Visit Around Ella with diyaluma falls

Our second hike in Ella was to Little Adam`s Peak, which we did in between the two longer ones. We did this trip without a guide. It is a fairly easy hike and the path is marked by signs so it`s easy to find, and very popular among tourists! So expect to meet many other people from all over the world on this trip! On the two other more remote trips we did in Ella, we hardly met anybody, just some locals now and then.

The Little Adam`s Peak got it`s named after it`s big brother, the holy mountain Adam`s Peak, because of the similar shape. Adam`s Peak is further west in Sri Lanka, close to Nuwara Eliya, and is 2243 m high and a much more exhausting and more challenging climb! The mountain has however three names; Adam`s Peak (this is where Adam first set foot on earth after being cast out of heaven), Sri Pada (Buddha`s footprint left by the Buddha as he headed towards paradise) and Samanalakande (Butterfly mountain, where butterflies go to die). We had plans of climbing Big Adam`s Peak

The Nine Arch Bridge also called the Bridge in the Sky, is a viaduct bridge in Sri Lanka and is one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the nation. Wikipedia
Opened: 1921
Total length: 91 m
Bridge type: Viaduct
Width: 7.6 m
Height: 80 ft (24.38m)
Material: Stones, bricks and cement

You don't need a green thumb or a huge plot of land to reap the benefits of growing fresh herbs. Not only are herbs versatile and capable of lending great flavor to foods, and as natural remedies that benefit personal health and beauty, but the specific act of growing an herbal garden itself helps in many ways, especially for seniors.Herbal Gardening and Its Benefits

Planting an herb garden is a wonderful way to enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of a wide variety of plants. Fresh herbs are often easy to cultivate and can grow in a small garden in the back yard, in pots on an outdoor patio or sunroom, or even in a window box inside a kitchen. Gardening is a terrific hobby and allows your senior loved one an opportunity to show his or her creativity. It is a great activity that can be shared with others like grandchildren, with friends in a club as a social activity, or even alone. Not only is gardening relaxing but it also improves hand-eye coordination, motor skills and self-esteem.

Touring the idyllic town of Ella would be incomplete if one misses out on experiencing the wonder of Ravana Falls. Renowned for being one of Sri Lanka’s widest waterfalls, this 82 ft. the cascading body of water is nestled within the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary and a further six km from the Ella Railway Station. While providing outstanding opportunities for a leisurely swim, adventure seekers will also find that climbing some of the rocks located nearby affords awe-inspiring vistas of both the falls as well as some of Ella’s treasured surroundings.

Nil Diya Pokuna and caves is an underground cave acquisition assumed to be a part of the King Ravana legend. 100m underneath the surface.
The highlight of the place is the underground pond containing bright blue colour water that goes deep into the rock. The climb downhill is a challenging trail, passing narrow passageways and wet cliff edges, so get a convinced guide with you.

Discovering the Hidden Gem
Imagine an underwater pond tucked away inside a mysterious cave, believed to be built by the legendary King Ravana himself. That's Nil Diya Pokuna for you! This extraordinary pond lies 100 meters deep within the mountain cave in Karandagolla, Ella.

Rakkiththakanda Temple also named as Kande Viharaya is located in Karandagolla. It is a rock temple containing five caves as well as a cave tunnel. A miniature dagaba can be found inside one of the caves,which also contains murals and statues. Curiously two of the wall paintings are not Buddhist paintings – one of a horseman, and the other is a British Royal painting.

There are several ways to do this hike and several starting points. First I will tell you how I did it and then give you an alternative.

Our driver dropped us at Makaldenya Junction on Poonagala Road, which is actually way above the Diyaluma Falls. From here we trekked down the hill arriving at Diyaluma Upper falls after about 30 minutes. From there Diyaluma Falls is a 10-minute walk.

To get down we continued down the hill towards Koslanda village, visiting the small, local rubber factory on our way down.

The alternative route is to begin at Koslanda village and hike up to the top of Diyaluma Falls, check it out, and then continue to Upper Diyaluma Falls before returning the same way you came.