Cascading Diamonds - Sri Lanka's Waterfalls

Sri Lanka is Blessed with numerous Waterfalls, more than 150 of them. both small and large. This just an attempt to describe some of the more beautiful ones of them, as well as the more important ones too.
These are the Cascades of Diamonds in our country !
First we start with a bit difficult one.
Manella Ella !
This is reached by going through Kannanthota, to Liyangahamulathota on the Ruwanwella, Kotiyakumbura road, then crossing the Grugoda Oya (stream) by ferry or small boat. The there is a further 1 km walk to the Manella Ella (waterfall). This water is born of raindrops in the in the Low Country Rainforest area of Salgala. Total height is about 50 meters.
Second one is a beauty !
Olu Ella (OOLU Ella) (Lotus Waterfall) !
This is the one on the top left picture. Total height is approx. 127 meters. This can be reached by going through Yatiyantota through Poonagala on the Nawalapitiya Road to Amanawala. It is the fifth highest in Sri Lanka.
Rathna Ella !
One of the most beautiful waterfalls, Rathna Ella is situated close to Hasalaka on the Kandy - Mahiyangana road. About 111 meters in height, it is the 10th in height. It is quit wide in places and the widest sections are almost 30 meters wide. The way to this waterfall is a bit difficult. This is pictured on the top right hand side.

Colombo, unseen beauty

Colombo !
To many, Colombo is just a City, bustling, crowded on weekdays, dusty and dirty at times. Rainy days are no better, sometimes the drains unable to cope with all the water flowing down and being blocked up, creating mini floods.
But the visitor should know as in any other City, there are nice places to see, sometimes hidden away in corners.
The Gangarama Temple near the Beira Lake is fine example. It is not only a Buddhist Temple, it is also a tranquil setting within the city, where one can relax and observe the locals, as well as the Temple Elephant.
The Dutch Museum, shown on the right is located in the heart of Pettah, the busiest area of Colombo.
The beautiful red and white Mosque , shown on the left is found just off the Main Street in Fort.
Some of the other highlights of Colombo are, the National Museum, where you can view the Throne of the last Kandyan Kings, The Old Hospital building at Lipton Circus, bright in it's Yellow and Red Colors, the Vihara Mahadevi Park, a veritable green oasis right in front of the Colombo City Hall, the Galle Face Green, fronting up to the Indian Ocean and bringing the ocean breeze in to the City,
Then nearby you find the Old Parliament Buildings, still graceful in it's old charm.
If you like to watch the stars, and what's happening in the skies, head out to the Planetarium, close to Reid Avenue, where you will also observe the Colombo University.
Exhibitions/conferences are held at the Badaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.
One of the must see places is the Independence Hall, built with lots of traditional art forms put together.
Just South of Colombo, in Dehiwala, one can spend the day, touring the National Zoo and end the evening by watching the Elephant Dance.
Of course, in addition to all these, there are many Hotels, Restaurants, Shops, Cafes, Temples of all kinds that can be visited and enjoyed by the Visitor.

The Veddah People of Sri Lanka

They were here before the Aryan's landed more than 3000 years ago. Their Ancestors lived mostly in caves around the island and wore the bark of trees, small branches of trees or animal skins.
Then they hunted with sharp rocks and pointed sticks, later on using bows and wooden tipped arrows ( sometimes poison was and is still used for big animals), and spears. Finally they hunted as they still do, using spears, bows and metal tipped arrows and the ever present short axe.















When the meat was plentiful, they would preserve it with bees honey and store it in the hollow of a large tree.

Until the early 60's, they had no use for money as we know of it. Then they would only venture only to the village shop, to get some spices or rice. And sometimes a few trips a year to the village Blacksmith, to get the tools they wanted. In return for these goods they would bring bees Honey and Preserved meat and on occasion Fresh meat too.

They were experts in harvesting Honey, and they still are, though they still have competition in the form of the Sloth Bear !

Civilization has made them prey to diseases which were virtually unknown to them and also lured many of their people with the promise of the "good life" outside.

Welcome to Sri Lanka ! A Land Like No Other !

A Land like no other ! That is the best short discription that can be given of Sri Lanka. A Hybid mix of people, from the Native Veddah people, the Sinhala, Tamil, Moor, Malay, Java, Arab, the invading Europeans from Portugal, Holland and England, the influx of South Indians, all giving rise to the Proud nation state of Sri Lanka.

And, as I write today, it is a nation, a country that has got rid of the dreaded terrorists, which brainwashed the Tamil people and forced the ones that did not believe into fighting a separatist war that lasted for three very long decades.

It is the land where one can still see the Giant Squirrel, Giant Moths, Majestic Elephants, Boa Constrictors, Huge Crocodiles, Exquisite Peacocks and Painted Storks. It is the land where one is able to see the Flowers that Bloom at Midnight (Kadupul), flowers that resemble the Famous Kandyan Dancers, flowers that enshrine a Buddhist Pagoda (Sal Mal) and flowers that trap insects (Bandura).

It is the land where there are almost 200 waterfalls, ranging from 265 meters to just a few meters, leaping from their rocky mountains, the many rivers large and small flowing outwards to the ocean. The land of a Thousand and more man made lakes, used to irrigate the land and also to quench the thirst of the people, made more than Two Thousand Years ago and still being used today.

The Following articles have been written and submitted , some by visitors to our beautiful land and traveled in Sri Lanka using the services of Sri Lanka Tours and some by myself.
To see these beautiful places and events in Sri Lanka , visit
http://www.srilankatours.webs.com
or, you can write directly to cananil@yahoo.com
For more information about Sri Lanka, visit
http://www.toursrilanka.webs.com

1. The Veddah People
2. Ahuguntikayo -- The Gypsies of Sri Lanka
3. Devol Maduwa - Gam Maduwa
4.Festival of Kandy - The Esala Perahera
5.Cascading Diamonds - The Waterfalls of Sri Lanka