The cascading water falls

The picture on the back cover is the Baker's Falls which is quite wide in contrast to other waterfalls which are narrower but are quite high. There are more than a hundred waterfalls in Sri Lanka and Baker's Falls is just one of them and is a sight to behold. Before the waterfall can be seen you hear the sound of the surging waters and then the waterfall comes into full view. It is indeed a wonderful sight because of its sheer breadth. It is 22 metres in height.

The ear-splitting noise is when the waters pound against the large rock at the foot of the Fall. Baker's Falls forms a part of the Belihul Oya. The surrounding area is covered with a dense growth of beautiful giant ferns.

Sir Samuel Baker, a Briton spotted the Falls in 1845. The Falls were thus named after him. Baker is also responsible for having shot 50 elephants, five deer and two buffaloes in his gaming bid. The Falls is a constant reminder of the many gifts nature has bestowed this country. Further down, despite warning signs and specifically the 12 metre death trap of a plunge pool, has claimed many lives. Many of the warnings are removed by bathers who are of the view that these warnings are a mere exaggeration.

Situated on the Horton Plains in the Nuwara Eliya district, Baker's Falls is accessible from Pattipola or Ohiya town.

From Pattipola one must take the footpath and either follow it to World's End and loop back to Baker's Falls or take the right fork at the beginning of the path which will take you straight there. Immediately before the Fall, there is a steep, root-strewn bank, which can be difficult to negotiate, especially in wet weather.