Sera Ella Falls
A scenic waterfall tucked into forest near Meegahakiwula in the Badulla hills, quieter than the roadside falls and surrounded by good short walks.
In the village of Pothatawela, near Laggala in the Matale District, a modest waterfall drops just 10 meters in two distinct sections, its comparatively small scale offset by a genuinely interesting confluence of waterways feeding it. Sera Ella is formed where the Kitul Canal, which runs down from the Kaudagammana peak, meets the Hunumadala River, itself flowing down from the mountains around Gonamada and Deyuthu Gammaduwa, the two combining first to create the Puwakpitiya River before that waterway joins the larger Thelgamu Oya right at the point where the falls themselves form.
That layered watershed, several separate mountain streams converging before finally cascading down as Sera Ella, gives the waterfall a slightly more complex origin story than most single source falls found elsewhere in Sri Lanka's hill country, even if its modest 10 meter height keeps it well out of the running among the island's more dramatic cascades like Diyaluma or Bambarakanda. Splitting into two sections as it descends, the falls carry a genuinely tucked away, lesser known character, sitting well off the main tourist circuits that draw crowds to Ella, Nuwara Eliya or Kandy.
Given its remote location in the Laggala area near Matale, Sera Ella tends to draw a smaller, more specifically local or nature focused crowd rather than the international tourist traffic seen at better known waterfalls elsewhere in the country, a quiet, modest cascade best suited to travelers already exploring the Matale District rather than a dedicated detour from the Ella or Badulla region.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Free
- Opening hours: Daylight hours
- Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
- Best time: Just after rain, for the strongest flow
Getting there
Near Meegahakiwula, northeast of Badulla town. Reached by road and then a short walk down to the falls.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Sera Ella Falls?
- Free.
- What are the opening hours at Sera Ella Falls?
- Daylight hours.
- How long should I spend at Sera Ella Falls?
- Plan for 2 to 3 hours.
- When is the best time to visit Sera Ella Falls?
- Just after rain, for the strongest flow.
- How do I get to Sera Ella Falls?
- Near Meegahakiwula, northeast of Badulla town. Reached by road and then a short walk down to the falls.