Trekking expedition to Duwili Ella Fall
BELIHULOYA this is a climatically transitional area, which links the dry and wet zones at an altitude of less than 1500m. As a result, the vegetation it consists is moist semi-evergreen forests, tropical savanna forests, dry patana grasslands and montane temperate forests. The vegetation in this environment has made this location an exciting one for the serious as well as the casual nature lover. The average temperature in the area is about 28. 3 degrees Celsius and the mean annual rainfall is between 1, 875 and 2, 500mm.
SCHEDULE
* Start the Trail after the breakfast.
* Lunch in a suitable location.
* Continue the trail.
* Set up the Camp by the 'Hullan Ella' waterfall.
* Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
SCHEDULE
* Start the Trail after the breakfast.
* Lunch in a suitable location.
* Continue the trail.
* Set up the Camp by the 'Hullan Ella' waterfall.
* Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
Price
From: USD95 per person (1 Night / 2 Days)
Price Includes
- A competent team of trekkers and local guides. (Not less than 3)
- All meals throughout the entire journey. (Even though our staff will prepare food, clients' participation is very much appreciated).
- Unlimited snacks and water.
- Transport from Kalthota to Belihuloya. [Though the clients might go to another destination staff and equipment need to be transported back.]
- All government taxes and service charges.
- Backup standby vehicle for the entire Journey for an emergency.
- Transportation up to Belihuloya. Any tips to the staff. Any personal effects.
Day 1 - Belihuloya (FB)
After the breakfast start the trekking trail.
We start our trail from the Eco Lodge at the small village of Kinchigune , overlooking the famous Samanalawewa Reservoir. Properly speaking Kinchigune is no more. It is submerged in the Samanalawewa Reservoir itself, leaving only a few of the original houses (of which our Eco Lodge is one).
On leaving the Eco Lodge, we venture through a paddy field and vegetable plot before coming to a small gravel road. Shortly after getting to the gravel road, we pass a small village school with only two teachers and sixteen pupils! In the school garden, one can find scattered particles of pig iron - ample evidence of the early period steel industry. Further up is a small 'Kammala' (blacksmith's workshop) belonging to Piyasena, himself a head of a family displaced like many others, by the reservoir. We can talk to him and learn about what happened (our staff can translate if necessary).
The gravel road then leads on to the tarred road from 'Kumbalgama' to the Samanalawewa Dam. We proceed along this road for about 2 km, and past typical vegetation belonging to the intermediate climatic zone, consisting mainly of a shrub called 'Maliththa' - Woodfordia fruticosa, (a rare medicinal plant) before arriving at a Buddhist Temple . Inside the shrine room of this temple is another small shrine room, about eight feet in length and breadth, built on a wooden frame with a wooden floor, and is about 350 years old. We can stop and rest a while to explore the temple and talk to the monks (again, our staff can translate).
Beyond the temple, we go through another small village into a completely uninhabited area, characterized by intermittent patches of forest and savanna, eventually leading to the Walawe River . The river marks the 8km point of the trail, but to continue on we cross it at 'Mulgammankada' and hike through the Riverine Forest, alongside and down the river. During this next part of the trail, one will not come across any human habitation, and apart from an occasional small group or two of gem miners, who come to this desolate area and camp out here to mine for gems, one will not meet other humans on the way.
After another 2km walk, we come to a beautiful rocky area where there is a waterfall of about 40 ft in height. This waterfall is called 'Hulang Ella' or the 'Walawe Ganga Falls (West)'. The beautiful, serene, and ever-changing forest next to the river and waterfall is home to an abundance of varying flora and fauna. The flora and fauna in this area consists of the occasional migratory Elephant, Sambhur Deer, Indian Munjak, Flying and Giant Squirrels, many birds (Changeable Hawk Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Stork Billed kingfisher, Gray Hornbill etc.), Lizards (3 endemic), Geckos, Skinks, Snakes, Amphibians, Snails, Butterflies and Fishes.
It is by the 'Hulang Ella' waterfall that we finish our first day of hiking, stop for lunch (if we haven't already eaten), enjoy a refreshing dip in the cool river and set up the camp for the night. As well as lighting a campfire on which to cook the food, we must also light other fires to warn any roaming elephants away (elephant fire crackers will also be provided and our staff will rotate on look-out duty all through the night).
The evening meal can be enjoyed in the most tremendous setting, sitting on a huge rock that overlooks the waterfall and listening to the forest's orchestral performance!
Day 2 - Duwili Ella Trail (FB)
Continue the trail after the breakfast.
On the next morning, after decamping, we continue through the forest for about 1km before passing a place called 'Pitakendiriya' and then go another 3km to get to 'Thunkinda' where the river divides into three and flows down as three streams for about 300 metres before rejoining.
Throughout this part of the trail, we remain in the cool shade of the Riverine Forest , reaching our final destination by late morning. At the end of today's 10km walk from 'Hulang Ella' we come to the 'pièce de resistance' - the majestic, breathtaking and awesome ' Duwili Ella Falls '. This waterfall is also called the 'Walawe Ganga Falls (East)'. It plunges a dramatic 80 ft from a level rocky ground into a large deep pool at the base. The falling of the water creates a cloud of spray, resembling a cloud of dust (hence the name 'Duwili Ella' - in Sinhalese, 'Duwili' means 'dust' and 'Ella' is 'waterfall').
A packed lunch will be brought fresh from our River Garden Restaurant in Belihuloya by more of our staff who will meet you at 'Duwili Ella' itself. Here you can enjoy an invigorating river bath after the morning's hike before departing in vehicles back to Belihuloya where you may choose to extend your stay to explore the area further or leave for your ongoing destination.
- End of the Tour -
After the breakfast start the trekking trail.
We start our trail from the Eco Lodge at the small village of Kinchigune , overlooking the famous Samanalawewa Reservoir. Properly speaking Kinchigune is no more. It is submerged in the Samanalawewa Reservoir itself, leaving only a few of the original houses (of which our Eco Lodge is one).
On leaving the Eco Lodge, we venture through a paddy field and vegetable plot before coming to a small gravel road. Shortly after getting to the gravel road, we pass a small village school with only two teachers and sixteen pupils! In the school garden, one can find scattered particles of pig iron - ample evidence of the early period steel industry. Further up is a small 'Kammala' (blacksmith's workshop) belonging to Piyasena, himself a head of a family displaced like many others, by the reservoir. We can talk to him and learn about what happened (our staff can translate if necessary).
The gravel road then leads on to the tarred road from 'Kumbalgama' to the Samanalawewa Dam. We proceed along this road for about 2 km, and past typical vegetation belonging to the intermediate climatic zone, consisting mainly of a shrub called 'Maliththa' - Woodfordia fruticosa, (a rare medicinal plant) before arriving at a Buddhist Temple . Inside the shrine room of this temple is another small shrine room, about eight feet in length and breadth, built on a wooden frame with a wooden floor, and is about 350 years old. We can stop and rest a while to explore the temple and talk to the monks (again, our staff can translate).
Beyond the temple, we go through another small village into a completely uninhabited area, characterized by intermittent patches of forest and savanna, eventually leading to the Walawe River . The river marks the 8km point of the trail, but to continue on we cross it at 'Mulgammankada' and hike through the Riverine Forest, alongside and down the river. During this next part of the trail, one will not come across any human habitation, and apart from an occasional small group or two of gem miners, who come to this desolate area and camp out here to mine for gems, one will not meet other humans on the way.
After another 2km walk, we come to a beautiful rocky area where there is a waterfall of about 40 ft in height. This waterfall is called 'Hulang Ella' or the 'Walawe Ganga Falls (West)'. The beautiful, serene, and ever-changing forest next to the river and waterfall is home to an abundance of varying flora and fauna. The flora and fauna in this area consists of the occasional migratory Elephant, Sambhur Deer, Indian Munjak, Flying and Giant Squirrels, many birds (Changeable Hawk Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Stork Billed kingfisher, Gray Hornbill etc.), Lizards (3 endemic), Geckos, Skinks, Snakes, Amphibians, Snails, Butterflies and Fishes.
It is by the 'Hulang Ella' waterfall that we finish our first day of hiking, stop for lunch (if we haven't already eaten), enjoy a refreshing dip in the cool river and set up the camp for the night. As well as lighting a campfire on which to cook the food, we must also light other fires to warn any roaming elephants away (elephant fire crackers will also be provided and our staff will rotate on look-out duty all through the night).
The evening meal can be enjoyed in the most tremendous setting, sitting on a huge rock that overlooks the waterfall and listening to the forest's orchestral performance!
Day 2 - Duwili Ella Trail (FB)
Continue the trail after the breakfast.
On the next morning, after decamping, we continue through the forest for about 1km before passing a place called 'Pitakendiriya' and then go another 3km to get to 'Thunkinda' where the river divides into three and flows down as three streams for about 300 metres before rejoining.
Throughout this part of the trail, we remain in the cool shade of the Riverine Forest , reaching our final destination by late morning. At the end of today's 10km walk from 'Hulang Ella' we come to the 'pièce de resistance' - the majestic, breathtaking and awesome ' Duwili Ella Falls '. This waterfall is also called the 'Walawe Ganga Falls (East)'. It plunges a dramatic 80 ft from a level rocky ground into a large deep pool at the base. The falling of the water creates a cloud of spray, resembling a cloud of dust (hence the name 'Duwili Ella' - in Sinhalese, 'Duwili' means 'dust' and 'Ella' is 'waterfall').
A packed lunch will be brought fresh from our River Garden Restaurant in Belihuloya by more of our staff who will meet you at 'Duwili Ella' itself. Here you can enjoy an invigorating river bath after the morning's hike before departing in vehicles back to Belihuloya where you may choose to extend your stay to explore the area further or leave for your ongoing destination.
- End of the Tour -
The Lowdown
Main Activity: TrekkingSuitability: Moderate
Location: Kinchigune
Region: Sri Lanka, Asia
Months Available: January - February - March - April - November - December -
Price: From
USD
$
95 (1 Night / 2 Days , Flights Not Included)
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