Near Koslanda, Hill Country

Diyaluma Falls

A 220-metre cascade whose Sinhala name translates to ‘liquid light,’ carrying both a legend of doomed lovers and a story of a fugitive king who hid his treasure somewhere beneath its spray.

📏 220 m (720 ft), 2nd tallest in Sri Lanka 📏 6 km from Koslanda 🏖 Natural infinity pools at the top 👤 King Walagambahu treasure legend

Diyaluma’s Sinhala name carries two possible meanings, ‘rapid flow of water’ or, more poetically, ‘liquid light,’ both fitting descriptions for a cascade widely considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka, and one wrapped in genuinely dramatic local legend.

Quick Facts

Location	About 6 km from Koslanda, on the Beragala-Wellawaya highway, Badulla District
Height	220 metres (720 ft), Sri Lanka’s second-tallest waterfall
World ranking	619th tallest waterfall globally
Watercourse	Punagala Oya, a tributary of Kirindi Oya
Notable feature	Natural rock pools at the top, popular for swimming
Access to upper pools	About a 45-minute moderately challenging hike

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A Cascade of Widths and Legends

Diyaluma drops 220 metres, making it Sri Lanka’s second-tallest waterfall, formed by the Punagala Oya, itself a tributary of the Kirindi Oya, as it flows past a bridge on the Beragala-Wellawaya highway near Koslanda. Unusually among the country’s major waterfalls, Diyaluma is actually a combination of several smaller cascades linked together, making it also one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, a detail that adds to its visual drama when viewed from the road below.

Local legend surrounding Diyaluma carries genuine emotional weight: according to the story, the gods, witnessing the heartbreak of a prince whose runaway romance ended tragically when his sweetheart died after he attempted to haul her over the precipice, created this waterfall to weep eternally in the wilderness in her memory. A separate legend connects the falls to King Walagambahu, said to have hidden treasure deep beneath the cascade while fleeing his enemies, a story that has reportedly drawn treasure hunters attempting to access the site during dry weather when water levels drop.

Natural Infinity Pools at the Top

Diyaluma’s most photographed feature isn’t the main drop itself but the natural rock pools sitting at the very top of the falls, reached via a moderately challenging hike of around 45 minutes from the Makaldenya Junction on Poonagala Road, roughly 30 minutes downhill to the upper falls followed by a further 10-minute walk. These pools have become genuinely popular for swimming among both locals and visitors, offering a striking, if slightly vertigo-inducing, infinity-pool-style view out over the valley below.

Safety Considerations

Swimming in the base pool isn’t generally recommended unless you’re aware of the operating schedule for a dam further upstream, since sudden releases can affect water conditions without warning. The upper pools, while popular, also demand caution given their proximity to the cliff edge; multiple past incidents at Sri Lankan waterfalls generally underscore the importance of respecting marked boundaries and avoiding risky positioning for photographs.

Camping is also popular at the top of the falls, giving visitors the option of watching sunset and sunrise over the valley from beside the very pools where the legend’s ill-fated lovers are said to have met their end, a detail that adds a certain poignancy to what is otherwise simply a beautiful and popular overnight spot.

Visiting Tips

Access the upper pools via the Makaldenya Junction trailhead on Poonagala Road, allowing about 45 minutes each way.
Wear sturdy footwear and bring insect repellent for the hike.
Avoid swimming in the base pool unless local dam release schedules are confirmed safe.
Combine with nearby Ravana Falls and, for the more adventurous, Bambarakanda Falls, for a fuller Hill Country waterfall day.

Where It Sits on the Map

Diyaluma Falls, near Koslanda, Badulla District Open in Google Maps ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Diyaluma Falls?

220 metres (720 feet), making it Sri Lanka’s second-tallest waterfall, after Bambarakanda.

What does the name Diyaluma mean?

It translates from Sinhala as either ‘rapid flow of water’ or, more poetically, ‘liquid light.’

What are the pools at the top of Diyaluma?

Natural rock pools popular for swimming, reached via a roughly 45-minute hike from the Makaldenya Junction trailhead.

What legends are associated with Diyaluma?

A tragic tale of a prince whose runaway romance ended in his sweetheart’s death, said to have inspired the gods to create the falls, and a separate legend that King Walagambahu hid treasure beneath the cascade while fleeing enemies.

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