Deep in Sri Lanka’s hill country, the Ramboda Falls is the island’s 11th highest waterfall, dropping from a height of 358 feet (109 meters). Formed from the River Panna Oya, a tributary of the River Kothmale Oya, the waterfall is framed by emerald forests—making it an especially beautiful and popular stop for travelers.
The Basics
Just off the Kandy–Nuwara Eliya highway, the Ramboda Falls gushes down a steep and deeply tiered rock face. You can view the falls’ middle section from the road, but to absorb its full magnitude, descend the stepped path from the Ramboda Falls Hotel to the base of the cascade. To see more, consider climbing to the top—although it’s a fairly challenging hike— for spectacular views over the upper section and surrounding forests.
The Ramboda Falls is at its most spectacular during the rainy season, when rainwater swells the cascade. The falls are accessible in daylight, but for the best photos, visit the base early-ish in the morning before the sun appears over the top and spoils any pictures.
Special notes to remember,
- The Ramboda Falls is a must for nature- and scenery lovers.
- To see the cascade from below, visitors have to walk through the Ramboda Falls Hotel and down a stepped path.
- Wear shoes with good grip and avoid the fall’s rocks: They can get very slippery.
- Visitors pay a small fee to climb to the upper falls.
- The falls are not wheelchair-accessible.
