Ravana Falls, or what some locals call ‘Ravana Ella, is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Uva Province of Sri Lanka. It is situated in the Ella area of the Badulla District. With a height of 25 meters (82 feet), the waterfall is considered one of the widest waterfalls on the island. Locals also refer to this waterfall as “Bambaragama Ella.” Ravana Falls is formed by a branch of the Kirindi Oya River and is located at an elevation of 1050 m. The waterfall is also part of a Ravana Ella wildlife sanctuary.
Location
The place is not far from Ella tourist city, and the distance from the Ella railway is around 6 km. If you travel from Colombo or either Nuwara Eliya, you must first come to the Kumbalwela junction through Bandarawela. From the junction, you should head towards Wellawaya, where anyone can easily find the Ravana Falls. It is just near the main road and the places called 12–13 mileposts on the route.
If you are coming by train, then you should drop off at the Ella Railways station. Then you can easily pick up a bus in the Ella,which should go towards the wellawaya, to reach the waterfall. It is not very expensive, and the ticket price is around 50 rupees. As well, hiring a tuk tuk is a great option, but you will have to spend around 400–500 rupees.
Here is the Google Maps location of the waterfall:
Ravana Falls Story
Ravana Waterfall also has a folktale, which combines with the epic tale of the Ramayana, which is a famous Indian historical book. The name of the waterfall, ‘Ravana’ comes from this folklore. This happened before 6,000 years ago. According to them, King Ravana was the king of Sri Lanka, and King Rama was the king of India. The brother of King Rama, whose name was Laxmana, and Prince Rama were slicing off the nose of the sister of King Ravana.
As a result, King Ravana has kidnapped Price Sita (the wife of King Rama) into a cave behind this waterfall’. According to the tale, King Ravana and Princess Sita have bathed in the pool of the Ravana Fall. Some tales say that the King Ravana has played Ravanahaththa (a musical instrument) over here. The story is much longer and can’t be explained in a few words. If you are interested in going deeper on that, we recommend further reading the epic tale of ‘Ramayana‘.
Ravana Caves
Today, you cannot find such a cave near or behind the waterfall. A cave called ‘Ravana Cave’, 11km away from the Bandarawela, is also connected to the Ravana folklore. Somebody believes it was the place where King Ravana was hiding Princess Sita. The place is not far from here and is a popular travel attraction for locals. It is located at an elevation of 1370 m, where you need to pass a temple and a small cliff to reach those caves. The historians have found evidence of humans who lived near these caves around 25,000 years ago. Therefore, it is a major historical location for the country.
Somebody believes there was a tunnel connecting the waterfall and the caves. But nobody has found such a tunnel sofar. If you are someone who loves to explore Ramayana places in Sri Lanka, then you must not forget this Ravana Waterfall and the Ravana Caves.
Beauty of the Waterfall
Ravana Falls cascades with a few drops, which include three major tiers. It is so beautiful that you can see its beauty from different angles. There is a nice viewpoint near the main road. Somebody says that the waterfall is cascading from a concave rock outcrop, which is oval-shaped and resembles an areca flower with withering petals during the wet season.
Anyhow, if you love to go near the waterfall, then you can hike to its upper parts. If you are lucky enough to visit the top of the Ravana Falls, you can experience a marvelous picture of the surroundings. The picture towards the Wellawaya and the other low, elevated valleys is so charming.
Hiking, Swimming and other Activities
If you are someone who likes to bathe, then this is a good spot for that. There are a few good spots to swim. But you must be concerned about your safety during the swim because there are some deep areas. Further, Ravana Falls is a great spot for a hiker or trekker where they can climb to the second or third tiers. It is a nice activity to try.
Tickets and Entrance Fees to Ravana Falls
You are lucky that there are no tickets or entrance fees for Ravana Falls. It’s completely free with no charges.
Weather and Climate
October to February is considered the rainy season in the Ella area. There, you can watch the actual beauty of the waterfall during that season with a lot of water. But from May to September, it is considered the dry season in the area where there is not much water. But it is the best time to go to the top ties and go swimming. Anyhow, there are some sudden weather changes in the area that you must note. We believe, February to April is the perfect time to visit Ravana Falls.
Bambaragama Falls
There is another waterfall just below the main road. Locals called it the ‘Bambaragama Falls’ as well as the ‘Lower Ravana Falls’. It is not much height, and it is around 9m. The closet village called ‘Udunuwara’ is’ where this waterfall is ideal for a fresh dip. From there, the waters of the Ravana Falls combine to form the Kirindi Oya in the lower areas.
Ravana Ella Photos
Here are some of the photos which was captured by our guests during their visit to Ravana falls and their Ella tour:
Other Places to Visit Nearby
Ravana Falls is situated near a major tourist destination in the country. Therefore, you have many travel destinations around the Ella region. Here are a few:
- Little Adams Peak
- Ella Rock
- Ravana Caves
- Diyaluma Falls
- Lipton Seat
Things to Consider before visit Ravana Falls :
- Ravana Falls and the surrounding areas are very busy during the holidays. A lot of locals and foreigners come to watch this beautiful waterfall on those days. Therefore, it’s better if you can go there early in the morning to enjoy the beauty of the waterfall and for photography.
- The upper areas of the waterfall have a sudden changing climate, therefore, you can expect a sudden water increase at Ravana Falls. Therefore, you must be careful while you are trekking or swimming.
- There are some vendors and a few local shops near the waterfall where you can buy fruits, foods, and other essentials.
- There are so many monkeys around the place. Beware of touching or dealing with them.
- If you are someone who doesn’t like to go hiking or trekking, you can enjoy the beauty of the Ravana Falls while watching it from the stage near the main road.
Conclusion
Ravana Falls is a beautiful waterfall in Sri Lanka that has a huge history and is connected to the epic tale of the Ramayana. If you are someone who explores Ramayana places in Sri Lanka, then you must visit here. At Mahaweli Tours and Holidays, Ravana Waterfall is a must visit destination in most of our tour packages, as well it is one of the places we cover in our Ella city tour package. If you are someone reading this post from abroad, who is planning to visit Sri Lanka, you can choose us as your Sri Lanka tour agency to cover this beautiful place.
Just send us a WhatsApp message for more details: +94777 111553
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( Cover Image Source: Serendib | Credit Goes to Original Owner)