◢ The complete field guide · Sri Lanka
An island of roughly 382 falls - from the 263-metre plunge of Bambarakanda to lamp-shaped pools you can swim in. Every one ranked, mapped by district, and described in full.
An island of falling water
Sri Lanka has been found to hold about 382 waterfalls. Many are wrapped in lush green forest and rocky terrain; some are all but unreachable, others sit right beside the road. A good number come alive only in the rainy season, swelling from a trickle to a roar.
Among them, Ramboda, Diyaluma, Bambarakanda, Devon, Kurundu Oya Ella, Rawana and Bopath Ella are some of the most beautiful - and have become headline attractions for travellers. Many of these falls also carve out famous natural pools, and for a lot of visitors the cool water of those pools is the whole point.
A waterfall is a place that catches every eye - and Sri Lanka has hundreds.
What follows is everything in one place: a full ranking of the 89 highest falls by height and district, a frank word on which ones are dangerous and how to stay safe, and detailed notes on more than sixty of the most rewarding falls to visit - chosen for their height, setting, shape and the way the water comes down.
By height & district
Search by name or district, or sort by height. Names in teal link straight to their full description below or on the original guide.
| # | Waterfall | Height | Location |
|---|
Before you climb
Sri Lanka is a waterfall paradise, and the character of each fall changes with its setting. In the rainy season the water level of every fall rises, and visiting becomes a real risk. Most falls run over bare rock, so the surfaces are slippery - and climbing those rocks for a better view is where accidents happen.
However beautiful they are, these falls have claimed the lives of many local and foreign visitors. A few are notorious for it:
The falls, in detail
More than sixty waterfalls and natural pools, each chosen for height, location, shape or the way it cascades. Filter the collection or browse it all.
Quick picks
Four shortlists pulled from the full guide - whether you want the tallest, the icons everyone knows, the ones to treat with care, or gentle pools for the family. Tap any name to jump to its details.
Safety tips & guides
A little planning turns a slippery scramble into a great day out. Here's what to get right before you go, at the falls, and on the way home.
Watch · YouTube
Press play - these clips of Sri Lanka's best-known waterfalls play right here on the page.
Beyond the falls
A small island with an outsized variety - chase waterfalls, then trek the highlands, swim wild pools, spot leopards, or wander a heritage city.