Tour of Sri Lanka 2025 | Day 13 | Colombo – Nuwara Eliya | 201.3 kms

I woke up late, having slept around 3 am. After quickly getting ready, I packed my bags. The hostel offered free breakfast, so I had two bananas, two slices of cake, and tea. I started my ride around 9:30 am, encountering heavy traffic, suggesting it wasn’t a holiday for most. My Google Maps indicated a 200km journey.

I weave through the city traffic jams and after about 20kms of ride, things start to cool down. The temperature decreases as I travel through dense vegetation now. Mostly, the route is passing through country back roads. The roads are single lane and traffic is moderate. Still, care needs to be taken while overtaking. I am cruising around 40-50kmph. I gain height gradually and now pass through dense forests of Rubber trees. For some time, I run parallel to a downstream flowing river.

Feeling a bit drowsy, I stop for a coffee and some snacks at a roadside hotel which is housed in a dense jungle. Feeling a bit fresh after the coffee, I continue my ride towards Nuwara Eliya. I also book my hostel during the break. Upon reaching Ginigathhena city, I check upon the hostel people whether it would be a good idea to do the Tea factory tour but they advise me to do it tomorrow. Since, I have time in my hand and Nuwara Eliya is just 80kms to go. I decide to visit a waterfall nearby which I had bookmarked earlier and was also in close proximity to my current location.

I head to Aberdeen waterfall which is around 11kms. The road is narrow and snaking downwards towards the waterfall. Braking and turning required full concentration as it’s a steep drop down. I am passing through a rain forest and the weather is cool and a bit humid with a certain type of fragrance. I see many jackfruit trees along with coffee plants along the way. The roads are broken and soon after, I see the board of Aberdeen waterfall. I park my bike near a house and go walking downwards towards the fall in my riding gear. It’s little tough and challenging and also I am sweating due to the humidity.

After about 20mins hiking down, I get to see the magnificient waterfall. There are only 3-4 people present there as I click the photos of the beautiful waterfall. I can see that I have marked another waterfall along the way which is not far and doable. I take the help of the local people there to find it’s exact location so that I can get the view of the waterfall like the current one. I mark the place and it’s a heavy climb towards the parking.

By the time I reach, I am all wet due to the sweating. I pay the parking fees to the lady and proceed ahead towards the 2nd waterfall whose name is ‘Laxapana’.

I pass through mountains carpeted by tea plantation and soo I can see the waterfall from a distance. I come to the exact location and just like the previous one, park my bike in front of the house. The owners are there and before proceeding towards the waterfall, I have some coffee and biscuits. I also feed dome of the biscuits to the dogs.

I keep my helmet and tank bag safely inside and start the hike down and around 3:35pm. The path is mix of cement steps, rocks and solid ground. This time, I am the only one towards the waterfall. I see many varieties of wild flowers as I make my downwards. Also see some 3-4 settlements along the way. I waive to them. It’s a bit challenging with the riding gear by I don’t have any option. I reach to the bottom, the waterfall all to myself. I click photos and take some videos before making my way back upwards.

I reach by 4:20pm and head straight towards the hostel. It’s a 2 hr. drive as shown by Google and estimated time of arrival around 6:30pm. I almost ride without a break.

The weather turns choppy as I gain altitude. The cold settles in and the dark grey clouds start to drizzle. It’s freezing and the visibility drops. I continue like that without taking out my rain gear from the bad and really hope that it doesn’t start to pour heavily.

For a moment, the drizzling stops and I take the opportunity to click some photos of the mountains top completely enveloped by the clouds. Far towards the east, the sun has set and has given a purple hue to the clouds from behind.

It’s really a dream like situation. I continue after that. The last 10kms are worst as the intensity of the drizzling increases as I make my way hurriedly to the hostel. I get a rousing welcome with 4 dogs barking at me. They cool down only after I remove my helmet and have finished sniffing me. The owner guides me to my room. I join 2 people in my room who are from Japan and USA.

I change to my dry clothes and following that over a hot cup of coffee spend remainder of the time discussing cost of traveling and other stories. We have a group dinner of Rice, Dal, Spicy red chutney, fried papad and 2 local veggies. Having skipped lunch, I eat till I am almost full. Following that, I try to continue with my diary but give it up midway and head straight to bed.