Trail to The Top of Bambarakanda Falls, Kalupahana [Download as PDF]

Trail Difficulty: Easy | Moderate | Strenuous | Tough

Trail Head: Bambarakanda Rest, Kalupahana.

Nearest Town: Kalupahana                   Nearest City: Bandarawela

Access to Trail head:

Route to Bambarakanda Rest

Colombo -> Ratnapura -> Balangoda -> Kalupahana (left turn from Colombo – Badulla highway [A4] at Kalupahana, between 172^nd and 173^rd km post & Drive 5km) -> Bambarakanda Rest

Last 500m after passing Bambarakanda falls is an unpaved rough road which will need some ground clearance to tackle. Road construction work is underway and hopefully the road will become better soon.

Bambarakanda Rest is a small guest house managed by Mrs. Sera Mayakaduwa (Tel: 0575670457)

Trail End: Top of Bambarakanda Falls                 Total Length: 1.6 km

Elevation Gain: 200m (Elevation at Trail Head: 1110m | Elevation at Trail End: 1228m).

Note that you effectively climb 200m as the trail descends to the valley and then start climbing up.

Approximate time: 1.5 hours

Hiking Season: Best months are April to September

Permit Required: NO

Bambarakanda Falls is the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka located in the eastern slopes of Central Hills at the foot hills of Horton Plains.

Trail to the top of this falls is an exciting walk mostly entirely through Pines plots. At the top, there is another small but beautiful waterfall and a large pool. Scenery all around at the top of the falls is unbelievable including the uninterrupted view in to the end-less eastern plains of Sri Lanka.

0 to 900m: From the Bambarakanda Rest (Waypoint: BF01) start walking towards the Bambarakanda falls on the main road. About 500m from the trail head you will pass the Bambarakanda Falls observation point (Waypoint: BF04). Passing this, walk about 100m more along the main road and get in to the foot path leading to the base of the Bambarakanda falls, on to your right hand side climbing down few cement steps (Waypoint: BF05).

As you walk about 150m along the foot path, you will find another foot path coming from the main road leading to the base of the Bambarakanda fall (Waypoint: BF08). Take right turn and merge on this foot path. As the foot paths merge you will see the bridge constructed over the stream carrying the flow of Bambarakanda falls (Waypoint: BF09).

As you cross the bridge, the trail enters a Pines plot. You will experience a mild climb. About 50m from the bridge you will find a trail towards right which takes you to the base of Bambarakanda falls (Waypoint: BF11), continue along the left trail which climbs up along Pines.

900m to 1.3km: As you pass BF11 the climb will intensify. The next 400m will be a hard climb through the Pines plot taking hair-pin turns left and right until you reach a place where you are at the edge of the pines plot with undisrupted view of the eastern plains and the roads below (Waypoint: BF16).

1.3km to 1.6km: As soon as you pass BF16, you will find a trail on your right side climbing up in to the Pines Plot (Waypoint: BF17). This is the trail leading to the top of the falls. From this point onwards you will climb about 100m walking approximately 300m (1:3 inclination). As a result this portion of the trail is quite challenging. Slippery conditions underfoot due to the fallen pine needles will make it even challenging.

This portion of the trail up to the top of the water fall goes at the edge of the cliff. You can enjoy breath-taking views in to the eastern plains and the winding roads below. One of the points worth mentioning is the point at which there is a rock extrusion on the side of the falls (Waypoint: BF20). You can walk up to the edge of this extrusion (be extremely careful though in doing this!) and get an almost 360° view in to the valley below.

After passing BF20, continue to climb up along the trail. In about 100m you will see the small waterfall situated above Bambarakanda falls. This small waterfall creates a large pool and then water from the pool crashes more than 750 ft creating the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka , the Bambarakanda Falls. One you see the small waterfall and the pool climb down about 50m to reach the pool. This last decent is extremely steep and slippery. Once you reach the Pool, you are at the Top of Bambarakanda falls (Waypoint: BF24).

Tips, Notes & special remarks: 

• Make sure that you carry a water bottle. Most part of the trail is dry and water sources are limited to the streams at very beginning (Bambarakanda Fall’s stream) and the top of the falls.

• Leaches may occasionally bother you, especially in the lower sections of the trail.

• Be extremely careful when walking along Pines plots. Trail when covered with Pine needles can be quite slippery. When combined with steep ascends and descends this becomes a significant danger.

Way Points