Cascading down a sheer rock face with lush greenery on either side, Diyaluma Falls is a well-known waterfall in Sri Lanka, located on Colombo-Batticaloa highway. With many a legend to give life to the already enthralling waterfall, this is among the places to visit in Bandarawela, as you can easily stop here on your way to or from the area.
Diyaluma is the third highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, with a height of 171m. During the rainy season, the waterfall reaches the height of its beauty, embodying the legends of yore that are woven around it. One of the oldest legends tells the story of a King who had fallen in love with a woman of a lower caste. As the subjects of the King were enraged by the incident, the couple eloped, arriving at the waterfall on their way. With the aid of creepers that were hugging the rock face, the couple then started to climb upward, but the woman’s hand slipped, plunging her to the depth of the waterfall. The loss of her lover made the King weep with a broken heart. A deity, upon witnessing this incident, is said to have collected the King’s tears and conjured the waterfall in memory of their love.
If you are reluctant to stop by the waterfall on your way, you could request your hotel to make arrangements for you to visit this cascading beauty. Bandarawela Hotel, for instance, does day tours to the waterfall. If you dare, though, do climb towards the base of the waterfall, without halting at the bridge. While the bridge will give you a spectacular view, you can reach the actual base of the waterfall where the water plunged with immense force into the Koslanda Plateau, where you would feel as if the heavens itself is pouring the water from the sky.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+