DEMODARA BRIDGE AND THE LOOP
Demodara is a picturesque town in the Central Highlands and is widely known for its curved 9 arch bridge between Ella and Demodara stations and the famous railway loop, a colonial engineering masterpiece. It is also known as the ‘Bridge in the Sky’. First conceptualised by a Sri Lankan, the design is called “Looping the loop”.
One end of the bridge is a tunnel, and as the train passes the station, the railway line loops upon itself, encircles an adjoining hill top, and passes through a tunnel underneath the station which is about 75 – 100 feet below that. The design enabled engineers to take the railway track to a higher elevation while at the same time keeping to the gradient stipulated by the standards.
The Bridge is almost 100 years old and has been built with blocks of stone and cement without any reinforcing iron or concrete. Its tall arches take the bridge on a semi circular path to connect with the mountains.
BAMBARAGAMA WATERFALL
The hotel overlooks the graceful Babaragama waterfall in all its pure glory. If you reach the edge of the mountain which is about 1 km away from Ella Rock, there is a small Buddhist shrine and from there you can visualize the hidden upper parts of Bambaragala Falls – a majestic view that you cannot see from anywhere else.
DUNHINDA FALLS
Known to be one of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful waterfalls, Dunhinda is located about 5km from Badulla, on the Mahiyangana Road. This enchanting fall is formed by the Badulu Oya and stands 210 feet (64 m) high. Its name comes from its smoky white spray which creates a stunning sight. The waterfall is surrounded by an equally spectacular forest area full of lush greenery and wildflowers.
To reach Dunhinda, you have to walk along a footpath and along the path you will come across a much smaller waterfall called Kuda Dunhinda (Small Dunhinda). You can also find native vendors selling herbal drinks and refreshments along the trail. At the end of the path, there is a perfect observation spot to gaze and marvel at this splendorous waterfall.
BOGODA BRIDGE
Said to be the oldest surviving bridge in the world, the Bogoda wooden bridge was built in the 16th century. It is situated at 13 km south of Badulla city and is made entirely from wood, including the fixtures. The bridge comprises a tiled roof for its entire length of 50ft. The wooden fence on either side is intricately carved with ancient designs. Massive tree trunks have been used for buttresses.
An ancient temple called the Bogoda Temple is located beside the Bridge and it dates back to the 1st century BC, Anuradhapura era. The Bogoda Bridge is just 50 minutes drive from Mountain Heavens.
RAVANA CAVE
The famous Ravana Ella Cave lies 1,370 m (4,490 ft) above sea level on the foundation of a cliff. Its association with the epic Ramayana has made it a popular tourist attraction. Legend tells us that during the time Sita was kept imprisoned in the cave, she bathed in the pool of water at the bottom of the waterfall.
The cave also has an archaeological significance, since the discovery of 10 skeletons of the cannibalistic Balangoda Man or the Homo sapiens Balangodenis in the cave, by Sri Lankan palaeontologist, Dr. Paul Deraniyagala. The excavations reveal evidence of human habitation dating back 25,000 years.
RAVANA ELLA FALLS
This is one of the widest falls in Sri Lanka and measures approximately 25 m (82 ft) in height, cascading from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. During the local wet season, the waterfall turns into what is said to resemble an areca flower with withering petals. Ravana Ella was named after Ravana, the demon ruler of Sri Lanka who appears as the main antagonist in the legendary Indian epic, Ramayana.
According to legend, Ravana kidnapped the Indian princess Sita and hid her in the cave behind the waterfall. The cave is known as Ravana Ella Cave. The incident led to the famous battle between Rama and Ravana, when Rama launched a lengthy battle against Ravana to rescue Sita, his wife. The fall is located near the village of Udunuwara on the Ella-Wellawaya Road and attracts many local and international tourists.
DIYALUMA FALLS
Diyaluma Falls is the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and ranks as the 361st in the world. It is 220m high and is situated 6 km away from Koslanda, beside the main highway to Wellawaya. The Falls are formed by Punagala Oya, a tributary of Kuda Oya which in turn is a tributary of Kirindi Oya. It cascades down an escarpment of the Koslanda Plateau and the stream of water quickly escalates after a downpour.
In Sinhalese, ‘Diyaluma’ means “falling water” and according to the famous historian, Dr. R.L. Brohier, the waterfall was a setting for a folklore tragedy involving a young King and a young woman of a low-caste.
LIPTON’S SEAT, ST. CATHERINE’S SEAT AND PILKINGTON POINT
45 minutes drive from Mountain Heavens
Lipton’s Seat is quietly nestled in Dambetenna in the Haputale Mountain region. The lookout from Lipton’s Seat rivals that of the World’s End; its unparalleled views were once popular with the Scottish tea baron Sir Thomas Lipton. This is where he chose to survey his burgeoning tea empire, thus the origin of its name. The Point has extraordinary views over Uva, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern provinces.
St. Catherine’s Seat, situated in the upper division of Nayabedda Tea Estate provides breathtaking views of Bandarawela, Diyatalawa and the surrounding mountains of the Uva Basin. Nayabedda tea estate is located in the Poonagala hills and has plenty of scenic views of the surrounding mountain range. From Poonagala, on the road to Koslanda, you will meet the Pilkington Point, which has fabulous views over Wellawaya and Moneragala.
ADISHAM MONASTERY
A four km drive from Haputale, Adisham monastery is a religious house that belongs to the Catholic Church and has a history going back as far as 1887.
HORTON PLAINS AND TEA PLANTATION
Walk alone from end to end in the hushed Horton Plains. Stand 2,000 m high, on the verge of the icy, frosty savannah and lower your eyes towards the next landmark, a tea plantation some 900 m below. Look ahead yonder the waves of mounts, tracery waterfalls, foggy lakes and paddy fields to the rosy salterns of Hambantota and the glistening sea, in a horizonless arc.
DOWA CAVE TEMPLE
Dowa Temple is situated at the foot of a knoll on the banks of a captivating hill stream. The cave, with its enigmatic celestial attraction, is a major tourist destination in Badulla where visitors adore the ancient and exquisite paintings of Kandyan style that titivate the walls of the Dowa Cave Temple. A magnificent 4m-high standing Buddha is carved into the rock face below the road.
Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya
History of this site starts with the Lord Buddha’s 3rd arrival to the island but legends on the area called Badulla begins from 19th – 18th century BC. Some names of places in the area, e.g. Seetha Eliya, Seetha Kotuwa, Ravana Ella, etc., refers to the Seetha and Ravana – the main characters in the Indian episode titled Ramayana. So it is believed that said war had taken place in this locale, where was the capital of then powerful king named Ravana who ruled the island.[2]
Buddhists believe that this site has been visited by Gautama Buddha, and it is regarded as one of the Solosmasthana, the 16 sacred places in the country.[3] On the 8th year after attaining the Enlightenment, the Lord Buddha made His 3rd visit to Kelaniya on the invitation by a king of Naga people named Maniakkitha. During this visit, a local chieftain named Indaka invited Lord Buddha to visit his place in Badulla. At the end of sermons made by Lord Buddha there, Indaka had wanted something to worship in memory of Lord Buddha’s visit. The Lord Buddha is said to have given him a few of His hairs and a few drops of sweat that turned into pearls (mukthaka). Indaka had enshrined these secred hair and pearls in a stupa, believed to be the stupa here.[4] Indaka, the chieftain of then Deva people is now regarded as a deity, reigning the Namunukula mauntain range[2] and Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya
Maligawila Buddha Statue
The Maligawila Buddha statue is located close to the village of Maligawila in the Moneragala District of the Uva Province in Sri Lanka. It has been carved from a single large limestone rock, and is considered to be the tallest ancient free-standing image in Sri Lanka,[1] at a height of 37 feet 10 inches (11.53 m).[2] Along with the Buddha statues of Avukana and Buduruvagala, the Maligawila Buddha statue is considered one of the best examples of the standing image of the Buddha from ancient Sri Lanka.[3] It bears a close resemblance to the Avukana statue, and depicts the same asisa mudra, a variation of the Abhaya mudra.[4] The standing Buddha clutches the robe at the left shoulder, while the right hand is raised to the right shoulder.[2]
Ruins around the statue indicate that an image house had been constructed around the statue.[5] It appears to have been about 80 feet (24 m) each in length and breadth,[1] with walls 4 feet (1.2 m) thick. Its height would have been about 65 feet (20 m)
Dematamal Viharaya
Dematamal Viharaya is a Buddhist temple in Okkampitiya village, Monaragala district, Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Its history goes back to the 3rd or 2nd century BC.[2]
According to folklore, it is the place which provided safety to Prince Saddhatissa, who was attempting to flee after losing the fight with his elder brother, Prince Dutugamunu
BUDURUWAGALA
Surrounded by a beautiful man-made ancient lake, are the relatively unknown mysterious historic rock sculptures of Buduruwagala. These seven colossal figures pertaining to the Mahayana Buddhist Doctrine are sculptured on to a rock face, and continue to remain a controversy. They are generally dated back to the 9th or 10th century. Buduruwagala does not have a recorded history and its original name is unknown.
The name Buduruwagala means “stone images of the Buddha,” and the largest of the standing Buddha statues is 51 feet tall, the tallest Buddha statue of the island, and perhaps in the world since the destruction of Bamiyan figures in Afghanistan. The sculpture at Buduruwagala is in lower relief unlike the other comparable Buddha statues in the country at Aukana (46 ft), Saseruwa (36 ft) and Maligawila (36 ft) and for all of which it may have served as a model.
On the same rock where the sculptures are carved, there is a mysterious carved shape resembling a flame, of about 3 feet (0.91 m) wide and 4 feet (1.2 m) deep. Its inside walls are always wet with an oily substance that smells of mustard oil. The reason for this particular phenomenon is yet to be explained.