Belihuloya is a small village on the A4 in Ratnapura District, where the hill country drops to the lowlands. People stop here for the river, which tumbles over boulders into deep rock pools. There are waterfalls, walks and a big reservoir within a short ride, so it suits a quiet night or two on the road between the hills and Colombo.
Is Belihuloya for you?
Go if you want a green, peaceful break by a river, with short walks to waterfalls and, if you are fit, a long trek up towards Horton Plains.
Think twice if you want a list of sights to tick off. Belihuloya is mostly a stretch of road with a rest house, a university and guesthouses scattered up the valley. Keen swimmers should read the safety section first, because the most inviting pools are also the ones where people have drowned.
The river and Pahanthudawa Falls
The village takes its name from the Belihul Oya (“oya” means river in Sinhala). The river starts up on Horton Plains and flows down this valley into the Samanalawewa reservoir. Next to the Belihuloya rest house it drops over a cascade, and the boulder-filled stretches nearby make easy short walks.
The valley sits on the boundary between the wet and dry zones. As the Sabaragamuwa tourism office notes, the weather can switch from mist to bright sun in moments, so carry a layer even on a warm morning.
Pahanthudawa Falls is the spot most visitors head for. The provincial tourism office calls it the last of a series of falls on the Belihul Oya before the reservoir. Its name comes from “pahana”, an oil lamp, because the pool at its foot is said to be shaped like one.
To get there, follow the Ihala Galagama road from the rest house for about 1.5 km. Then take the road towards the mini hydro plant. The last part means crossing the stream and scrambling up a steep little valley, so wear shoes that grip on wet rock.
Hirikatu Oya, a stream beside the road towards the Nonpareil tea estate, is another popular bathing spot with local visitors.
Staying safe in the water
The provincial tourism office describes the pool below Pahanthudawa as small but very deep. In November 2018 three Sabaragamuwa University students drowned while bathing in the Belihul Oya at Pahanthudawa, Ada Derana reported.
So enjoy the pools from the rocks rather than jumping in. Keep well back from the edge of the falls, and stay out of the water after heavy rain. If local people tell you a spot is dangerous, believe them.
Around Belihuloya
- Bambarakanda Falls: the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka. The side road up to it starts at Kalupahana, further east on the A4.
- Surathali Falls: beside the A4 near Halpe, between the 169 and 170 km posts. It takes its name from the film “Surathali”, which was shot nearby.
- Samanalawewa: the reservoir behind the Samanala Dam, a hydroelectric dam where the Belihul Oya meets the Walawe River. Recent visitors (2024–25) report kayaking and canoeing trips on the water.
The reservoir area also has a remarkable past. Here the archaeologist Gill Juleff excavated 41 ancient iron-smelting furnaces, built on the hillsides to catch the monsoon wind. Her trials showed that the wind alone could drive the furnaces and make good steel. According to Archaeology magazine, this was happening as early as the seventh century AD. Many of the old smelting sites now lie under the reservoir, the provincial tourism office says.
Towards Horton Plains from the south
From Belihuloya you look up at the southern edge of the Horton Plains plateau, which ends at World’s End. The Sabaragamuwa tourism office describes a route on foot from Pambahinna, the junction by Sabaragamuwa University. It climbs through the Nonpareil tea estate towards World’s End, past the three-tiered Nonpareil Falls. The office also warns that trying to reach the foot of World’s End this way is dangerous.
Visitors and local trekking guides describe a long, steep day. They also report that you need the estate company’s permission to drive beyond the Nonpareil tea factory.
Bear in mind that Horton Plains is a national park, and you need a Department of Wildlife Conservation permit to enter it. Sri Lanka Tourism’s road routes into the park all come in from the north, via Pattipola or Ohiya. For the classic World’s End walk, see our Horton Plains guide instead. Treat the southern trek as a guided hike, and ask your guide what is allowed before you set off.
Getting there and around
- By bus: Belihuloya is on the A4, the main road from Colombo through Ratnapura and Balangoda. Buses between Colombo and Badulla pass through the village. Ask to be dropped at the rest house or at Pambahinna junction.
- By train: there is no railway here. Visitors usually come by bus or tuk-tuk from Haputale, on the line to Badulla. For the current train service, see the travel update at the top of this page. Reserved seats are sold on the Sri Lanka Railways seat reservation site.
- Getting around: guesthouses are spread out along the valley, so tuk-tuks are the easiest way to reach the falls. Agree the fare before you set off.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where is Belihuloya?
In Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, on the A4 between Balangoda and Haldummulla. It is about 150 km south-east of Colombo.
Can you swim at Pahanthudawa Falls?
It isn’t safe. The pool below the falls is very deep, and three university students drowned while bathing there in 2018.
Can you walk to Horton Plains from Belihuloya?
A long trek climbs through the Nonpareil tea estate towards World’s End, but the provincial tourism office calls the route dangerous. Go only with a local guide, and remember that the national park needs a permit.
How do I get to Belihuloya by bus?
Take a Colombo–Badulla bus, which runs along the A4, and get off in the village. From Haputale, take a bus heading towards Colombo.
What is there to do in Belihuloya?
Walk along the river, visit Pahanthudawa Falls and see Bambarakanda and Surathali falls. You can also visit the Samanalawewa reservoir.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org (Belihuloya), tourism.sg.gov.lk (belihuloya 2), tourism.sg.gov.lk (pahanthudawa falls), tourism.sg.gov.lk (surathali falls), tourism.sg.gov.lk (nonpareil falls), tourism.sg.gov.lk (horton plains via non pareil climb), adaderana.lk, en.wikipedia.org (Samanala Dam), en.wikipedia.org (Horton Plains National Park), nature.com, archive.archaeology.org, srilanka.travel and recent visitor reports. Header photo: Nilanesan Disayiram / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
