large rock bees that once nested on the cliffs.

The falls drop in a long, narrow ribbon of water down a dark rock face, surrounded by pine trees and forest. A short walk from the road leads to a viewpoint and then down to the pool at the base, where visitors feel the spray. The flow is strongest from March to May, during the inter-monsoon rains. In the dry months from about June to August, the falls can shrink to a thin stream.

Hikers can also follow trails above the falls toward Lanka Ella and the Horton Plains area, and a few small guesthouses near the falls offer simple rooms.

There is a small entry fee at the ticket booth. The path is rocky and slippery near the pool, so good shoes are needed. Leeches can be common after rain.

The falls lie near Haldummulla, and treks from the Ohiya side also reach the top.

A 263-metre drop from the southern escarpment

Bambarakanda drops 263 metres, which ranks it 461st among the world's waterfalls by height. The top of the fall lies at about 1,100 metres above sea level, on the southern escarpment of the hill country, where the land breaks steeply toward the lowlands of the Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces. The Kuda Oya feeds the Walawe River below.

The height keeps the air cooler than in the lowlands, which makes the walk comfortable. Morning visits give the best chance of a clear view of the full drop.