Getting down to Elgin Water fall

About Elgin
Elgin waterfalls is at Ambewela Sri Lanka. It’s about 23m height. Elgin is closed to Thalawakele and Ambewela area. But closest town is Ambewela. The fall is at 3km to Nanuoya side from Ambewela railway station. There is a large and deep railway bridge closed to Elgin waterfalls. There are 3 Elgin waterfalls at Thalawakele region. The Estate which falls available is also called Elgin estate. Elgin waterfall is at downside of railway. The fall is containing several parts. And also it’s like steps. Closed to the waterfall there is a deep railway tunnel. And also widest upper grass lands also closed to the waterfall.

Elgin waterways are very pure water consisting one. Bath in Elgin and close to Elgin is some what difficult task. Because not a clear path to close to the falls. Downside of the falls there is a village and single line railway station called ‘Parakumpura’. Dayagama Ambewela, Pattipola and closed area of the waterfall is very much suitable to cultivate potatoes.

If the waterfall is beauty various numbers of visitors missed this, because there is no clear path to accessing or there is no vehicle way closed to the fall. Various visitors see this on the way by train to up country.
(from www.sarisara.com)

We started our journey from Nuwera eliya to Nanuoya station in the early morning. There was a train from Nanuoya to Ambewela station at 9.20am. It took 30-45 minutes to travel from Nanuoya to Ambewela.( 8Km) Elgine water fall can be usually seen when you are travelling in this railway route.

View from the train – Elgin waterfall-Taken on the way. Only two parts of the waterfall can be seen

Elgin waterfall-Three parts can be seen. But picture is in poor quality

We got down at Ambewela station and asked about the direction to the waterfall from locals. According to locals we have to walk back few kilometers (2-3) along the rail track towards the Nanuoya and get into the footpath way in the left hand side.

(Please note-clearly ask about the exact point in the railway track to get the foot pathway.)

Walking on the rail track

Hard life

.	Road cleaner

Towards Ambewela farm

First part of the footpath way was a climb and had to walk through bushes and then a forest patch. As locals said foot pathway was not clear due to bushes. Then we walked down and entered a clear area like a valley.

Entering to the foot pathway

Open area -note now foot pathway is clear

Here we walked down in the footpath way. A fairly large waterfall could be visualized faraway in the left hand side. May be the one of Elgin waterfalls.

We stepped further down till we come across the water stream.

Water stream we crossed. This water stream give rises the Elgin water fall

Once we crossed the water stream, foot pathway continued through the forest. If my mind is correct, we had to cross another one or two small water streams. Walking through the forest in about 1.5-2km our foot pathway was branched.

Branching of foot pathway

Initially we selected the left one and continued along that one for about 1km. We could see a water fall in next side of the mountain and railway track also could be visualized.

Arrow showing the rail track

May be another Elgin waterfall

As we realized we were in the wrong way, came back and followed the right hand side foot pathway.

Now the journey was really tough. We had to go down for 500-750m and steep was so acute. We used our four limbs for getting down and the sound of the waterfall guided us.

After a challenging journey we reached the third part of the Elgin waterfall. (Note it has three parts).

Getting down

How nice she is

Enjoying the natural beauty

Friends of the journey

After having a shower there (not directly from the waterfall) we climbed up. On the way we could find the path towards the top of the 2nd part of the Elgin. (Left hand side of the foot pathway.) Then we stepped down along that foot pathway.

Top of 2nd part

View of the rail track from the top of 2nd part. The arrow showing it

First part of the waterfall also could be seen here. We climbed further up and came across another beautiful waterfall.

First part of Elgin

Beautiful than Elgin

.

Then we followed the same way to return. Later I inquired from the villagers. The footpath way initially we followed would lead to Elgin estate. You can reach the waterfall from Elgin estate by following that footpath way.

(I wrote this report from my old memory about this journey. Some parts may be missing. Please bear it.)

 Thanks for reading.