A traveller’s guide to Diyaluma Falls: Sri Lanka's second tallest waterfall
A guide to Sri Lanka’s second tallest waterfall, Diyaluma falls.
Includes detailed instructions on how to get there, what to do, and what to be careful of!
GO. CHASE. DIYALUMA. WATERFALL.
That’s our advice after visiting Sri Lanka's second tallest and most impressive waterfall, Diyaluma.
Located a little off the beaten track in the Sri Lankan highlands (about an hour from Ella), Diyaluma falls is home to epic views and some of the best natural infinity pools in the world.
After a two-hour tuk tuk ride from Ella to Poonagala through quintessentially lush Sri Lankan tea plantations, it’s a 30 minute tramp downhill between long, dry grasses before the first glimpse of the upper falls comes into view.
A short hike further and you’re standing on what seems like the edge of the world, watching the cascading water drop 220m to the valley below.
Unfortunately for us, we visited during the wet season, so were unable to swim in lower Diyaluma Falls pools (we value our life a little too much).
We watched the sun set over the valley below from top of the falls, joined by a group of young local guys keen to chat about our travels (and cricket, of course!). We flew our drone, snapped a few shots, and relaxed before reluctantly commencing our journey back to Ella.
It was the perfect afternoon trip from Ella and one of our favourite things to do in Sri Lanka. To help you make the most of your visit here, we’ve put together this guide to Diyaluma with everything you need to know.
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A GUIDE TO DIYALUMA FALLS, SRI LANKA’S SECOND TALLEST WATERFALL
WHERE IS DIYALUMA WATERFALL?
Diyaluma falls are located in Sri Lanka's Badulla district on the Colombo-Badulla highway, about 6km east of the regional town of Koslanda, and around 30km south of Ella.
Diyaluma falls were originally formed by Kirindi Oya, a river that starts near Bandarawela and flows through central Sri Lanka.
HOW TO GET TO DIYALUMA FALLS, SRI LANKA
Getting to Diyaluma falls isn't an overly easy feat. That said, due to its growing popularity many of the local tuk tuk drivers know exactly where to go. For that reason, we’d recommend making the trip with a tuk tuk driver instead of taking it on yourself.
There are two ways to get to the top of Diyaluma falls: 1) from Poonagala village at the top, which is far shorter and easier, or 2) hiking from the bottom near the village of Koslanda, which is rather strenuous and hard to follow.
Below are details of the hike from Poonagala village, which we did personally:
DIYALUMA FALLS FROM POONAGALA
After our two hour tuk tuk ride from Ella, we arrived in the local tea-village of Poonagala and the starting point of our hike to Diyaluma falls. From the village, walk south until you find the footpath right by the Makaldeniya bend, and the pathway emerging from the grassland.
Follow this pathway downhill as this will lead you to upper Diyaluma falls.
The tuk tuk from Ella town to Poonagala should cost around LKR 3,500 - 5,000 return. Remember to tell your tuk tuk driver you wish to go to the upper Diyaluma falls and hike from there.
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THE HIKE TO DIYALUMA FALLS
Hiking downhill through long, dry grass for about 30 minutes, you’ll hear the sound of water rushing long before the stunning upper Diyaluma falls become clear.
While the path isn't signposted, it's super easy to follow and seems to be pretty well maintained.
From here, it's a short walk down to the lower section of Sri Lanka's 2nd tallest waterfall, Diyaluma and the incredible 220m drop to the valley floor below.
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WHAT TO DO AT DIYALUMA FALLS
SWIM IN NATURAL INFINITY POOLS
During the summer months when the water levels have dropped, you can enjoy a refreshing swim at the various natural pools, including right on the edge of the main waterfall. It's basically the best infinity pool in the world, and definitely worth a chilly dip.
Alternatively, there are a number of larger, safer pools at the upper Diyaluma falls, but again, take precautions before diving in.
CHILL ON THE SURROUNDING ROCKS
Where else in the world can you sit on the edge of a cliff next to a gushing 220m tall waterfall and just relax?
After a tough journey and hike to get to Diyaluma falls, we recommend sitting down on the rocky ledge, having some lunch and admiring the view for an hour or so. Remember to bring a towel or something to sit on.
CHAT WITH LOCALS
When we visited Diyaluma falls, there were a large group of locals who wanted to learn all about us. "Where are you from" was the most common question, followed by question after question about cricket!
On the flip side, we asked everything we could about the country, the somewhat volatile political situation at the time, and of course where to find the best rice and curry!
It's important to embrace these travel moments, and chatting with locals is a great way to learn more about the local culture.
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SAFETY AT DIYALUMA FALLS
At this point we should warn you that safety barriers do not exist at Diyaluma falls, so if you're adrenaline junkie (like Mark), and like to stand on the edge of just about anything, please be careful.
During the summer months, it's possible to swim in the falls. You should always take precautions, including checking the forecast or speaking with locals about the weather situation in the area, and not diving in head first.
Please, don’t attempt to swim in the falls during the monsoonal periods, as the water level is far higher and the currents much more powerful.
During the rainy season (Sept - early Dec), the heavy water flow makes it impossible to swim at the lower falls. The upper falls are a little safer, though please check with locals on the day you arrive.
Read more of our top safety tips in our Sri Lanka travel tips post, as well as our Sri Lanka safety guide
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ESSENTIAL DETAILS FOR DIYALUMA FALLS
Where | Diyaluma Falls, Koslanda
Cost | FREE
Where to stay in Ella | Our comprehensive guide to where to stay in Ella
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WHERE TO STAY IN ELLA
We’d recommend staying in Ella town, which is the closest hub to Diyaluma Falls.
We’ve already written a super comprehensive guide to where to stay in Ella, which covers the best hotels, hostels, guesthouses and eco-lodges for every budget.
READ THE GUIDE | Our ultimate guide to where to stay in Ella
In the meantime, here are a few of our top recommendations:
ROWINRICH COTTAGES | Spacious loft-style cottages with terraces overlooking the jungle-clad valley and Ella Rock. Prices and availability here
CHILL VILLE VIEWPOINT HOTEL | great value hotel set amongst beautiful gardens close to the Nine Arch Bridge. Prices and availability here
THE SECRET ELLA | Overlooking Nine Arch Bridge, The Secret is tucked away in a 10-acre tea estate in Ella’s hills. Prices and availability here
TRAVEL INSURANCE | STAY SAFE IN SRI LANKA
Overwhelmingly, we’ve found the country to be extremely safe and friendly, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t issues with petty theft or personal safety at times.
You absolutely need to have travel insurance that ensures you and your belongings are protected here.
Plus, as the pandemic has taught; many things can go wrong anywhere in the world and insurance is often the only way of mitigating any issues with minimal expense or stress for you.
For all travellers | HeyMondo - COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel + medical insurance, an app with 24-hour medical support, and no out of pocket fees. *Get 5% off your policy by booking through our link here.
For digital nomads | SafetyWing - COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel & medical, and policies can be purchased while already abroad.
Car Insurance | Insurance4CarHire - a great annual car insurance policy
*In normal times, we recommended using World Nomads travel insurance, but unfortunately they're not currently covering COVID-19 related claims adequately.
SRI LANKA BACKPACKING ESSENTIALS | EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR SRI LANKA ITINERARY
Travelling through Sri Lanka comes with a unique set of needs. To help you have a comfortable, happy journey, we recommend bringing the following items with you:
Reusable water bottle | THE BEST INVESTMENT WE’VE EVER MADE! We use the Grayl water purification bottles, which allows us to fill up from any water source, anywhere in the world (including train taps!).
Biodegradable Wet Wipes | Keep clean without destroying the planet!
Hand sanitiser | not something we’d actually recommend normally, but in Sri Lanka it can be a bloody great investment.
A spork | to cut down on unnecessary plastic usage at meal times
Power bank | don’t get caught out without power for your devices
READ | check out our eco-friendly packing guide to travel through Sri Lanka consciously and comfortably
EXPERIENCE MORE OF SRI LANKA WITH THESE ESSENTIAL POSTS
SRI LANKA TRAVEL TIPS | 31 incredible things to do in Sri Lanka, Our essential 3-week Sri Lanka Itinerary, Our 7-day Sri Lanka Itinerary, Everything you need to know before you visit Sri Lanka (39 essential tips!), Where to stay in Galle
SRI LANKA CITY GUIDES | We’ve got in-depth guides to Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Jaffna, Hiriketiya, Mirissa Beach
CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS | Our essential guides to both Sigiriya and Pidurangala, A guide to Polonnaruwa
TRANSPORT GUIDES | Our definitive guide to the Kandy to Ella train, how to get from Colombo to Kandy, how to get from Colombo to Galle
ELLA, SRI LANKA | Our complete guide to Ella, a guide to the Nine Arch Bridge, How to see Diyaluma Falls, Ella accommodation options for every budget (+ our recommendations)
TRAVEL INSURANCE | Don’t leave home without travel insurance (seriously, don’t!). Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads, our trusted travel insurance provider
PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Wondering what gear we use to get all of our photos around the world?
Click here to view our detailed photography gear guide, as well as our top travel photography tips!
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. REALLY IMPORTANT.
Learn our top responsible travel tips to help you, your family and friends travel more consciously around the globe
ECO FRIENDLY PACKING ESSENTIALS | Don’t leave home without our favourite eco-friendly travel essentials
Have you visited Diyaluma Falls before? Is there anything we've missed? Let us know in the comments
VISITING SRI LANKA? READ THESE ESSENTIAL GUIDES
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