BOPATH ELLA WATERFALL.

The Route:


The Bopath Ell (Bopath Fall) is situated at a diving distance from Colombo. Just drive for 3 hours form Colombo and you will reach your desired location. You will have to along the Colombo – Rathnapura highway and take a turn Higasthenna junction. Form here you will have to further continue along the Agalawatte road up to Devipahala Village to reach the site.


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Introduction.



The name "Bopath Ella" has been given to the waterfall because of its shape. The water flows through a narrow gap in the rocks and then widens, forming the shape of a leaf of a "Bo" tree which is the Sinhalese name for sacred fig (Ficus religiosa). "Path" means leaves of a tree and "Ella" means waterfall.Virgin forests with a rich biodiversity surround the waterfall.

“Bo” leave.

Shape of water fall like “Bo” leave

Distance view of the water fall.


The surrounding plant and tree life includes attikka (Ficus racimosa), kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna), midella, dun (Doona spp), para (Wormia suffruticosa), ginihota (Cythia spp), rathmadiya, ketala (Lagenendra oveta), Beduru (Dryneria spp), orchids, varieties of meewana (Madhca) badal, hanassa, makulu and beduru. Animal species include wild boar, Meemina deer and reptiles, and the water is home to many species of fish including bulathhapaya, lellu, magura, korali, sonnu and eel.

Fresh water fish (Native species to Sri Lanka.)

Commonly find this fish species.



Order: Cypiniformes
Family:Cyprinidae
Species: Puntius Fillamentosus
FB Name Blackspot barb
Name: Pethiya

The average temperature of the area is 26.9 - 27.8 degrees Celsius and the annual rainfall of the fall's catchment area is 5080mm. The mean speed of the flow is 6 cubic metres per second. The upper reach of the fall is made up of granite and biotite virin, and is covered by sand. The water from the fall irrigates the paddy fields of the Udakada and Kuruwita areas.

Stories and myths



In addition to its rich bio-diversity, the fall is also steeped in folklore. One such story tells how a youth from Colombo made a pilgrimage here, and on losing his way was helped and sheltered by a local village girl.
A love developed between the two and she became pregnant before his departure. He left, promising to return but never did. Overcome with grief, she took her own life by plunging into the fall. Villagers say that her ghost (which appears as a floating blue light) haunts the fall.

Another popular belief among the locals is that there is an ancient treasure trove hidden in the waterfall, and that one thousand human sacrifices are required to get it.

The traditional stories surrounding the Ella have invested it almost with a religious fervour. This is also the only one, situated in close proximity to the peak and its immediate surroundings, believed to have been a bathing spot of the Royal Household of Sitawaka during the royal visits to the Maha Saman Devale, Ratnapura.
The story has it that once the royal bearers of the golden casket containing sacred costumes of the God Saman to the Maha Saman Devale at Ratnapura, had placed it at the foot of a Na-tree, to clean themselves at the Bopath Ella.
On resuming the journey after the bath they found the casket missing and searching high and low, at last got a glimpse of it, at the bottom of the pool. All attempts at recovering it failed as it appeared and disappeared with the slightest motion of the water.

Finally, they found the casket safely lodged at the top of the Na-tree with its reflection shining at the bottom of the pool. From that day the village in which Bopath-Ella was situated had come to be named 'Devi-Pahala', the place where God Saman appeared (vide - Sadhadaraniya Bopath Ella).

Bopath-Ella a perennial source of clean clear water blessed, with the sacred contact of the feet of the 'Arahat', under the protection of God Saman as the tradition went, perhaps, had been used, by the descendants of the 'Balangoda Man' who had lived in the vicinity, at Batadomba Lena 29,000 to 30,000 years ago according to the archaeological evidence, on record.

This cool and crystal clear water not only bath but also fresh water therapy……………






Recent Development.





Many attempts have been made since Bopath-Ella came into the limelight, in recent years, by private business tycoons at home and abroad for the use of the Ella for developing hydro-electric power with no success.
Bopath Ella and its surroundings will soon become the 'natures' show-piece' when the development projects underway, launched by the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, are completed enhancing the facilities, the protection and the pleasing prospects of the waterfall, 'the cynosure' of Sabaragamuwa.

“SO …………….LEAVE ONLY FOOT PRINT AND BRINGS THE PICTURES AND MEMORIES ABOUT THIS BEAUTY” SAVE THE BAPATH FALL TO NEXT GENERATION.

Wijayasiri Gunawardhane.