Laxapana Falls
Laxapana Falls
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Malwana
Colombo, Sri Lanka221 contributions
Feb 2021
Its 4 hrs (134km) away from Colombo via Awissawella Kithulgala rd. We did not take the Sripada turn near 43rd km post, as condition of that road is not supposed to be good. We took the Sripada rurn after arround 5km from Ginigathhena. We went there in February which is dry month so there was no leaches. Waterfall may not at its fullest due to dry season but safe. There are two directions to the waterfall, one to the top of the fall and other one to the bottom of the fall. We didn't go to top of the fall as we had kids and though its not safe. We went to the bottom of the fall. For that we had to climbdown arround 1.5km. There are cement steps up to the bottom. But climbing up was bit tiring. (Altogether I did bit more than 4600 foot steps both the ways down and up) Before climbing down better get the information about water level from the shop owners nearby as if dam opens water level can be riseup & become dangerous. We actually left Colombo in the morning arround 5.30 am and reached there arround 9.30 -10 am for the breackfast. We had a morning picnic there. Attraction time depends on how fast people can climb down and up and how much time they want to spend there.
Written 2 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sudesh
Matara, Sri Lanka1,505 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
Beautiful waterfall, but better if you can go there in rainy season. Otherwise you can see dried water stream. Can reach upper side and down same time. But bit of climbing there when you back
Tack care about environment if you visit. Allocate half a day if you visit
Tack care about environment if you visit. Allocate half a day if you visit
Written 2 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Navinth B
Kandy, Sri Lanka280 contributions
Oct 2015 • Friends
This is one of the most fascinating water falls in Sri Lanka which is the 6th highest in the island situated in Maskeliya area. When you are travelling either from Colombo or Kandy, easiest route is to get the right turn at Watawala to reach Norton Bridge (about 10km). From there you need to travel alone Maskeliya road for about 8 k.m.
On your way, you will see the falls downside of the road (see my image - "View from Far"), but that is not your end point.. From this location you need to go about another 1 k.m. alone main road & then take a right turn to an estate like road. Travel for about another 1 k.m. & you will see the foot steps down (abt 300m) to reach your destination (see my image - "At the location").
Some additional Info: If you visiting this Maskeliya area, do not forget to visit places like Aberdeen falls, Castlereagh reservoir (my rank is the most fascinating lake in Sri Lanka) & Maussakelle reservoir.
On your way, you will see the falls downside of the road (see my image - "View from Far"), but that is not your end point.. From this location you need to go about another 1 k.m. alone main road & then take a right turn to an estate like road. Travel for about another 1 k.m. & you will see the foot steps down (abt 300m) to reach your destination (see my image - "At the location").
Some additional Info: If you visiting this Maskeliya area, do not forget to visit places like Aberdeen falls, Castlereagh reservoir (my rank is the most fascinating lake in Sri Lanka) & Maussakelle reservoir.
Written 15 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kelum
Kandy District, Sri Lanka1,489 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
This is the highest free falling cascade in the island with year round life. And the location and the surrounding is arguably the finest. To get the experience to the full, one must walk, all the way from the 4th mile post. It's a 2km walk right under the mysterious, foreboding and yet majestic Seven Virgins Range.Almost the entire stretch is with very limited human presence, but it's safe. Village folks and Tea community you have here do not bite!. Best to begin the walk as early as possible.Walk and and the decent to the falls may need about 90 minutes so better begin around 8am. Falls look best at morning before 11am, before the million boulders between you and the falls get hotter. Decent is through the village down along 500 or so paved steps, The little town at the start of the decent has a single restaurant with very good washroom.The charge is Rs 50 for use but you might need it. Talk to the owner and he would open up on his first hand experience at seeing the aircraft tragedy in 1974- then the one with biggest loss of life.
PLEASE BRING BACK EVERYTHING YOU TAKE. Bring it all the way home. Laxapana is still spared from plastic pollution .Let's keep it that way.
PLEASE BRING BACK EVERYTHING YOU TAKE. Bring it all the way home. Laxapana is still spared from plastic pollution .Let's keep it that way.
Written 7 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sameera s
Colombo, Sri Lanka147 contributions
July 2019
You can go to the bottom of the fall and from the top as well. If you use the google maps it shows the road to the top. From top the path is having concrete steps but it is covered up by the plants and not well maintained and hard to see the pathway from the main road also. you have to walk like 100m from the main road to see the top of the fall. We visited in July and the water was average and it was a beautiful scenery. if you want to have a much more closer look you should visit the fall from the bottom. you have to go ahead like 750m from the main road and you will find small coffee shop from there you have to walk about 750m long step pathway. and must say it's worth the walking. you can have an incredible view of the fall.
not an easy visiting if you are not much physically active but still you can make it.
not an easy visiting if you are not much physically active but still you can make it.
Written 8 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nilusha Alahakoon
Colombo, Sri Lanka465 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
Wonderful waterfall near to Hatton area. A little bit diversion from main road, but worth to visit. Do not see the waterfall from up on the road. Always go to the bottom of the fall. You will find a nice nature pond. Very scenic to watch from the bottom. However, you have to go down 908 steps to the waterfall. The hard part is the climbing up.
Written 19 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveltales
Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka356 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
It's the 8th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka but less popular among local tourists since it's situated a little away from the main road and other attractions.
If you are coming from Colombo, the Google maps will direct you to turn from the Kalugala junction. But since that was not in particular good conditon about a year back, we decided to take the more familiar route of Carolina - Norton - Wanarajah road on to Norton Bridge, then Norton - Maskeliya road from where you get a turn off to Laxapana. Once you opt to turn off to Carolina - Norton - Wanarajah road, Google maps will show this alternate route.
There are two entry points (both marked on the google maps), one to the bottom of the falls and another to the top of the falls. You will come across the access to upper entry point first if you coming from Norton Bridge side.
But we opted to take the lower entry point first. There is a bit of room to park on the side of the road and a couple of shops. (A place called "Fall Rest" even had a clean washroom). In between two shops there is a entry point from which you have to climb a flight of steps. It's not a straight climb down, there are twists and turns (and certain turns leads to houses) but there will always be people around to ask which way to turn. The steps were in relatively good conditon. I read in some reviews that there were 500 steps. We didn't count and didn't feel there were that many but they were built quite high and were covered in moss, so it did take quite a while for us to climb down, about 20 mts or so. Climbing back up was another story ;) Plus even though the weather was cool, humidity was probably high due to imminent rain and we were sweating buckets!!!
But...... it was all so worth it!!!! The falls was as majestic and breathtaking as it looked in pictures!!!. Plus it was a working day, so we had the place to ourselves for the most part. It was so calm, quiet and beautiful we spent close to an hour there just enjoying the spectacle. The steps lead you to a point a little away from the exact point where the falls "hits the ground". For that, it seemed you had to do a little more adventurous climb over some rocks, which we opted to skip.
There is a reservoir and two power stations upstream, so the water levels are controlled. But there was a decent amount when we went. Not sure whether you can swim or bath. But if you are planning to, do take advice from locals in advance.
Once we climbed back up we went back to the upper entry point which was about 700 meters more towards Norton Bridge side. There was no specific parking space. And the entry point was almost covered from overgrown tall grass. But the map location is accurate and it's right opposite a gate marked "Jayabima Estate". From there you have to climb down about 20-30 steps.
We were told there are leeches in the rainy season but not in August since it's not exactly the rainy season. This was true for the lower entry point.... but it was drizzling by the time we went to the upper point and the place was crawling with leeches!. Plus the rocks were already wet so it didnt seem safe to move closer to the falls either. So we literally made a run for it back to the top! In dry weather it would have been an awesome experience. (But always speak to the locals first on whether there could be a change in water levels etc.)
We were also told by the locals that the "tourist season" for the waterfall coincide with the season for Adam's Peak, since this is situated somewhat closer to the route to Adam's Peak and it would also be the dry season for this area well.
If you are coming from Colombo, the Google maps will direct you to turn from the Kalugala junction. But since that was not in particular good conditon about a year back, we decided to take the more familiar route of Carolina - Norton - Wanarajah road on to Norton Bridge, then Norton - Maskeliya road from where you get a turn off to Laxapana. Once you opt to turn off to Carolina - Norton - Wanarajah road, Google maps will show this alternate route.
There are two entry points (both marked on the google maps), one to the bottom of the falls and another to the top of the falls. You will come across the access to upper entry point first if you coming from Norton Bridge side.
But we opted to take the lower entry point first. There is a bit of room to park on the side of the road and a couple of shops. (A place called "Fall Rest" even had a clean washroom). In between two shops there is a entry point from which you have to climb a flight of steps. It's not a straight climb down, there are twists and turns (and certain turns leads to houses) but there will always be people around to ask which way to turn. The steps were in relatively good conditon. I read in some reviews that there were 500 steps. We didn't count and didn't feel there were that many but they were built quite high and were covered in moss, so it did take quite a while for us to climb down, about 20 mts or so. Climbing back up was another story ;) Plus even though the weather was cool, humidity was probably high due to imminent rain and we were sweating buckets!!!
But...... it was all so worth it!!!! The falls was as majestic and breathtaking as it looked in pictures!!!. Plus it was a working day, so we had the place to ourselves for the most part. It was so calm, quiet and beautiful we spent close to an hour there just enjoying the spectacle. The steps lead you to a point a little away from the exact point where the falls "hits the ground". For that, it seemed you had to do a little more adventurous climb over some rocks, which we opted to skip.
There is a reservoir and two power stations upstream, so the water levels are controlled. But there was a decent amount when we went. Not sure whether you can swim or bath. But if you are planning to, do take advice from locals in advance.
Once we climbed back up we went back to the upper entry point which was about 700 meters more towards Norton Bridge side. There was no specific parking space. And the entry point was almost covered from overgrown tall grass. But the map location is accurate and it's right opposite a gate marked "Jayabima Estate". From there you have to climb down about 20-30 steps.
We were told there are leeches in the rainy season but not in August since it's not exactly the rainy season. This was true for the lower entry point.... but it was drizzling by the time we went to the upper point and the place was crawling with leeches!. Plus the rocks were already wet so it didnt seem safe to move closer to the falls either. So we literally made a run for it back to the top! In dry weather it would have been an awesome experience. (But always speak to the locals first on whether there could be a change in water levels etc.)
We were also told by the locals that the "tourist season" for the waterfall coincide with the season for Adam's Peak, since this is situated somewhat closer to the route to Adam's Peak and it would also be the dry season for this area well.
Written 19 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nuzraan
Colombo, Sri Lanka253 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
We had te opportunity to visit the fall and enjoyed the view. It’s about 30 minutes from Hatton city. Laxapana is a tall waterfall and we manage to capture the pictures and videos from the main road.
Written 24 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chandima D
Colombo, Sri Lanka70 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
Can travel to the upper part of the waterfall easily. Even with a low ground clearance vehicle can go there. Have to go down like 200m to go up to the starting point of the waterfall. Can have a bath but have to be extra careful with the water stream. It looks small but it can drag you down. View is pretty amazing with the seven virgin money mountain. It’s a great experience for a traveler.
Written 26 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AJS-Lancashire
Chorley, UK170 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
If you have time in your itinerary then it’s defo worth a visit. I would not suggest travelling a long distance especially just to see it, but worth it if passing in the area.
Written 13 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are going with our two small children. How far we can go by the car and how long we need to walk ?
Written 2 August 2018
Hello, if we are staying at hatton, what is best transport method to get to the falls and reservoir.
Written 12 July 2018
you have to hire a van, buses to this place from hatton not available,
Written 18 July 2018
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