Captivating cascade

by Mahil Wijesinghe

True to its name, Bopath Ella dazzles!

A milky white foam bursts forth from Kuru Ganga which starts all the way from Adams Peak's mountain range. The sheet of water that comes crashing down envelops the area in a fine mist.

As you approach the waterfall, the sound of water echoes all around. When you look up, practically nothing is visible except for the blinding white curtain, which against the sunlight makes the surrounding rolling hills look blue.

Bopath Ella is Sabaragamuwa's most picturesque waterfall, as voiced by every visitor to this place. The breathtaking spot is a few kilometres away from Kuruwita on the Colombo-Ratnapura main highway. The perennial waterfall is a hot spot for picnickers and lovers from all over the island. The place is too charming to be ignored.

Travelling about three kilometres from Kuruwita, the narrow meandering road branches off on to the right which is motorable for half a kilometer after which you have to park your vehicle at the car park and wade through a shallow stream to reach the spot.

During weekend holidays, many people are seen bathing at the small shallow pool at ground level. Unmindful of the crowd I walk on the pebbled muddy road leading to the waterfall, drinking in the lush beauty of the area.

I learnt from the trader who sells foods to visitors in the spot that these are evergreen and semi-evergreen forests where small animals like rabbits and fox and a few varieties of birds are occasionally spotted in the peripheral areas. Back to the falls. Indeed, the continuous stream of milk from a height of 30 metres is a sight worth freezing.

It is interesting to see how the waterfall is compartmentalized. The gushing stream actually crashes down like a Bo leaf between two huge boulders, curves and forms a second step of water sheet. After the steep fall, the water gathers and cascades over another rock boulder.

There are several small streams straying off here and there by the side of which you can relax and spend as much time as you want in Bopath Ella during whole day.

For an exciting encounter with heritage, travellers should include a trip to two most interesting archaeological sites in the vicinity of Bopath Ella in their itinerary. Batadomba Lena, the pre-historic inhabitant cave lies in a leech-infested verdant forest at the top of a mountain not far away from Bopath Ella.

This tropical forest reserve has become a host to a variety of trees, animals, rare species of plants and cool cascading streams. A half-hour long arduous trek to the top will reward the adventures with the beauty of a huge cave which is preserved by the Department of Archaeology.

They have carried out explorations and unearthed human skeletons and bones belonging to the ancient habitation of Homo-Sapiens, surrounded by flourishing flora and fauna.

In fact, Batadomba Lena is an interesting site to visit by students who study history and exploration and as well as travellers interested in our culture and heritage.

The damaged Buddha statues and buildings in the cave show that there has been a forest hermitage in the past.

Another interesting cultural and historical site in the area is Delgamuwa Viharaya located on the small hill in the bank of Kuru Ganga, just 15 minutes drive from Bopath Ella.

It is quite a memorable experience in itself as you are welcomed by Buddhist monks in the temple on the top of a verdant hill where the Sacred Tooth Relic was protected from invaders during the reign on king Mayadunne in Sitawake. It was kept hidden inside a kuruakkan gala; grinding stone.

It is on display in a specially decorated building at the Delgamuwa Vihara in Kuruwita and provided protection to the Sacred Tooth Relic for over 42 years before it was taken, to kandy.

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