From Nonpareil to World's End

By Amal Hewavissenti

A journey of 14 kilometres along the Balangoda - Badulla highway from the city of Balangoda brings a visitor to Nonpareil Junction the gateway to the base of fabulous World's End. At a short distance from the junction lies Negrak, a tea estate located at the base of the precipitous cliff of World's End the terrain's highest point that provides a lot of surprisingly panoramic views of mysterious nature.

This journey to the base (Negrak tea estate) of World's End fascinates a visitor as he views fog covered dark mountain ranges of Galagama, Ihala Galagama and Silogama. This place commands an endless fascinating vista of much of Southern Sri Lanka.

Even from the base of World's End, one can view reservoirs of Udawalawa and Samanalawewa, and the top of Kooragala Cliff (which recently became a subject of much discussion on account of the discovery of the remains of Balangoda Man).

Beyond that, at the farthest horizon, the Tissamaharama dagaba, Kirinda and Devundara Light house are clearly visible on the Southern Plain.

This region which is of the elevation of 5,000 feet from the sea level, possesses an environment with a high degree of biodiversity. The wilderness is further beautified by varied flora and fauna endemic perhaps to the regions of higher level.

Crossing the dangerous precipices of World's End up to the Horton Plains on the top is an exhilarating but sometimes dangerous experience for the visitors to this strange region a place like no other in Sri Lanka.

The dark mountains of wilderness are shrouded in fog which often conceal the faces of rock precipices only to reveal them in the course of two or three minutes.

The fog which comes from the South intermittently covers the jungle and hovers through Maharathmal trees which bear a cluster of flowers resembling a bride's bouquet of red flowers. This is an exclusive fascination for the visitor to the World's End and Horton Plains.

Tourists who prefer mountain hiking may be naturally attracted to the unique flower trees and animals such as sambur, barking deer, deer, hare and jungle fowls.

This area can be better exploited to attract more tourists. Development of a better road which leads to the base of World's End (Negrak tea estate) and other infrastructure and media promotion will attract more tourists to this unique place.

Surathali falls

This waterfall located at 170 kilometre post on Colombo - Badulla highway is an impressive cascade from "Kadawathu Oya" flowing from Pareyyangala (Pigeons' rock mountain) on the Southern slope of World's End. The name of this waterfall is derived from the film Surathali of Sinhala cinema which was based on the environment around the fall. The charm of Surathali Falls is heightened during the rainy season and it's convenient location earns many more visitors.

To mount its tourist attraction, it is essential to develop the overall atmosphere of the place, preserve natural growth of trees and to raise structures to facilitate the tourist in every way.

It is also important to adopt measures to dispose of the long accumulated garbage left specially by the local visitors to make it a clean haven.

On either side of the waterfall lies the green jungle which is solely responsible for the extremely cool climate of the area.

There should be more organised programs to guide tourists to cross dangerously high rock mountains and to enable them to observe the forests with higher geographical locations.

The area surrounding the fall should be made a minor adventure park where local visitors and tourists may engage in different exciting activities and enjoy the beauty of nature being on the very lap of nature.

Pahanthuduwa Falls

This also is an appealing creation of nature associated with World's End and Horton Plains.

Pahanthuduwa waterfall is located on the river Belihuloya some 1 1/2 kilometres north of the Belihuloya Rest Inn (on Colombo - Badulla highway).

The extremely cold water flowing from the Horton Plains violently rushes on a massive rock basin which bears a strange resemblance to a clay votive lamp. Then the water cascades down from the "mouth" of the rock "votive lamp" on to a pool below assuming the shape of a waterfall. The fall is surrounded by thick jungle and is naturally adapted for tourists to bathe, swim and to enjoy the boundless charm of nature. The upper basin of water on the waterfall can be effectively made a natural swimming pool. The way to the fall along the bank of Belihuloya should be equipped with temporary resting places and concrete benches.

Negrak, the base of the World's End is actually a wonderful place to explore. The Tourist Board should focus on possibilities of establishing holiday resorts for tourists who could stay there for a considerable period of time and explore that strange landscape of Sri Lanka.

Arrangements are being made to fix a cable car service from the top of smaller World's End to the outer edge of Nonpareil tea estate and this would be hugely popular among tourists.

At present a private company is building a holiday resort at Ihala Galagama to host tourists and all types of visitors to Nonpareil (the base of the World's End).

The Tourist Board could exploit internet to give wider publicity to Nonpareil and Nagrak which are the perfect archetype of scenic beauty which in turn could be used to develop eco tourism in Sri Lanka.