Laxapana Falls
A 126-metre fall in the Maskeliya hills feeding one of Sri Lanka's oldest hydroelectric schemes.
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Laxapana drops about a hundred and twenty-six metres on the Maskeliya Oya below the Adam's Peak range, and it has been part of the country's power system since the 1950s, when the first major hydroelectric station in Sri Lanka was built to use it. Water is diverted for generation, so the flow over the fall depends on what the scheme is releasing as much as on rainfall. Steps run down from the road to a viewing point.
What you actually see
- The fall - about 126 metres down a rock face in the Maskeliya hills.
- The hydro scheme - the 1950s power station the water feeds.
- The tea country - estates covering the slopes on the approach.
- The viewing steps - a stepped path down from the road to the base view.
When to go
April to June and October to December, after the monsoons, give the strongest flow. The hydro diversion reduces it in dry periods regardless of rain. Mornings are clearest.
Honest expectations
The flow is controlled by the power station and can be weak even after rain. The steps down are steep and slippery. There are no facilities.
Nearby
Adam's Peak is east, and Hatton is northeast.
What to pack for Laxapana 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.
