Mapalana Ella Falls : Mapanana Ella (මාපලාන / මාපනාන ඇල්ල)

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Height :141 meters
District :Ratnapura

Situated amongst medicinal herbs, the 141 m high Mapalana Ella ( also known as Mapanana Ella) fall consists of three sections and is served by a stream (Minuwan Dola? Heen Ella Dola? ) which originates from the Thoranabandigala (or Kondagala?) in the Samanala mountain range. This stream joins Kalu Ganaga river further down. During the rainy season the simultaneous flows can be heard from up to 6km away.

According to legends, the fall gets its name from a local nobelsman (maapaa) who used to bath at this fall. The Maapaa-Nana (place where the nobel bathe) became mapanana and later Mapalana.

When drought sets in, local villages hold ceremonies in the middle of the dry fall and hang lighted lanterns and palm leaves from their upper reaches, asking the Saman god to provide rain.

The Mapalana waterfall lies in the remote hamlet of Mapalana in the shadows of the Sri Pada mountain range. Mapalana can be reached by foot from Palabaddala which is the starting point of the Sri Pada route from Ratnapura. Due to this reason, Palabaddala becomes quite a busy village during the Sri Pada season. Take the path to Mapalana from the Palabaddala (turn off at the wildlife office ?) and travel about 2 km to reach this hamlet. You will also see the Halmahi Ella from a distance on this path. The waterfall lies about 50 metres from the hamlet.

A small bridge is built across the stream which creates the waterfall. You can get a good view from this bridge and can reach to bottom of the fall from the other side of the bridge.

References

  1. Kautzsch, E. (2003). A Guide to the Waterfalls of Sri Lanka (2nd ed.). Tisara Prakasakayo.
  2. Lanka Council On Waterfalls. (n.d.). Lanka Council On Waterfalls. http://www.srilankanwaterfalls.net/

Also See

Map of Mapalana Ella Falls (Mapanana Ella)

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Travel Directions to Mapalana Ella Falls (Mapanana Ella)

Route from Colombo to Palabaddala Route 2 from Colombo to Palabaddala
Though : Panadura – Horana – Ratnapura
Distance : 120 km
Travel time : 3-4 hours
Driving directions : see on google map
Though : Malabe – Avissawella – Ratnapura
Distance : 100 km
Travel time : 3-4 hours
Driving directions : see on google map

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