Hoton Plains Baker’s Falls (බේකර් ඇල්ල)

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Baker's Falls / Gonagala Ella — Baker’s Falls / Gonagala Ella – Photo by igoro_1963 licenced under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

Height (in metres)	22
District	Nuwara Eliya

The 22m Baker’s Falls (Sinhalese original name: Gonagala Ella – ගෝනගල ඇල්ල) is noted for the tremendous noise created by water pounding the large rock formation at its foot. Forming part of the Belihul Oya, it is surrounded by copious giant ferns.

The waterfall plunges over a wide black rock about 20 meters down to a gorge amid Rhododendron and huge fern trees.

Baker’s Falls derives its name from Sir Samuel Baker, a British man who discovered it in 1845. During the colonial days, the Hortain Plains in which this waterfall lies was teeming with wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, Elk and leopards. Baker is also credited with the short-sighted achievement of having shot 50 elephants, five deer and two buffaloes on this plains.

Despite the presence of warning signs (that are often removed by confident bathers), the fall, and more specifically the 12m death trap of a plunge pool, has claimed numerous lives.

Situated on the Horton Plains (Nuwara Eliya District), Baker’s Falls is accessible from Pattipola or Ohiya town. From Pattipola take the well-signed footpath and either follow it to World’s End and loop back to Baker’s Falls or take the right fork at the beginning of the path straight there. Immediately before the fall, there is a steep, root-strewn bank, which can be difficult to negotiate, especially in wet weather.

Bakers Falls during a extremely dry spell

References

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

Also See

Waterfalls of Sri Lanka
Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

Map of Baker’s Falls / Gonagala 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 Baker’s Falls / Gonagala Ella

The waterfall lies on Horton Plains World’s End Trail. The tail can be reached from the Pattipola or through Ohiya. If you start from the Nuwara Eliya area you will be taking the Pattipola Route and for those coming through the Bandarawela area, you will need to take the Ohiya route.

Route from Bandarawela to Worlds End Trail	Route from Bandarawela to Worlds End Trail
Through : Kalukele – Anbewela – Pattipola Distance : 32 km Travel time : 1.5 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Through : Diyatalawa – Boralanda – Ohiya Distance : 34 km Travel time : 1.5 hours Driving directions : see on google map
Route from Worlds End Trailhead to Baker’s Falls
Distance : 2.7 km Travel time : 45 minutes Driving directions : see on google map

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References

Also See

Map of Baker’s Falls / Gonagala Ella

Travel Directions to Baker’s Falls / Gonagala Ella

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