04 August 2009

Ravana


I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that Sri Lanka is well-known for waterfalls. The water fall shown here, known as Ravana Ella (fall) is quite popular due to many reasons. Firstly it is easily accessible and can be reached via Ella - Wellawaya Road. The secondly as you can see it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka. The flow of the falls is reduced during the dry season but when it is in full flow it is arguably one of the most picturesque sights in the hill country. The rocky outcrop let the water to cascade in multiple steps to form a gorgeous vista.

Thirdly, the legend behind this area makes this waterfall more popular. Usually most of the Sri Lankan waterfalls have some story or folklore behind them. The legend behind this falls is unmatched and easily the greatest of all the legends. According to the great epic ‘Ramayana’ the mythical King Ravana of Lanka kidnapped Princess Sitha of India and kept her hidden somewhere close to this waterfall. The waterfall and a cave nearby called Ravana Cave earned the same name due to this myth. Also a lot of people believe that there are many other hidden caves and tunnels in this area used by the King Ravana to hide Sitha from her lover, King Rama.

32 comments:

betchai said...

i can see how much beautiful it would be at peak water flow from the water marks in the fall. beautiful picture, and interesting story behind it.

rainfield61 said...

I love waterfall not only because of the gorgeous water flow, but also on the flow marks carved throughtout the years. So remarkable.

poefusion said...

I love this waterfall. It's beautiful and the story behind it makes it mythical. Thanks for sharing such a great post. Have a great night.

Harshi said...

Think I've seen this one on TV but your pic captures it brilliantly. Stunning waterfall indeed.

And the legend and epic of Ramayana, I'm too used to hearing it from my mom since birth *I suppose* cause it was her favorite text at school.. and she talks about the story and its characters with utmost respect. Lanka has many sites connected to this legend, and if ever it's proven true.. then we'd be the first to have invented a flying machine, the 'dandumonara yanthraya' =D

Rick (Ratty) said...

I really love waterfalls, and you are right, this is one of the most beautiful. I also like that it has a legend to go with it.

Searching Soul said...

There is always something magical about waterfalls that I cannot explain. I am happy to see your beautiful pictures of waterfalls in your country.

Thanks for sharing.

Silver said...

ah Waterfalls.. such splendid works of nature!

~Silver
Reflections/
Tantalizing Treats

Janith said...

amazing pic K! the thing about Ravana falls is that it's nearly impossible to get the whole waterfall into a single shot due to the different angles at which it cascades, isn't it? :)

It's definitely one of my favourite waterfalls! Thanks for sharing K! :)

ranil said...

yes, this is one of the most magnificient water falls I have seen in the hills. probabaly second in grandeur only to a water fall by the side of the Ramboda-PundaluOya road for me. BTW do u know the name of it kirigalpoththa?

Kirigalpoththa said...

Fusion,
You are welcome and thanks for dropping by and for your comments.

Betchai,
Yes, I will try to capture the same during wet season when it in full flow.
Thanks for your comments!

Rainfied,
Indeed, Years of water flow has eroded the rock surface and those patterns too very attractive!

Michelle,
You are welcome and I like those mythical stories and they add a mysterious flavor to these places.

Harumi,
Ramayana is an epic popular in entire Asian region and different countries adopt it with slight changes according to their culture. I do not believe in the story as it is, but like the way it is retold with so much grace in different literature.
Thanks a lot for that link, very interesting! :)

Ratty,
Certainly, the legend makes this falls more interesting. Thanks for your comments.

SearchingSouls,
Yes, the sound of water, the scenery, the feeling of water plashes.. all gives an inexplicable sensation while you stay in front of a waterfall. Thanks for your comments!

Silver,
‘Such splendid works of nature!’ – Indeed :). Thanks for visiting my blog and for your comments!

Chavie,
You are true. Very difficult to capture the entire fall unless you are flying above the falls. It has at least three main steps and what is in the picture is the first one and part of the second. I will try to add a better one with part of the third step in my Picasa link. :)
Thanks for your comments.

Ranil,
This is one of my favorites as well. Think you refer to Ramboda falls, the one close to the bridge. If you walk down the footpath, you see the best part below the bridge. If my memory is correct you can see Geradi Ella and Devatura Ella also on the same road.
Thanks for your comments!

Nicole said...

I love the shot and the story behind it.
Thanks for telling us.
I love old folk tales.

Btw. your profile pic rocks :)!

Harshi said...

True.. and one of them is Thai Ramakien which I gotta know sometime back while researching for work. And ya.. I'm also skeptical about the legend, but if I remember right the local historians said (on TV) that there is some sort of proof about Ravana's existence. Also that he was a perfect human king and not the monster-type as depicted in the epic. =D

And no prob.

Pollyanna said...

This is very beautiful. I love the sound of rushing water - it's always calming to me.

Thanks for stopping by my SkyWatch.

chrome3d said...

That is one beautiful waterfall when the water flows over those rocks. I find it fascinating with all those folklore things. Every waterfall has one! That´s fun!

Kirigalpoththa said...

Nicole,
Profile picture - It shows how the recent solar eclipse happened ;)
Thanks a lot for your comments :)

Harumi,
Thanks for the link again. Yep,Ramayana is very popular in Thailand and most of the countries around that region. Infact i have seen the story acted even in China.
You cannot have all these folklores just for nothing. There should be some truth in it.

Pollyanna,
You are welcome.
Thanks for dropping by and for our comments :)

Chrome3d,
Yep, Almost every waterfall in Sri Lanka has some story behind it..:)
Thanks for your comments and i am very impressed with your blogs and pictures!! :)

Rajesh said...

Fantastic shot. The waterfall is very lovely.

Anonymous said...

simply love the mythical legend....well captured shot too!

momentscapture said...

nice place and nice shot

Megha said...

I have also heard of Sri lankan beauty and now your post confirms it. Nice pic.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Rajesh,
Thanks for your comments mate!

Flyingstars,
Thanks for dropping by and for your comments! i like your photos very much.

Momentscapture,
Thanks for dropping by and for your comments.
You have a lovely blog!

Megha,
Thanks for dropping by and for your comments.
I am very impressed with your blog and the places you have shown there!

Slogan Murugan said...

Every stone and pebble there must have a story.

Kirigalpoththa said...

SloganMurugan,
Very true. Thanks for your comments :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this. I'm going through my photos of Sri Lanka from last march and found this as I look up the falls for reference. My images are up at http://kirtiklis.com/laxmi if you are interested. The ravana pics will be up in a day or two. Istuti!

Kirigalpoththa said...

Hi Veneratedcoconut,
You are most welcome!
Glad you visited Ravana Falls. I saw the images and awaiting more pictures of the falls :)
Many thanks for dropping by and for your comments!!
Rgds
K

Guy D said...

What a gorgeous waterfall, you captured it perfectly.

All the best
Guy
Regina In Pictures

annalarssonphotography said...

Gorgeous capture!!
You've capture the movement in the water perfectly.
Love it!

Kirigalpoththa said...

Guy D / Vita,
Thanks a lot for your comments!

kden said...

Beautiful waterfall and so much more when enlarged. It seems to go on and on forever.

Artlover said...

Great capture. I like the movement in the water fall well.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Hi kden! / Hi Artlover,
Thanks for dropping by and for your wonderful comments!

eileeninmd said...

Gorgeous waterfall, it is wonderful to sit and relax near a waterfall.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Eileeninmd,
Many thanks for your comments!