Diyaluma Waterfall

Diyaluma Waterfall is the country’s second tallest waterfall and one of the most accessible. Like many places in Sri Lanka, Diyaluma Waterfall is yet another location that is entrenched in folklore.

Interesting Lore

Diyaluma roughly translated to ‘rapid flow of water’ or ‘liquid light’, despite these fairly tranquil names, the story behind the cascade is quite tragic. It is said that once a long time ago, a chief’s son was banished and he was supposed to flee the village with his betrothed. To leave the village before being attacked, they had to scale a cliff face, however, the girl slipped and fell to her death. The gods took pity on the young girl, and almost immediately a gush of water rushed over the cliff to wash off any evidence of the tragedy. Even though the story behind this waterfall’s name is quite morbid, the view from the top makes you instantly forget about the story.

Why You Should Visit

To get to the fall there are three routes, but the most popular is the Uda Diyaluma trail. The trail is quite easy since the ascent isn’t too steep, making it a family-friendly activity to partake in. At times, the trek can seem quite surreal; it’s needless to say that you will pass some beautiful landscapes, but at one point you will go through endless fields of lemongrass where you will be encompassed in a cloud of citrusy freshness. The climb will take about an hour, but once you get to the top you will be greeted to a stunning view of the rolling hills and the town below. Once you’ve reached the summit you can enjoy a dip in the cool rock pools or even have a picnic on the large rock boulders which are scattered around the area.