Here I suggest an itinerary for spending 2 days in Deniyaya and its surrounding areas.
Sinharaja Forest Guide - Click Here
How can I get to Deniyaya?
If you are
coming from Colombo, take Welipenna interchange exit on the southern
expressway, then follow the directions to Pelawatta, Neluwa, Morawaka,
Kotapola, and Deniyaya. If you are coming from Galle, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna or
Matara, there is a direct road to Deniyaya via Akuressa or if you are coming
from Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Ratnapura or Ella, you need to go to Madampe junction
and get directions to Deniyaya via Rakwana which is one of the most stunning
roads in Sri Lanka.
Deniyaya Bus Station
Deniyaya Tourist Information Center
This is
located next to the Bus Station.
Patna Sliding Rock
This
location is located approximately 08 kilometers from Deniyaya town in the
direction of Ensalwatta via Kosmulana junction. You can reach very close to Patna
sliding rock by using your own vehicle or a motorbike, but it is recommended to
use a four-wheel drive vehicle.
The road is much more difficult to drive. Instead, there are two or three vehicle parking areas on the main road (Updated: May 2024). You can park your vehicle and walk approximately 2.8 kilometers from there. From a specific parking area, there is a shuttle service to the sliding rock if you are unable to walk. You can utilize this service for assistance. If you are walking, you need to continue along the main road and turn right at Kosmulana junction. Then, after the bridge, turn left onto the village road and the destination will be at the end of this road.
You need to
purchase a ticket from the ticket counter just before the sliding rock to enter
the area. Restroom and clothes changing facilities are available. The entire
journey takes at least 3 hours from Deniyaya town.
I highly
advise against leaving Deniyaya without visiting Sinharaja.
It's best
to spend the night at a cottage or a villa on Pallegama-Mederipitiya road,
which is nearly 10 kilometers from Deniyaya town towards Sinharaja. There are
numerous luxury villas and cottages in the area. This way, it is easy to start
your walk at next day to Sinharaja early in the morning.
Below, will
outline the easiest way to explore the rainforest, leading up to Kekuna Ella waterfall, where you can
take a refreshing bath within half a day.
Pitadeniya Entrance to Sinharaja
To access
this entrance, you need to park your vehicle at a private parking area owned by
a villager before the entrance and walk about 200 meters to the Pitadeniya
entrance. (Updated: May 2024) Alternatively, if you are staying nearby, you can
park at your accommodation and walk to the entrance. The road is a single-lane
concrete road.
Pitadeniya Entrance ticket counter
You need to
purchase tickets at the counter. Authorized travel guides are available at all the
entrances and you must pick up a travel guide even if you are traveling alone.
Starting
from Pitadeniya entrance, you will be walking along the border of the Sinharaja
rainforest with Gin Ganga (Gin River) on your left-hand side as step 01. Our
walking pathways are on the right bank of the river. Along the way, you will
encounter small waterfalls, indigenous insects and animals as well.
Step 01
walking path ends at Wathugala entrance which is nearly 1.7 kilometres from
Pitadeniya entrance. You don’t need to buy tickets again but you have to show
the tickets you bought at Pitadeniya entrance to the ticket counter at Wathugala
entrance.
There is a
three-way junction on the path approximately 1.4 kilometers from Pitadeniya entrance
before Wathugala entrance. You will find the below signboard at the location.
Sinharaja Conservation Center
If you take
a left turn at the three-way junction, you will find the pathway to Sinharaja
Pitadeniya Conservation Centre which is located on the left bank of the Gin River.
There is a suspension bridge over Gin River that leads to the conservation center
where you can find an information center as well.
Suspension Bridge
Conservation Center
You can even
drive your vehicle up to here. You have to drive your vehicle from the unknown
junction located on the Deniyaya – Lankagama road. If you are coming from that
direction towards Sinharaja, you should park your vehicle at the Pitadeniya
Conservation Centre. Then, you need to cross the suspension bridge from the
left bank to the right bank of the Gin River and head to the three-way junction
mentioned earlier. You need to purchase tickets at Wathugala entrance.
Wathugala Entrance
This is the
next entrance to Sinharaja along our walking route, and it is also the entrance
for people coming from Lankagama area. Why do we need to cross this entrance? because
our route follows the border of the forest, and all the other entrances are
connected to the border. We are still going on the border instead going inside
of the forest because our destination, Kekuna Ella Waterfall is on the border.
Kekuna Ella
waterfall is located just 500 meters away from Wathugala entrance.
How do you reach Wathugala entrance by your own
vehicle?
There is a
three-way junction next to Lankagama bridge towards Neluwa on Deniyaya –
Lankagama - Neluwa road. You can get very close to Wathugala entrance by
turning right at that junction. While you can ride a bicycle on that road, but
cannot guarantee that a vehicle can pass through.
You don't
need to worry about the junctions within the forest because a travel guide will
always be there to guide you.
Our Destination, Kekuna Ella Waterfall
This
waterfall is nearly 10 meters high and has an elevation of 276 meters above sea
level. It is located on the border of both Galle and Matara districts. This is
a safe place for swimming and guides will always be available to assist you.
People also swim on the upper level of the waterfall, but the path to reach is
much more difficult.
From Pallegama junction to Neluwa via Lankagama
This road
is one of the most breathtaking routes in Sri Lanka, spanning nearly 25
kilometers.
From
Pallegama junction, continue for 2 kilometers along the road and then turn
right at a three-way junction onto a single lane road leading to Dambagoda
Bridge. Follow this road for about 20 kilometers, passing through Lankagama,
Warukandeniya, Madugeta, Thamabalagama Maithree Viharaya, Neluwa Doovili Ella
three-way junction and continue on the Kosmulla-Lankagama road until you reach
Neluwa bridge. (Make sure to turn right on Madugeta junction because there is a
bridge on the left road but it is uncertain whether vehicles can pass through).
It is better to ask someone on the road as the road may not be updated on the maps
yet.
Tip: Turn on directions from Pallegama Junction
to Neluwa and turn the travel mode to ‘Walking’ on Google Maps.
The road is
safe and not difficult, and it is suitable even for the vehicles with low
ground clearances. Along the journey, you will come across Lankagama entrance
of Sinharaja and a waterfall called Brahmana Ella Waterfall, which is very
close to the road.
Brahmana Ella Waterfall
There are
three waterfalls near Lankagama entrance within the forest that you can visit:
Thattu Ella Waterfall, Gal Oruwa Ella Waterfall and Doowili Ella Waterfall
Lankagama. It's worth noting that there are two waterfalls called Doowili Ella
in Sinharaja. Gal Oruwa Waterfall is the farthest from Lankagama entrance,
located only 500 meters away.
There is a
designated vehicle parking area available at the entrance. (Updated: May 2024)
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