Dunhinda Water Falls

dunhinda falls

It’s located in Badulla district, soundly in Soranathota which is on Badulla – Mahiyanganaya route in the distance of 5km from Badulla town. To reach the Dunhinda Falls you have to walk 1km from the main route on a walkway. Dunhinda Falls which has a falling gap of 63m is generated by Badulu Oya. It shows characteristics of both Plunge and Punchbowl type water falls. When water drops losing contact with the bedrock, it’s called a Plunge type water fall and in Punchbowl type water falls water stream widens from top to bottom. Dunhinda Falls got its name because of the dew it makes. The name Dunhinda can be divided in to two parts as “dun” and “hinda”. In Sinhalese the word dun means gas and the word hinda means evaporate.


There are two main folklores around the formation of the Dunhinda Falls. One is that there were two lovers who deeply loved each other in a village called Kosgalla near by Dunhinda long time ago. The two lovers were demanded either to be separated or to be produced before the court by the rest. It wasn’t possible for both lovers to be separated. So they decided to hurl themselves downward the cliff which the Dunhinda Falls pours down now. They went to the top and committed suicide. That night amazing thing happened. A massive storm arrived to the village destroying all the villages and animals. There after the river flew hotly and the Dunhinda formed. It’s believed that the mournful crying voice of Menik Bandara (The Boy) still can be heard through the wind.

Dunhinda Water Falls

Dunhinda is the pride of Badulla and Sri Lanka s loveliest and most dramatic waterfall and 200 ft in height. This is a part of the "Maha weli" rever system, carrying down the waters of Badulu oya. According to the folk history of Badulla, there was a time when the whole area, which is now the Badulla valley, was inundated due to the rever being blocked by a Wild creeper which had grown where the Dunhinda begins it s drop. The king of that time gave a commission to a subject to have the creeper removed and save the valley. The task took three months and saw the birth of the waterfall and the safety of the valley.


Ddaunhin Falls At 63 metres, the Dunhinda Falls is the highest waterfall on the Badulu Oya, a river that rises in the mountains on the border of the Uva highlands and flows into the Mahaweli Ganga. Some say this is the most awe-inspiring waterfall in Sri Lanka. Certainly it looks impressive, with its water roaring over a rocky ledge and falling with clouds of spray into a large pool in the rocks below. And therein lies the name of these falls, for dunhinda in Sinhala means spraying or vapor waterfall. The Dunhinda Falls are located 5 km north of Badulla on the Badulla - Taldena Road. From the main road, with its fine views of the Badulu Oya valley, there is a 1-kilometre path to the waterfall. This path in fact follows the course of the Badulu Oya, which flows at the bottom of the valley through dense forest. Although clearly defined, this path is sometimes rocky, and so suitable footwear should be worn. There is a good observation spot at the end of the path. Close to the fall is an ancient cave, once the home of Veddas from Bintenne.