12 BEST NUWARA ELIYA WATERFALLS – The Ultimate Guide
With over 400 waterfalls recorded, Sri Lanka has a lot of beautiful waterfalls to offer. Most of them can be found in the central highlands of the island. Therefore we made this ultimate guide with the best Nuwara Eliya waterfalls which you can’t miss! Some of the Nuwara Eliya waterfalls have a natural pool to bathe in, while others are more tucked away and can only be seen from a distance. Or if you have a drone, you can fly closer to them. There is even a waterfall where you can bath in at the top! Read in this blogpost about all the best Nuwara Eliya waterfalls in Sri Lanka!
Best tours to Nuwara Eliya
If you’re planning to explore the best of what Nuwara Eliya and surroundings can offer, then these are the best guided tours. All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch and the entrance fees. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.
- Horton Plains and Tea Factory all-inclusive tour. Visit Horton Plains, World’s end, Bakers waterfalls and a Tea Plantation with a Tea factory in Nuwara Eliya during the day tour.
- Nuwara Eliya tour from Kandy. Discover the picturesque tea-producing region and enjoy a scenic train ride through the tea fields. Visit the Blue Field Tea Factory, Ramboda Falls and Gregory Lake.
- Nuwara Eliya: Ella & Little Adam’s Peak All-Inclusive Tour. Discover the mountain village and stunning scenery on a full day hiking tour to Ella. Experience Ella Gap from the top of both Ella Rock and Little Adams Peak and visit 9 Arch Bridge, one of the iconic bridges in Sri Lanka.
- Private day tour in Nuwara Eliya. Explore little England, also known as Nuwara Eliya, and discover some wonderful attractions, including Hanuman Temple, Tea Plantation, Ramboda waterfalls, Gregory Lake and Victoria Park.
- 2 day tour to a Tea factory in Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda falls, Horton Plains and more. Visit the scenic hill country, surrounded by the evergreen valleys and tea estates. Witness the beautiful Ramboda waterfall and Horton Plains National Park.
- Tuk-Tuk Safari Day Trip and Tea Fields Hike with Lunch from Ella. Drive through the Sir Lankan countryside on a tuk-tuk safari on this day trip from Ella. Take a guided hike on a tea plantation and stop for a picnic lunch before visiting the Dambatenne Tea Factory.
- Haputale: Tea Plantation, Safari, & Lipton’s Seat Day Tour. Discover Sri Lanka’s historic tea plantations and imagine life as a tea farmer, on this tour of the most prominent sites in Haputala and Kandy. Ride a trusty tuk-tuk rickshaw through the well-kept farms and wild mountainsides.
Laxapana Falls
Laxapana waterfall is a beautiful picturesque waterfall situated nearby the town of Hatton in Nuwara Eliya district. With a height of 126 meter, Laxapana Falls is the eighth highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and ranks as the 625th highest waterfall in the world! With a stunning natural plunge pool at the bottom of the falls, you can dip in the pool to cool off after the hike down on the well maintained stairs. The power with which the water thunders down is impressive and results in silvery foam which makes the waterfall super photogenic! In our opinion absolutely one of the most beautiful Nuwara Eliya waterfalls!
Read the complete guide about Laxapana Falls here
Aberdeen Falls
The Aberdeen Falls are located in the Nuwara Eliya district and take approximately 2 hours to get there from Nuwara Eliya town. The Aberdeen Falls are beautifully tucked away in the jungle, and it takes a short trek from around 20 minutes to get to the base location of the Falls. With it’s hight from 98 meter and beautiful surroundings, this is one of the must visit waterfalls in Nuwara Eliya for nature and waterfall lovers!
Read the complete guide about Aberdeen Falls here
Ravana Falls
The Ravana Falls are located in the misty mountains of Ella, Sri Lanka along the road. The water gushes down a height of 25 meters fallen from an oval concave rock. Ravana Falls is a 3-tier cascading waterfall, creating rock pools along its way down. During the wet season Ravana Falls takes the form of a drooping areca flower, but its wide size is reduced dramatically during the dry season. Although it is always worth it to check this waterfall when you’re Ella, especially because of the easy access.
Read the complete guide about Ravana Falls here
Ramboda Falls
The Ramboda falls are with 109 meters the 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. Located deep in the highlands of Sri Lanka and surrounded by emerald forest, the Ramboda Falls are absolutely worth a visit. You can see the Ramboda falls’ middle section easily from the road. But if you want to absorb its full power and height, you can get to the base of the waterfall by following the path from the Ramboda Falls Hotel. Another option is to climb to the top for spectacular views over the upper section and surrounding forests. You have to pay a small fee to get to the top op the falls.
Bakers Falls
Baker’s Falls is one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, consisting of many little streams rushing down the rocks. Only a bit of a hike through the Horton Plains national park, this is an easy but beautiful waterfall to visit. Beware that when it has rained, it might result in a very slippery area. So put on your best hiking shoes and you’re good to go! The Horton Plains national park is very pretty, with beautiful greenery and full of ferns and rhododendrons.
Lover’s Leap waterfall
Nestled amidst the lush greenery in the countryside of Nuwara Eliya is Lover’s Leap waterfall located. With its height of 30 meters, Lover’s Leap is one of the beautiful but smaller Nuwara Eliya waterfalls which offers sweeping views of tea plantations. You can walk towards the top of the waterfall via Pedro Tea Factory to enjoy the beautiful views on Nuwara Eliya’s country side or you can admire the Falls from a distance. The charming Lover’s Leap waterfall in Nuwara Eliya is an attraction that absolutely deserves a visit and is just a 10 minute drive from the city centre of Nuwara Eliya. Another great waterfall in Nuwara Eliya is the Glen Falls, however this is a seasonal waterfall. So you will only be able to see water running down after some heavy Sri Lankan rainfall.
Read the complete guide about Lover’s Leap waterfall here
Diyaluma Falls
Diyaluma Falls is 220 meters high and is the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. It is located right next to the road so you can admire the beauty of this waterfall easily. But for the real adventurers there is the possibility to hike up to the upper waterfall so you’ll have an amazing view over the surrounded hills. Because the waterfall has different levels and pools you can take a dip to cool off after the hike. A great adventure for half a day! Absolutely one of the more adventurous waterfalls in Nuwara Eliya district to visit!
Read the complete guide about Diyaluma Falls here
Dunhinda Falls
Formed by the Badulu Oya River, the Dunhinda Falls is best known for a smokey surrounding spray. With it’s 64 meters height it is not one of the highest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, but still absolutely worth a visit! Dunhinda Falls is 30 kilometres away located from Ella, and from the entrance gate you have to walk about 1.5km to reach to the waterfall. The hike itself is beautiful, especially for people interested in wildlife. You have the chance to see different species of birds, butterflies, monkeys and even deers!
The best time to see the waterfall is from November to March during the rainy season as the waterfall will have more volume and power which results in more spray as well!
Bopath Ella
With 30 meters high, Bopath Ella is one of the smaller Nuwara Eliya waterfalls, but still it is a beauty to visit because of it’s special form. The name Bopath means Bo leaf. The Bo tree is the sacred tree of Buddhism and is therefore very important in Sri Lanka. Bopath Ella resembles a Bo leaf with its thin short stream that opens up to a wider fall towards the bottom. Bopath Ella is quite easy to visit as it’s in a village close to the mining town of Rathnapura. It’s possible and safe to swim in the base pool of Bopath Ella waterfall.
St Clair’s Falls
The St Clair’s Falls is located in between the tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya and is formed by the Maha and Kuda falls. The St Clair’s Falls is the widest of the country and has a height of 80 meters. The Falls got it’s name from the the neighbouring tea estate where it is located but are also being called as ‘Little Niagara of Sri Lanka’. It is a very photogenic waterfall and can be easily visited on your way from Nuwara Eliya to Hatton because the viewpoint is located right next to the road. Absolutely one of the Nuwara Eliya waterfalls you can’t miss!
Mohini Falls
The Mohini Falls are located right along the road on your way to Adam’s Peak, so you can’t miss them! The 30 meters high waterfall goes under the Hatton – Nallathanniya Road and joins the Maskeliya Reservoir. Just like the other waterfalls in Sri Lanka, Mohini Falls is also best visited after, or during rain season. We visited the Mohini Falls on a rainy day, so the waterfall was powerful and breathtaking to watch!
Devon Falls
The 97 meter high Devon Falls are just like the St Clair’s Falls, located right next to the road from Nuwara Eliya to Hatton. You just have to take a small road 5 minutes off the main road. Although the waterfall isn’t easy to see from the road, there is an option to hike to the base of the Devon Falls through the tea estate. Contact the locals to know the best path. You can also watch the Falls from further away if you get on a path which starts right next to the temple. And if you have a drone, you can still admire the Devon Falls, but only from your screen!
Sri Padha and Moray Falls
These two waterfalls end up in the Maussakelle reservoir but are a bit hard to spot from the road. There is a viewpoint along the road for Sri Padha waterfall, or if you have a drone you can take some beautiful photos as well from one, or both waterfalls.
Moray Falls lies several hundreds meters away from Sri Pada Falls ending up in the same Maskeliya Reservoir. Both waterfalls are around 25 metres high and are worth it to stop for on your way to, or from Adam’s Peak.
More Sri Lanka travel inspiration
We hope you enjoyed this complete guide about the 12 best Nuwara Eliya waterfalls.
For more Sri Lanka inspiration, head over to these blog posts:
20 best things to do in Sri Lanka – The Ultimate Guide
11 best Sri Lanka beaches – The Ultimate Guide
14 best waterfalls in Sri Lanka – The Ultimate Guide
Best places to visit in Nuwara Eliya – The Ultimate Guide
11 best things to do in Trincomalee
Best things to do in Galle – The Complete Guide
15 best things to do in Ella – The Ultimate Guide
Best thing to do in Kandy – The Complete Guide
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