Kadiyanlena waterfall is one of hidden and the most eye-catching waterfalls in Central Province, Sri Lanka. This waterfall consists of three cascades, and it is located on a branch of the Mahaweli river. The first segment of this waterfall is 08 meters in height and all three segments in the waterfall are 25 meters in height.  There is an arch bridge through this waterfall which adds a unique beauty to the waterfall. The most distinctive thing is Nawalapitiya - Talawakele main road falls on this arch bridge, because of that, the view of the waterfall from the bottom is stunning. The top two segments of the waterfall are started above the bridge while the last segment is flowing below the bridge. This amazing waterfall is located in the village called “Kadiyanlena” between Nawalapitiya – Talawakele main road. The name of the waterfall is derived from the name of this village. It is also known as “Ketabula Ella” which is derived from the name of the tea estate close to there. Another special thing about Kadiyanlena waterfall is, that it is located on the district boundary between Kandy and Nuwaraeliya.


It is very easy to arrive here via Kandy. You should take Nawalapitiya road from Kandy and pass Peradeniya, Gampola and Ulapane until Nawalapitiya. Also, you can arrive to Nawalapitiya by all the trains running toward Badulla, Hatton and Nanuoya which stop at Nawalapitiya.  Then you should travel about 08 kilometers along Nawalapitiya – Talawakele main road until Kadiyanlena. If you prefer
to use a private vehicle, you must be cautious of narrow roads and bends. You can also use the Public Transport service from Nawalapitiya to arrive there. You need to take a bus from Nawalapitiya to Talawakele or Thispane. But you should remember to bring all essentials you need with you, because there are no shops, groceries and hotels nearby.


Unlike the other travel destinations, most of the time Kadiyanlena waterfall is not crowded. So, we can enjoy ourselves there peacefully. We can walk up to the bottom of the top segment of the waterfall and sit on the rock behind the falling water to enjoy the freshness of cool water. Not only that, but we can also have a safe and relaxing bath at the natural pools located there, which are filled with bright and crystal-clear cool water while caring about the warning signals posted. If you want to capture some marvelous photographs do not forget to climb down to the other side of the bridge. The view of the arch bridge and the waterfall together will be picturesque.





Here, we can see the Powerhouse of Ketabula estate, which is another exceptional place where you can visit the Kadiyanlena waterfall. It generates electricity by using the water of this waterfall. Once the turbine is
rotated by the water, the water flows under the powerhouse and joins the river. It is very beautiful to see from the outside. The Villagers say that 11 such small powerhouses will be found until this river joins the Mahaweli river.

As travelers, we should always think of our safety. It is safer if you can arrive here after the rainy season, because the water level of the waterfall is very high in the rainy season and this area is very slippery during the rainy season. So, it would be very dangerous to come here during the rainy season. Not only that, if you use public transport, please be careful to leave a little bit early, because sometimes buses are not working on time.

Kadiyanlena waterfall is a great gift we have received from mother nature. Our responsibility is to preserve it for future generations. So, all travelers should avoid dumping garbage around the waterfall and remember to bring back water bottles, food packaging and other polythene and plastic items they have brought with them. So, finally, the message we have to give you is, to take away the memories of your journey, and leave the footprints only.