The Mannakethi Ella is located in Kegalle district, Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka, and it is about 60 meters high. The name Mannakethi Ella sounds weird and anyone would wonder how such a name is referred to this waterfall. It is said that the villagers living around this waterfall, frequently visit this place to wash their Manne and Kaththa from the water streams, therefore the waterfall being named as Mannekethi (Manne + Keththa) Ella. This waterfall gets its source water from the Girankitha Oya Reservoir at the Western slopes of the Unagula Mountain. Cascading down beautifully, it finally reaches into the Kelani River and enters the Indian Ocean in Colombo North. On the top of Mannakethi Ella, there is also a safe place to swim across and enjoy the refreshing water.
How to reach the Destination:
The Mannakethi Ella is about 69 km away from Kandy. From Kandy you should take the Gingathhena Road and go past Peradeniya, Daulagala, Gampola, Ulapane, Nawalapitiya and Ginigathhena until Kitulgala. At Kitulgala turn to Mahabage Road and travel about 6 km along this route to reach the Mannakethi Ella. The traveler could take the highway from Kitulgala, over a bridge, to Malwatte. From here, the traveler should hike up the mountain above the Girankitha Oya Reservoir for 3 km until a footpath is reached. After about 400 m, the footpath reaches the fall. Alternatively, one could take the highway from Kegalle, and 13 km before the town of Bulathkohupitiya, Mannaketi Falls can be viewed on the right-hand side.
References:
Lakdasun Trip Reports Archive » Mannaketi Falls (60m) and Sampath Falls (30m) – Kitulgala Mannakethi Ella Falls | AmazingLanka.com Mannakethi Ella – Attractions in Sri lanka
