Some 15km west of Haputale along the A4 towards Ratnapura and Colombo, a rougher, serpentine 5km road branches off from the Kalupahana Junction and leads you to the Bambarakanda Falls (entry Rs 250) – Sri Lanka's tallest waterfall that plunges dramatically over an escarpment for 263m. Catch a bus to the junction, then a waiting tuk tuk (Rs 2000 return), before ascending a 500m-long footpath to the base of the falls where you can splash in a chilly rock pool.
From there, you can take the steep, rough 1.6km trail to the top (about 30 minutes). The best time to go is between April and September. During the dry season, the waterfall is a disappointing trickle. In the rainy season, the gushing water can render the trek dangerous. There's a small waterfall and pool at the summit to swim in to celebrate your arrival.
