Dunsinane Waterfall (Pundalu Oya Falls)

Dunsinane Waterfall (Pundalu Oya Falls)

Average Reviews

Description

Dunsinane falls

The stunning Dunsinane falls, which is also called Pundalu Oya falls is in Pundalu Oya village, Nuwara Eliya district of Sri Lanka. Being the 15th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, with a height of 100 m, the fall cascades in the form of sequential steps to join Pundalu Oya river,  which is a tributary of the Kotmale Oya.

About the destination

Dunsinane falls lies between two tea estates. One is called Dunsinane estate and the other one is called Sheen estate. As a result, this waterfall was known as Dunsinane-sheen falls (or Dunsinanshin falls). After a certain time, this waterfall was named  ‘Dunsinane Falls.’ The upper part of the fall is 30 meters and it flows through a wide rocky plain. There is a small Hindu Kovil at the left side of the upper falls and a statue has been built at the middle of the rocky plain, which adds a unique beauty to the waterfall. This is the part you can view from the bridge. The 70m lower part cascades down the bridge and there is no proper path to reach the base of the lower segment. If you walk along the road a little further, you can photograph both these parts in a beautiful frame.

 You can reach the waterfall within one and half hour journey from Nawalapitiya or it’s just a one-hour ride from Nuwara Eliya town.

Reaching the destination

From Colombo
  1. Take Colombo – Kandy road and travel up to Mawanella. Take B279 via Hemmathagama and Ambuluwawa and reach Gampola. From there, take A5 (PBC Highway) and at Thawalanthenna junction, take a right and travel along Tawalanthenna – Thalawakele road (B412). After travelling about 14.5kms, take a left to the road where Dunsinane falls is situated.  Travel another 2.7kms to reach the fall.
  2. From Colombo, take Avissawella-Hatton-Nuwara Eliya highway and reach Ginigathhena. Turn left to Nawalapitiya – Ginigathhena road  (B319) and from Nawalapitiya, take Nawalapitiya – Harangala road (B506). Join Harangala- Kalapitiya- Kumbaloluwa road (B148)  and from Kumbaloluwa, turn right to Tawalanthenna- Thalawakele road (B412). From there take a right to the road where Dunsinane falls is situated. 
From Nuwara Eliya

Take A5 (PBC Highway) and reach Pundalu Oya junction. Turn left and travel along the road to reach your destination.

Photos