Things to see and do Highlands

These falls, located 6 km south of Ella, on the main road between Ella and Wellawaya, are 25 meters high. Impressive and very popular, the source of the falls is the Bandarawala Hill Oya reservoir, the water then flows into the Kirindi Oya reservoir. The site is quite steep, swimming is forbidden and the police makes regular rounds to remove offenders from the natural pools. A Canadian tourist died in 2016 following a fatal fall on the slippery rocks.

It is on the banks of the lake of Kandy, last capital of the Sinhalese kingdom, that was built at the beginning of the XVIIIth century, the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Its construction was completely finished in 1782. The temple, which is part of the royal palace of Kandy, houses the relic of the "Sacred Tooth" of Buddha. The city, which dominates at an altitude of nearly 500 meters, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, partly because of this major site, a perfect example of religious fervor in the country.

The symbolism of the place

Behind this relic of the tooth, there is a whole symbolism. The story goes that it was saved from the flames of the funeral pyre in 543 BC. It would then have lived a long journey between Ceylon and India before ending its journey in the Kingdom of Kandy. This story is important for the Sri Lankan people, indeed, for years and still today, the possession of this tooth is synonymous with power. Legend has it that the holder of the tooth has the "divine right to rule the country". This is probably why it is so well guarded.

Over the years, the temple has undergone several reconstructions and renovations, notably following attacks in 1989 and 1998 (since then, security has been highly reinforced). Each time, the temple was rebuilt identically. Note that it took nearly four years to restore its luster to the site, heavily damaged by the attack of January 25, 1998. It is one of the most important Buddhist sites to visit in Sri Lanka.

Every day, the tooth is subjected to three ceremonies during which it is exposed by the monks. On Wednesday, the relic is carefully washed with sacred water, which is then used by the monks of the temple for its virtues.

The enclosure of the temple includes several buildings or places to visit

The Vahahitina Maligawa, the Alut Maligawa, the Sri Dalada Museum, the Mangul Maduwa and the Rahja Pavilion. The entrance fee gives you access to all of them, as well as the loan of an audioguide in French. You will walk around the site barefoot and must leave your shoes at the main entrance. Respectful dress is required.

The sanctuary (Vahahitina Maligawa). Composed of two levels, it is located in the center of a paved courtyard. It is in this sanctuary that the tooth of the Awakened One is located. The relic is kept on the upper level in seven golden boxes placed one inside the other. If you cannot approach the tooth, the room in which it is kept is worth a visit: the elephant tusks at the entrance are sublime. The passage in front of the tooth is possible every day, at a precise hour. The crowd present only allows a passage in line but the permanent spectacle of the devotees on the spot and the atmosphere which reigns around the reliquary are impressive.

Alut Maligawa and Sri Dalada Museum. Open every day from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. On the other side of the shrine, by the opposite exit from your arrival, a three-story building. On the first floor, the Alut Maligawa contains about thirty Buddhas donated by Thai devotees. On the upper two floors, the Sri Dalada Museum is devoted to the display of objects related to the temple and the region as well as correspondence. You can also see a series of photos testifying to the attack perpetrated against the temple by the LTTE in 1998.

Rajha Tusker Museum (Rajha pavilion). Open daily from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Following the Mangul Maduwa. This pavilion is dedicated to the patriarch of the Kandy elephants, who died in 1988 at the age of 84. You will find his remains preserved here, behind a large glass case. Rajha, as he was called, traditionally carried the relic of the Tooth in the Esala Perahera procession and was given a state funeral.

Mangul Maduwa (Audience Hall). Exiting from the left side of the shrine, you come to the Audience Hall. It is an open hall with a roof supported by 65 carved wooden pillars. It was begun in 1783 but not finished until much later. It was here that the Kandyan chiefs ratified the cession of the kingdom to the British crown in 1815.

The Perahera festival (festival of the tooth), a colorful parade.

If the visit of this temple can be done all year long, it is during the festival of Perahera, that it is all the more interesting. This festival exists since the 18th century, when the relic of the tooth was still in the possession of the King of Kandy. The people, then, never had the opportunity to see it and thus to venerate it. It is for this reason that King Rajasingh, decided to organize an event during which, the people could also come to honor this tooth.

Since then, every year at the same time of the year (end of July - beginning of August), and this for 10 days, at nightfall, the holy city of Kandy reveals another facet. On the program: first big stage of the festival, during which the jackfruit is cut into 4 pieces before being planted (each part represents a deity). Then, it is from the 6th night that the festival begins to beat its fullness: dancers, musicians, elephants dressed and made up parade for the greatest happiness of the crowd. People come to see the many elephants parade, the oldest of them, carrying a replica of the relic, security forces. The ceremony ends during the day.

You will enter one of the most beautiful gardens in Asia, which is most beautiful between January and April. It is a unique opportunity to wander through 60 hectares of flowers, where 4,000 tropical species of various origins brought back by the English grow. You will see orchids, spices, medicinal plants and a wide variety of palm trees. During your visit, don't forget the Orchid House, which contains the most diverse and original species of the genre. The other "highlight" of the garden is the cannonball tree, planted in 1901 by King George V and Queen Mary. Its fruits are supposed to look like cannonballs.

The site on which the botanical garden is located, on the banks of the Mahaweli River, is rich in history. King Wickramabahu III occupied the throne at Peradeniya in 1371. His successors Kirti Sri and Rajadhi Rajasinghe kept the court at the same place. They built a temple which was destroyed by the British when they took over the Kingdom of Kandy. In 1821, Alexander Moon transformed the land into a coffee and cinnamon plantation. The botanical garden was developed from 1843 with plants brought from Colombo, Kew Gardens, Kalutara Garden and Slave Island. The garden grew over the years and was placed under the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture when it was established in 1912. The garden also served as the headquarters of Lord Mountbatten, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in South East Asia during the Second World War.

Adam's Peak is one of the most important mountains in Sri Lanka, both geographically and religiously. Its peak is 2,243 meters high. Revered by the first inhabitants of Sri Lanka, the Veddas, who called it Samanala Kanda (Saman, one of the four guardian deities of the island), its summit has what is believed to be a footprint carved into the stone. Buddhists see it as a symbol of the third (and last) passage of Buddha in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese dedicated it in the 16th century to Saint Thomas, the evangelizer of India. The Hindus see in it the trace of the passage of Vishnu or Shiva. Finally, the Muslims have decreed that it is the imprint of Adam, who, driven out of the Garden of Eden, was sent to this peak and condemned to remain on one foot for a thousand years. The mark in the stone attracts crowds of pilgrims every year from the full moon in December to the full moon in May (the busiest period is January-February). Two main ways (north and south) allow to reach the summit where a temple is located. The northern route is the easiest and allows to reach the destination in 3 hours of walk from Nallathianniya.

Several stations, spaced 1.5 to 2 kilometers apart, allow pilgrims to rest on the 7 kilometers and 5,831 steps that separate them from the summit from Nallathianniya. Their names are Gangula Thanna, Rathu Ambalama and Idikatu Pahana. They are well supplied with shops.

Many temples(Ambalama) are also scattered along the way which becomes more and more difficult as the climb progresses.

The climb really begins once you pass the beautiful Makara Thorana stone gate, about 1.5 kilometers from the bridge over the river at the exit of Nallathianniya. However, the seven kilometers of the route are counted from Nallathianniya (Police Station) to the top.

SamaChatiya, the World Peace Pagoda, which is located a little before Gangula Thanna, the first rest station, was built in 1976 by the famous Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fuhi Thero (1885-1985).

A devotee of non-violence, he organized large marches from 1931 onwards and was responsible for the construction of about 80 Peace Pagodas around the world.

Sri Pada Maluwa. This small whitewashed temple at the top of Sri Pada is surrounded by a walkway that can accommodate a maximum of half a dozen people. Inside the sanctuary, which is relatively simple, is the sacred footprint. On a clear day, the shadow of the mountain can be discerned, straight and perfectly vertical, amidst the mist. This unexplainable natural phenomenon is said to be unique in the world.

According to the ancient Sinhalese, the distance between Ceylon and Paradise was only 40 miles and one could hear from the top of the mountain the sound of the fountains of Paradise. Sri Pada is also called "Butterfly Mountain" because in March of each year, millions of butterflies fly to its summit to die. The ascent is usually done at night to enjoy the breathtaking sunrise. It is necessary to bring adequate clothing, because the nights can be fresh. A headlamp can also be useful. Once the sun rises, the sky becomes hazy and the panorama disappears little by little.

Little Adam's Peak, which refers to the famous Adam's Peak, is a hill that dominates the area (1,141m). It is about an hour's walk to the top of the hill from the road that starts at the intersection with Passara-Namunukula Road, about 2 km from Ella. The view is splendid. The hike is easy except at the end where there are some steep stairs to the top. The trail passes through small villages, then gets lost in a forest of eucalyptus and pine trees before returning to a tea plantation.

This viaduct, which is supported by nine massive arches, is designed for train traffic. It is located at Gotuwala, between Ella and Demodara stations. It was built in 1921, during the British colonial period and is 91.5 m long, 7.5 m wide and 24 m high. A real postcard of Sri Lanka, tourists flock to admire it and, if possible, to see a train passing by... The access from the east is relatively easy, except for the last few meters with a rather steep descent not recommended for people with reduced mobility.

Kandy Lake is known as Kiri Muhuda, or "the Sea of Milk". It was created at the foot of the Temple of the Tooth in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Kandy, in an area previously occupied by rice fields. Today it is part of the last vestiges of the Sri Lankan Kingdom. It is an artificial lake of 1.8 km long and 300 m wide. Initially owned by the King, it was later used by the British as a recreational base. On its northern bank and near the temple, one can see the old royal baths, transformed during the English colonization into a library and, in the center, a small island. This lake is surrounded by a wall, the construction of which has not been completed. In 1815, the King was arrested and imprisoned by the British and never finished his project. The walakulu wall (wall of theclouds) is therefore still in place.

Today, the lake is a pleasant place for everyone to come and relax and take a walk during the day or evening. The shaded path around the lake offers a beautiful view of the hills and the city. It is particularly popular with walkers and joggers. Boat trips are possible as well as shuttle transfers from one shore to the other. The place is secure because it is guarded by guards. The only drawback is that during the day, you may be solicited by a few assiduous sellers, looking for tourists.

Ella Rock is opposite Little Adam's Peak and is one of the classic hikes in the area. The start is accessible to all, but the end of the route becomes arduous, even impassable in the rainy season. On the other hand, the attacks of leeches in wet season are not to be neglected. The path is quite complicated so it is better to get a map from your hotel before setting off. Bring enough water and snacks. At the start, take the railway line to the metal bridge, then take the path on the left.

These magnificent waterfalls, 109 m high, are partially visible from the road. They are the result of the convergence of many streams coming from Puna Oya Reservoir. They are actually made up of three falls: Ramboda Oya Ella (the highest), Ramboda Oya Meda Ella (in which you can swim), and Pahala Ramboda Oya Ella. To get there, you have to go through the Ramboda Falls Hotel and take the lift to the garden. A path leads down to an observation platform at the base of the waterfalls.

Created in 1873 during the British period, Gregory Lake covers an area of 91 hectares southeast of the city center. In 1913, the waters of the lake were directed into a tunnel that flows to a hydroelectric plant in Blackpool, which to this day continues to provide electricity to the city. The lake is probably the major attraction of Nuwara Eliya. You can fish, pedal boat, boat, walk or cycle around it. Since 2012, seaplanes land there regularly, in season, from Colombo (a 30-minute flight).

Beautiful waterfall 48 metres high on the western slope of Campbell's Lane Forest Reserve.

Located 2 km south of Ella, this cave is said to have been used by King Ravana to hide Princess Sita, the wife of Rama. The climb is not easy, you have to climb about 650 uneven steps, some of them quite high, to reach this small cave. The site is not exceptional in itself, it was even seriously damaged by the archaeological service of Sri Lanka which dug excavations there. A human skull dating back to 20,000 BC was found there. The site will however delight fans of the Ramayana, the famous Hindu epic.

Bible Rock, also called Bathalegala, owes its name to its rectangular shape, reminiscent of a bible. This huge rock, 798 m high, has a certain resemblance with Sigiriya. A path leads to the top, count about 30 minutes (easy ascent) to enjoy the splendid panorama. A small temple is located in the southern part of the hill. It is perfectly visible from Kadugannawa Pass on the A1 road between Colombo and Kandy. From Kandy, turn off at the village of Mawanella, then follow the road for 10 km.

It is a nature reserve located on the north-eastern heights of the city. The entrance is through its western flank, a 15-minute walk from the Temple of the Tooth. The forest was declared a nature reserve in 1856 before becoming a sanctuary in 1938. Well known to the local people, it is a good place to observe its flora and fauna, especially birds. More than 460 varieties of plants have been recorded, including 21 endemic ones. The canopy is home to nearly 80 different species of birds. Two circuits are available: one of 3 km and another of 5 km.

This waterfall that flows through the plantations St. Clair is of a breathtaking beauty of the road, 500 metres away. Named the Niagara in Sri Lanka, these falls are among the largest in the country. 80 metres high, they are 50 metres wide and are divided into two falls. The first name is «Maha Ella» (the big fall) and the second «Kuda Ella» (the small fall).

Perfectly visible from the perspective of Mlesna Tea Castle St. Clair, Devon Falls has 97 metres of high Falls in Sri Lanka. They hold their name from a certain Devon, an Englishman who was one of the forerunners of the introduction of coffee on the island.

At a height of about 63 meters, the magnificent Dunhinda Falls take their name from the fine mist formed by the water sprayed at the foot of the waterfall (in Sinhalese, dun means mist or smoke). They come from the Badulu Oya River which flows through Badulla. The viewing platform at the foot of the falls can be reached by a trail of about one and a half kilometres from the main road (Mahiyangana Road, B36). The trail offers a pleasant walk, and allows to observe monkeys, birds, butterflies, deer...

From Rakwana, head towards Dalween Estate Superintendent's Bungalow. Situated in the heart of a tea plantation, these falls are over 30 metres high and give a picturesque look to the landscape. The top of the falls has been barricaded and is inaccessible since a mini hydroelectric plant with a small reservoir was installed there, splitting the flow of the falls into two separate streams. The falls are located about 2.5km northeast of Rakwana, off the main road. A 4WD vehicle is recommended to get there.

During the dry season, this waterfall, 100 m high, can reduce itself to a simple water net, or even disappear completely.

These falls are the biggest in Sri Lanka with their 263 meters height! They have their source in the Kuda Oya River. Located in the middle of a pine forest, they are shaped like a horse's tail and descend steeply down a vertical rock face. From April to December you can take a short hike along the trail to a viewpoint of the falls. The falls are more impressive after the rainy season, from March to May. At the foot of the falls, there are natural pools for swimming.