Dunhinda Falls

The bus followed the lake shoreline leaving Nuwara Eliya, before slowly, too fast at times, winding down the contours of the hillside, landslides that I had seen on the news at the army camp while climbing Sripada were slowly being cleared.

We stopped in the town of Wilanda for a 30 minute break before taking the 2nd treacherous decent of our journey and on we wound our way down to Badulla. The views along the way are spectacular bordering on terrifying, large drop offs disappear down into deep river valley gauges, the vegetation thick in places, other areas are covered with lines of tea plants, they create green rows on the landscape with the brown dirt backing, houses sat precariously between the road and cliff edges, a landslide here would be fatal, the bus driver sweeps his way around tight corners like he's done this a million times, for me a nervous first and hopefully last.

We reached Badulla, the capital of Auv province, and market town. The main bus station doesn't disappoint, hooting, smoke, heat and the yelling of town names. I quickly make my way into town, dry dusty heat covered me with sweat, I searched for a hotel, my bag weighing down on my shoulders. I get directions to a hotel called, Eagle Nest Holiday Inn, no it didn't have breathtaking views, more like the chicks moved out leaving all their shit behind, room 609 is where I left my pack, blood streaks on walls show evidence of late night mosquito raids.

I picked up some vegetable Rotti's from a Rotti shop and headed back to all the noise and excitement of the bus station, and struggled to find the bus to take me the 3kms to Dunhinda Falls, must work on my pronunciation I think.    

Dun-hin-da Falls is a 63 meter double drop falls, accessed by a 1km walk trail, cut out of the side of a hill, from where the bus drops you off. Its a stunning place and well worth the effort and the 200 rupee entrance fee (20 rupee for locals). It is surrounded by dense jungle vegetation inhabited by monkeys and loads of bird life, yes dogs are everywhere, even here.

If you can, make the effort to follow the path below the lookout to the waters edge, that's where I spent my time, feet in the cool, fresh water, they now tell me, you can swim there though I was warned against it before.

I sat slowly being covered by a cool fine mist from the spray of the falls, well worth it.

Badulla is situated on the edge of the southern hill country and the end of the spectacular railway, coming from either Kandy or Colombo. From here I planned to take the train back to Ella a popular stop on the tourist trail of guide book packers.

I woke early the next morning, by the mosquito alarm, zzzzzzzzz. I took a final stroll around the town, between 6 and 7 is the best time for a peaceful walks to explore a town, as most places have not open and so you less likely to be bothered. I walked up past the hindu temple with a few early morning prayers lighting ensense, then up past the prison.

The prison has high pink walls, yes pink, with guard towers accessed by long metal ladders, a large sign on the exterior wall proclaimed in English "Prisoners are humans too", the prison bus parked out front full with prisoners either coming or going, did not look like the most cheerful bunch of humans I'd seen, they stared at me with a puzzling look on their faces, as they watched this white foreigner walk by. I walked on looking for a place for a cup of Sri Lankan tea to watch as the rush began.