Peessa Ella
| Height : |
245 metres |
| District : |
Ratnapura |
This 45m-high fall is enchanting and one of many in the Uva region created by the rains. Peessa Falls is not widely known and is created from an aquifer at the peak of Lunugala Mountain. Later the water flows into the Kurakkan Oya (river), which flows across Madolsima. The fall is the only one in the area that flows all year round, regardless of droughts, even surpassing the better-known Dunhinda and Diyaluma Falls. When it rains, the extra volume of water makes Peessa Falls cascade in two streams.
Peessa Falls is so named as 'peessa', in old Sinhala, refers to a place where people assembled. It is said that it was here that King Dutugamunu assembled workmen to construct religious edifices (Vihare, Dagobas etc). The 5km Peessa Canal irrigates about 20 hectares of land in the agricultural colony all year round. The starting point of the canal resembles a minor fall. There are also five turbines here supplying power to the surrounding area.
The nearest town is Passara in the Badulla District, Passara Electorate. Take the Passara - Bibile road and turn right at the 22nd mile post. Travel for 6km along the road running south. The fall is situated at the Peessa Agri-Colony. Transport can be arranged from Badalkumbura via Wallas Falls to Peessa village or from Hoptain Estate along the Kalugahatene road to Peessa village. Alternatively, travel from Badulla to Passara, continuing to Lunugala and on to the Hoptain Estate. Turn right at the top here and 8km along the road to Peessa, the fall can be found.
Another route is trekking along the path to the right of Peessa Canal road, which runs adjacent to the Peessa Canal Network. This is a journey of 1.5km through savannah grass undergrowth accompanied by the noises of the animals living there..
Source : www.srilankanwaterfalls.org
Created on December 8, 2007
Updated
December 8, 2007
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