Every country, and the places worth the trip 26,398 places across 240 countries Guess the country
Meridiela.

Dunhinda Falls

A wide waterfall in a gorge outside Badulla, named for the mist it throws up, reached on a rough path.

Updated 2 September 2026

WhereUva
Nearest cityBadulla
Best seasonApril to June and October to December
Time to allowHalf a day
Getting thereAbout 5 km north of Badulla; a walk of about a kilometre from the car park
EntryCharged

Dunhinda drops about sixty-four metres on the Badulu Oya into a gorge outside Badulla, wide enough that at full flow it throws a permanent cloud of spray, which is where the name comes from: dun means mist. The path in runs about a kilometre along the gorge side, rough and stepped, past a smaller fall, to a viewing platform on the opposite bank. Stalls line the first part of the walk.

The landscape

  • The main fall - a sixty-four-metre drop throwing constant spray at full flow.
  • The mist - the permanent cloud the fall is named for.
  • The gorge path - a rough stepped kilometre along the valley side.
  • Kuda Dunhinda - a smaller fall passed on the way in.

When to go

April to June and October to December, after the monsoons, give the strongest flow and the most mist. Dry months reduce it considerably. Mornings are quietest.

Before you go

The path is rough, stepped and slippery, and the last section has drops beside it. The viewing platform gets crowded. Stalls along the path are persistent.

Nearby

Badulla is south, and Ella is southwest.

Key facts

Location7.0167° N, 81.0667° E · map

Source: Wikidata, item Q38347, read on 18 October 2026.

What to pack for Dunhinda Falls

Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.

  • Broken-in walking shoes or boots - Grip and ankle support matter more than looks; never hike in brand-new boots. Find on Amazon
  • Strong insect repellent - DEET or picaridin; the jungle is where bites and disease risk are highest. Find on Amazon
  • Layers + a waterproof shell - Mountain weather turns fast; a packable rain jacket saves the day. Find on Amazon
  • Long, light, quick-dry clothing - Covers skin from insects and sun without cooking you in the humidity. Find on Amazon

Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links - if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

All packing kits

Plan your trip

Where to start if Dunhinda Falls is going on the list.

Booking links on this page are affiliate links - if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we write about a place.

Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

← More nature & outdoors in Sri Lanka

One place a week.

A short Friday email about one place worth knowing.