Rathna Ella is one of the famous waterfalls in the Sri Lankan waterfall directory. It is considered the 9th-highest waterfall on the island, at 111 m. This fall is situated in the Minipe Divisional Secretariat area in the Kandy district. Hasalaka is the nearest town to the waterfall.
How do I get there?
The waterfall is approximately 72 kilometers from Kandy. It takes 2.5 hours to reach; however, the distance from Colombo is about 189 kilometers. That takes nearly 6 hours to reach the destination. If you travel from Ampara, Badulla, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, or any other eastern part of the country, you can simply first reach Mahiyangana town, and then you can end up in Rathna Ella very easily with a 10 km distance. Buses to Hasalaka town are available from Kandy and Mahiyangana.
You need to turn your vehicle onto the Eldamporuwa route within Hasalaka Town. You will need to park your vehicle after a few meters. From the park, you have to trek to the forest.
Rathna Ella Village and Surrounding Beauty
The trek to the forest consists of a clear footpath with some narrow areas. The surrounding village is also called “Rathna Ella Village.” Most people have paddy cultivation as their occupation. During the trek, you will see wild animals, small canals, paddy fields, and narrow bridges. It is somewhat tired. ideal for nature lovers. But you will forget all the difficulties after reaching your destination.
There are some signboards in the above-mentioned park, and it’s not difficult to find the trek to the waterfall. If you feel any difficulty, you can get support from the village people. During the trek, you will meet another small waterfall called “Kaluwa Watunu Ella.” It stands about 15 meters tall and is very attractive.
Rathna Ella Waterfall:
Rathna Ella is formed by Hasalaka Oya. It is then joined to the Mahaveli River. The waterfall is absolutely beautiful and attractive. It is fairly wider than other waterfalls in the country. You can reach it near the waterfall. But don’t try to bathe in the pool. It is extremely dangerous.
However, the surrounding rocky area near the pool is great for capturing some photographs. You can wait there and enjoy the beauty of the waterfall. Some people try to reach the upper part of the fall. But it’s another dangerous activity that you should not try. Rainy periods add additional beauty to the waterfall because of the large amount of water. But don’t try this destination in the rainy season.
Rathna Ella Waterfall:
Rathna Ella is formed by Hasalaka Oya. It is then joined to the Mahaveli River. The waterfall is absolutely beautiful and attractive. It is fairly wider than other waterfalls in the country. You can reach it near the waterfall. But don’t try to bathe in the pool. It is extremely dangerous.
However, the surrounding rocky area near the pool is great for capturing some photographs. You can wait there and enjoy the beauty of the waterfall. Some people try to reach the upper part of the fall. But it’s another dangerous activity that you should not try. Rainy periods add additional beauty to the waterfall because of the large amount of water. But don’t try this destination in the rainy season.
Our Video
Our SL Traveler Team went to see this beautiful waterfall in one day in December 2021. It was a somewhat rainy day. Our team reached close to the waterfall and shot a video to publish on YouTube. Below, you can watch this video. But you should note that we are speaking Sinhala in that video. However, you can watch some beautiful Rathna Ella there:
Nearby Rathna Ella Travel Destinations
- Gerandi Ella Waterfall in Kalugala
- Yahangala and Kehelpathdoruwa
- Sorabora Wewa in Mahiyangana
- Wasgamuwa National Park
- Dambana Wedda Village