This morning we leave early for Balangoda district some 55 km from Diyatalawa, Kahagolla. The drive takes us first towards Haputale, the earlier in the morning you pass this town the better it is for photographers, it is always a treat to drive down Road 4 so early in the morning. 

It always leads to the parking lots along the road to enjoy the light and fog play that plays out over the low mountains in the distance, sometimes the sun is blocked by the mountains and clouds, other times there is the light play of the sun’s rays. The road continues along the mountains down, a little later we pass Haldumulla and other villages that lie along the main road, don’t think that this road is a road like in western countries it is a wide two lane road, nothing more and in all the early morning very busy already. Especially bus line 99 drive like crazy on the road with a speed as if it is a Formula 1 car with all the dangers involved. 

Our goals for today are Kalthota village and there we visit the limestone pools Hunugal Pokuna and 4 km further on the Duwili Ella Waterfall.  At Belihuloya we take the turnoff to Kalthota, we drive parallel to the reservoir Samanalawewa there are some viewpoints where you can stop for a moment to stick your legs or take a picture, The sun is still rising, it provides a beautiful atmosphere with the sunbeams peeking between the trees and branches. 

A little later we pass a checkpoint that notes down the numbers of passing motorists, why they do this is not clear to me, perhaps because about 27 km further on is the first entrance gate of Udawalawa National Park. In the meantime we approach our first location, we wonder where to park, that is quite a challenge on these narrow roads, we decide to do it in a remote place at a house, a parking sign is at the entrance. 

For a small fee the car is safe. From here it is a good 2.5 km walk via a narrow path downhill into the forest. 

Via rice and vegetable fields we descend, the path becomes wetter and wetter, in some parts completely under water, it has rained heavily the past few days. 

There are also narrow streams gushing down. Further down the mountain and the path becomes even narrower, we now walk along electric fence, there are many wild elephants in this area. 

We also see the ubiquitous toque macaque, this is endemic to Sri Lanka. It takes a little hour before we arrive at the first attraction Limestone Pool - Hunugal Pokuna.  Villagers in the area say it was discovered around 2001. 

You have to descend almost 2 meters steeply to get there, it requires some sliding and climbing work to view this unique piece of nature. It is not that big in surface area 25 by 25 meters or so. but it is worth a visit. The water is very clear and luckily no littering around here. 

For photography it takes a bit more effort to find your compositions, the contrast in light and sun that comes through the trees is a challenge, it is better when it is a bit cloudy. We manage to take some nice shots. 

The first local tourists arrive slowly and with every minute the place is overcrowded. 

And the peace and quiet is over. On the way back then, the temperature rises as well as the humidity. 

We slowly advance resting at some points and taking a few more pictures of this environment.

Finally we reach the car and pay the parking fee to the resident, it will be 250 rupees. 

We now drive about 4.5 km to the waterfall, the costs there are 650 rupees entrance fee, to be allowed to park and visit the waterfall. 

This is asked for the maintenance of the paths, well paths that have been the same for centuries, and nature should be free I think. 

You do take your own waste to home. That is rule number one. 

After we have neatly parked the car we go towards Duwili Ella Waterfall. We have to go down 360 steps.

Once down the path continues, here is a split to the left and right. We choose right. This leads to a playing field with some play areas for children, a little further on you come to a kind of viewing platform that is completely shielded with a metal and grid fence.

The waterfall can therefore be photographed from one side here, unfortunately. The height is about 40 meters and is fed by the Walawa Ganga. 

We go back and take the left turn that comes out at the upper part of the Duwili Ella Waterfall and Walawa Ganga river, the water here cleaves a path down between the rocks. Further on it is a bit quieter and a good time to rest and take in the nature and its surroundings. 

In the treetops a group of Toque macaque move they come down and look curiously at what we are doing as we walk by. 

It is time to go back to the steps 360 steps up in the tropics. It is a good work-out. 

On route we have our lunch around 1500 pm. After lunch we stop at the so-called two bridges point near Kaluhapana and there is also a restaurant. 

We visit the adjacent boulders in the Weli Oya river, where the water comes down from the mountains, as the crow flies behind this lies Horton Plains, Baker’s bend and other sights. That is for another trip.

It is slowly time to get back home. It is quickly clouds closing in and the first rain is already falling. 

Towards Haldumulla and Haputale the clouds are already sailing against the mountains, the sun is already slowly setting and through the thin layers in the clouds, the last rays of the sun let through beautiful sunrays of the last daylight, it gives beautiful dramatic effects above the hills