Lakshapana Waterfall.

The road took us passing the Kehelgamu Oya which was in over flowing condition forming creamy white foams and running mischievously passing rocks. We had to stop for a pic. The sky looked gloomy and threatened to rain at any moment but we were not swayed by that. Another 1km or so we reached the Bodhigira Junction where the road folk into two. The left hand side one goes directly to Norton Bridge (in between there’s the road to Adam’s Peak) which is in a slightly better condition. The one on the right or rather straight goes passing Polpitiya and Hangarapitya to Maskeliya.

When inquired with the villagers, they advised us to take the upper road saying it was in good condition but longer than the below one. However, Athula wanted to tackle the right hand path which goes to Maskeliya via Hangarapitiya. The road is not in very good condition but we didn’t come across any major obstacles. We soon saw the Polpitiya power house and the Kehelgamu Oya was on her way as if there was no tomorrow. The river under the bridge was flowing on a rocky bed which had dug a clean canal and the water was gushing down making a huge roar.The Lakshapana Falls is traditionally called Veddah hiti Ella, or “The Falls Where the Veddah Lived.” The modern name may be derived from the Sinhala lakshaya, which means “100,000” and pahana, which means “stone.” On the other hand, it may be derived from lakshana or “beautiful,” i.e. “beautiful stone.”

Travel the road from Maskeliya to Norton Bridge for 13km where a small road leads to Kottalenna, a settlement close to the waterfall, which can be seen at the bottom of the valley. A steep path will lead you down to the pool.

                                                    Top of the waterfall

 Distance from Colombo to Lakshapana waterfall   - 126Km.