Laxapana Falls (Sinhala: ලක්ෂපාන ඇල්ල; Tamil: இலக்சபான நீர்வீழ்ச்சி) is a waterfall situated in Laxapana in Sri Pada Mountain Range in Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka. The fall is considered one of the most picturesque waterfalls in the country.
The stream known as Maskeli Oya creates this fall before it joins Kehelgamu Oya which finally falls into the Kelani Ganga (Abeyawardana, 2004). Wedged between Maussakelle and Laxapana reservoir, the fall is 115 m (377.29 ft.) in height and is located at 738.46 m (2,422.76 ft.) above sea level (Abeyawardana, 2004; Vithanage, 1988). The name of this fall has been given to twin hydroelectric power stations, Old Laxapana Power Station which generates 50 MW of electricity and New Laxapana Power Station which generates 100 MW (Abeyawardana, 2004).
The stream known as Maskeli Oya creates this fall before it joins Kehelgamu Oya which finally falls into the Kelani Ganga (Abeyawardana, 2004). Wedged between Maussakelle and Laxapana reservoir, the fall is 115 m (377.29 ft.) in height and is located at 738.46 m (2,422.76 ft.) above sea level (Abeyawardana, 2004; Vithanage, 1988). The name of this fall has been given to twin hydroelectric power stations, Old Laxapana Power Station which generates 50 MW of electricity and New Laxapana Power Station which generates 100 MW (Abeyawardana, 2004).
The fall is depicted on Sri Lanka's current 100 rupee note.
Folklore
It is said that King Sri Vira Parakrama Narendra Singha (1707–1739 A.D.) decorated the route from this spot to Sri Pada and lighted 900,000 lamps (Laxapana) along the route using gingelly oil and king coconut oil (Abeyawardana, 2004).Attribution
References
1)
Abeyawardana, H.A.P., 2004. Heritage of Kandurata: Major natural,
cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
pp.262-263.
2) Vithanage, P.W., 1988. Relief and Drainage. The National Atlas of Sri Lanka. Survey Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 9559059009. pp.22-23.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 29 May 2023
