Meeyan Ella Waterfall

After Rambukkana, Kadigamuwa Railway Station was the first to be built within a distance of about four miles. Later the Beddewela railway station, now known as Gangoda, was built. The railway line from Beddewela onwards was built through a cut made in the nearby giant Alagalla mountain slope and it was a very steep slope. The British faced another major challenge in building the railway along this steep slope. Ahead was a very high waterfall that falls along the Alagalla slope. The surrounding villagers called the waterfall Mice Falls. Walagoda Oya is a rat waterfall formed by springs that start from the Alagalla mountain range. The British first blocked the waterfall at Mice Falls at a considerable height from the point where the waterfall begins to fall, splitting it in two and turning it into two milder streams that flow along two adjacent slopes of the gorge. The boulder on the slope of the Alagalla slope was then dug slightly at the two locations to prevent flooding on the newly constructed railway line. Eventually the railway was built along a further cut across the slope to make way for the railway. In fact, it was a gorge, and it was very difficult for the British to pronounce the "rat waterfall" that ran through the gorge. The British pronounced "Miangalla" as "Meengalla" and called the fort "Meengalla Pass". A railway station was built at the Meengalla pass after the railway line was built a short distance ahead.

Location

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JZD7bkt7oHtqVXpTA

During the construction of the main railway line in the country, there was a significant flow of water from the Mice Falls at all times of the year in the past, but due to the removal of a part of the canopy that cut down the trees at the top of the Alagalla, the water flow of the Mice Falls is now restricted to the rainy seasons and dries up completely during the dry season. It is also worth mentioning that Mice Falls is a very high waterfall and the upper part of it has been distorted due to the British digging into it to build the Meengalla Gorge Road. It has to be said that it ranks highest among the highest number of waterfalls.

Due to the active rainy season these days, there is a significant flow of water from Mice Falls. To see it, you have to take the train to Ihala Kotte Railway Station and travel a short distance towards Colombo to find Tunnel No 5A, to the left of which is the site of the old Mingalla Gorge Road. Mana bushes are now overgrown, but by walking through them one can understand how the British overcame the obstacle posed by the Mice Falls during the construction of the old railway line. During excavations, a small hole was drilled in and out of the center of the basement to allow fresh air to enter, just behind the rat's waterfall. 

It is a wonderful experience to come through this hole and view the Mice Falls from behind during the times when the water flow of the Mice Falls is good. In addition, we did not forget to descend from the Meengalla Gorge and view the lower part of the Mice Falls. We walked to Podi Mahaththaya's house, the last house near the Mice Falls at the foot of the Meingalla Gorge. Adjacent to the house is the Walagoda Oya which is created by the water of the Mice Falls. As we walked up the stream, we saw two more waterfalls forming after the Mice Falls, and as we walked up the stream, we saw large and small boulders scattered next to each other.

 They can be thought of as boulders that fell during the blasting along the Alagalla slope to create the British-era Meengalla Gorge Road. Further up, the rats were able to reach the foot of the waterfall, making it difficult to navigate through the jungle, as no one in the village approached. In the past, the water used to flood with rain, but now it is not so strong and it is possible to swim safely near the two waterfalls that form below the rat waterfall.