St. Clair Waterfall - Little Niagara of Sri Lanka

Though Nuwara Eliya is surrounded with lakes, gardens, panoramic falls, and lush tea estates, so many travelers usually visit the city during their vacations and holidays. St. Clair waterfall is one of the widest water falls in Sri Lanka located in the hill capital of Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya. It is known as the ‘Little Niagara of Sri Lanka’ or ‘King of waterfalls’. The fall flows over a rock ledge and divides into three cascades eventually into the pool making a prevalent misty out the view.

Nuwara Eliya is considered as a major tourist attraction yet it has a cluster of sites to be explored. Among them, waterfalls are significant. The scenic St, Clair waterfall can be easily toured from Colombo- Nuwara Eliya route whereas amidst the lush tea plantations and surrounding valley. You have to travel about a.5 km from Talawakele town and stop towards the 21st-mile post. It is 80 m I height and 50 wide. The fall is separated into two drops. Namely, they are small St. Clair (Kuda Ella) and Big St. Clair (Maha Ella). While the fall is nourished by the Kotmale river downsides to the Mahaweli river, the longest river in Sri Lanka.

Small fall is about 50 m in height and can be viewed from the main road. More over the Maha Ella is bigger than that and additionally, you have to travel about 500 m more. St. Clair water fall is one of the 6 waterfalls affected with the upper Kotmale hydro power project in Nuwara Eliya division. This outstanding sheer beauty is surrounded by Talawakele, Nanu Oya, and Hatton. The name St. Clair was crowned cause the St. Clair tea plantation surrounded by the fall. Yet Sri Lanka got the independence, British used to plant tea plantations and export them to their countries from Sri Lanka.

Yet another tea estate is St, Clair Estate in Nuwara Eliya. Talawakele, Hatton, Blackwood, Mackwoodare are some of the tea estates established by the British. Due to the gusty wind blowing through the hilltops, the trees and shrubs may get smaller and smaller. Therefore you are owed to experience a cool and precious environment. During the rainy season, the fall gets a large amount of water which makes it more astounding. In fact, the tourists enjoy the fall linked with affable sunshine and facile weather condition. By the way, now the fall is endangered by the Upper Kotmale power station.