Bopath Falls
A waterfall near Ratnapura shaped like a bo leaf, narrow at the top and spreading below into a pool.
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Bopath Ella falls about thirty metres on the Kuru Ganga near Ratnapura, and it is named for its shape: the water comes through a narrow gap at the top and spreads as it falls into the outline of a bo leaf, the fig associated with the Buddha. It is an easy walk from the road and a popular bathing spot, which is also its danger, because the pool below has strong currents and a poor safety record.
What you actually see
- The leaf shape - water spreading from a narrow gap into a bo-leaf outline.
- The pool - the plunge pool below, used for bathing.
- The short walk - a path of a few hundred metres from the road.
- The rubber country - plantations covering the slopes around.
When to go
January to March is the driest and safest. After heavy rain the river rises fast and the pool becomes dangerous. Weekends bring crowds.
Honest expectations
People drown here regularly; the currents in the pool are stronger than they look and there are no lifeguards. Rocks are slippery. Stalls and touts crowd the approach.
Nearby
Ratnapura is southeast, and Kitulgala is north.
What to pack for Bopath Falls
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
