What Is Oshino Hakkai Famous For? How To Visit It And More 

BY  Sibashree Aug 27, 2026

Most waterfalls in Sri Lanka announce themselves with a roar from half a kilometer away. However, Bambarakanda Falls was different.   It has a thin water flow, and as it drops far, I could only hear the sound of the waterfall when I was standing directly under it.   However, it is the tallest in the country, and I could not find the top even after craning my neck all the way back.   The Story Behind The Name Of The Bambarakanda Falls The name comes from Bambara. In the Sinhalese language, Bambara means wasps.  The rock face around the falls was once a prominent colony of wasps.   However, before the waterfall became known as Bambarakanda,  it was called Bambarakele Falls and Dultota Falls.   What struck me more than the etymology was how quiet the setting is compared to its size and fame.  This is not a waterfall with restaurants and gift shops crowding the base, just pine forest, a rough access road, and the sound of falling water.  Where Is Bambarakanda Falls? Bambarakanda Falls is close to the small town of Kalupahana in the Badulla District. It is also near the boundary of the Horton Plains National Park.   Kuda Oya, a modest stream, is the source of this waterfall.   However, it transforms into the most dramatic tributary the moment it reaches the cliff edge above Kalupahana and drops in a single, thin, horsetail plunge.   Furthermore, this waterfall is around 200 km away from Colombo. The distance between Bambarakanda Waterfall and Belihuloya is just 18 km.   So, Bambarakanda Falls easily fits into the itinerary if you are in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka or on the Ella–Haputale–Horton Plains corridor.   How To Reach Bambarakanda Falls? Bambarakanda is easily accessible from Colombo by road and train. Here are the details.   From Colombo By Road  The most common route is Colombo to Ratnapura to Belihuloya to Kalupahana, following the A4 highway toward Beragala.   At Kalupahana Junction, a signposted turn-off leads onto a narrower road that runs for roughly 5 km through Weerakoongama's pine and tea plantations before reaching the parking area.   The final stretch is rough enough in places that not every car will manage it comfortably.  So a tuk-tuk from the junction is a popular last-mile option if you're not driving a higher-clearance vehicle.  By Train And Bus  If you're relying on public transport, the nearest useful rail stop is Ohiya.  From Ohiya, you will still need a taxi or tuk-tuk to cover the remaining distance.   Buses running the Colombo–Badulla A4 route will drop you at Kalupahana Junction, where three-wheelers wait to ferry visitors up the access road for a small fixed fare.  The Trek To The Base  From the parking area, I had to take a flight of steps to reach the base of the waterfall. The flight took around 10-15 minutes.   It was an easy trek as I passed through a pine forest. Also, compared to places such as Sinharaja, the leeches were way fewer in number throughout the route.   However, with the pine needles scattered on the ground, it was a bit slippery. So, you need to wear proper walking or trekking shoes.   As I reached the base of the waterfall, I found a shallow pool, perfect for wading. Also, if you want to remain dry and want to appreciate the scale of the waterfall, you can watch the waterfall from the concrete viewing platform.   Climbing To The Top: The Devil's Staircase  If you want more adventure, you can take the steep trail nicknamed the Devil's Staircase, winding up the mountainside to the crest of the falls.  Remember that this stretch, leading to the top, is a proper hiking route. It is not like strolling anyway!  The elevation here is several hundred meters through pine and mixed forest. So, even if the weather is a little bad, you must not attempt this.   The reward at the top is a small natural infinity pool and a miniature waterfall feeding into the main drop, along with sweeping views down the valley toward the eastern plains.   A short trek from the base also leads to Lanka Ella, a smaller waterfall nearby whose shape is sometimes said to resemble the outline of Sri Lanka itself.  What Is The Best Time To Visit The Bambarakanda Falls? Honestly, the guides on the best time to visit Bambarakanda Falls are mostly confusing.   Some sources say that March to May is the ideal time for a visit to this waterfall. Indeed, going for a trek is safest in this season, as the flow is modest and the trails are less slippery.   However, if you want to see the most dramatic version of the waterfall, May to September is the ideal window.   I am someone who is always in for the later window. Visiting shortly after rain gave me a fuller view of the fall, and it was the most photogenic.   A dry spell, on the other hand, makes the waterfall look thinner.   What Are The Attractions Near Bambarakanda Waterfalls? Some of the best-known sights of the Sri Lankan Central Highlands are very close to Bambarakanda Waterfalls.  Horton Plains National Park and World's End are a scenic drive away. Haputale, with its cooler climate, tea estates, and views toward the southern coast on a clear day.  Haputale further makes a good overnight base. Also, if you are continuing along the A4, Belihuloya offers river-adjacent guesthouses and a much gentler pace than the falls themselves.  Practical Travel Tips  If you are planning to capture the beauty of the waterfall, you should pack wide-angle lenses.   The waterfall is so tall that, considering how close you stand, fitting the entire cascade into one frame from the base is genuinely difficult.  Furthermore, if you are driving yourself to the waterfall, budget extra time for the access road, which is narrow, occasionally rutted, and best driven slowly regardless of your vehicle.  A Few Things I Wish I Had Known  It was a mistake on my part to underestimate the remoteness of the final stretch of the road.  The stretch was just a few kilometers off the main A4 Highway. Still, once I quickly reached the pine forest, there was no phone signal for the majority of the route leading to the base.   Furthermore, you will have to bring cash, as digital payments or cards are not accepted at the entrance or along the trail.  Also, barring the odd roadside stall near the junction, you will not find much food.   Moreover, if you are on the Devil's Staircase climb to the crest, go early in the day. Clouds tend to roll in by early afternoon and can turn a rewarding view into a very damp anticlimax.  Where To Stay Near Bambarakanda Falls  You will not find real accommodation facilities right at the falls.   As convenient options, you can base yourself in Haputale or Belihuloya. You can reach both locations within 30-40 minutes by car from Bambarakanda.   Haputale sits higher up and cooler, with a scattering of small guesthouses and a couple of well-regarded boutique stays that make a good stop if you are also planning to see World's End at Horton Plains the next morning.   Belihuloya, down in the valley, has a handful of riverside guesthouses that suit travelers who'd rather relax by moving water than climb toward it after a long day on the road.   Either option works as a base for a half-day dedicated to Bambarakanda, with enough flexibility to add Horton Plains or a tea-estate walk without much extra driving.

BY  Sibashree Aug 29, 2026

Everyone mentions elephants when talking about Maduru Oya. However, for me, it was different, though they were everywhere around me.   It was the silence that grabbed my attention first.   The week with crowded safari queues at Minneriya and Kaudulla was hectic. So, when I reached the Maduru Oya National Park, it felt like stepping into an empty room from a busy street.   There was no convoy of jeeps kicking up dust or radio chatter between drivers racing to the same sighting.  Just tall grass, a wide blue reservoir, and the low rumble of our jeep's engine!  Maduru Oya is in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, and it is around 314 kilometers from Colombo. Furthermore, it stretches over Polonnaruwa, Badulla, and Ampara districts.  It became a national park in 1983 as part of the Mahaweli Development Programme.   The Programme aimed to protect the catchment area of the Maduru Oya reservoir and four other tanks that feed the region's irrigation network.  However, you do not remember all these details once you are inside the national park. You have your eyes set on a herd of elephants wading through the shallows with the reservoir stretching out behind them.  Maduru Oya At A Glance  Location Polonnaruwa, Badulla and Ampara districts, dry zone  Distance from Colombo About 314 km (roughly 5–6 hours by road)  Area 58,850 hectares  Declared a national park 9 November 1983  Best time to visit March to September (dry season, better water-point sightings)  Known for Elephant herds, Vedda heritage, ancient Buddhist ruins  Nearest hub Kuda Sigiriya / Mahiyanganaya area  Hours 6 AM to 6 PM (The Ticket Counter Gets Closed at 4 PM.)   Why Maduru Oya Doesn't Feel Like Sri Lanka's Other Parks Fifteen percent of Maduru Oya is water, and 85% is landmass. This ratio shapes the characteristics of the park.   The reservoir and its surrounding wetlands draw the following birds and animals.  Grey Pelicans  Sea Eagles  Painted Storks  Elephants  Also, the mix of open grassland, scrub, and water made every drive here feel more layered than the flatter areas.   Furthermore, you will notice patches of tall secondary grass across the park due to the shifting of cultivation over the decades.   Our guide kept reminding us that these are the places where elephants like to disappear. It happened twice or thrice!  We spotted an entire herd of six or seven animals, and suddenly they were gone.    The park's boundaries lie in the low hills stretching from the Lunugala ridges.  Also, to the southwest, a rocky mountain range spreads across roughly eight kilometres, giving the drive some visual relief from the flat dry-zone plains most visitors associate with Sri Lanka's east.  Wildlife: Elephants First, Everything Else After  Maduru Oya is famous for its elephant population. Herds of elephants here are really large, and once you pass the tall grass, you will get long and easy-to-watch stretches without the sight of another vehicle.   Along with elephants, you will also find the following wildlife here.  Leopards  Sloth Bears  Sambar  Spotted Deer  Wild Boar  Wild Buffalo  Toque Macaques  Purple-Faced Leaf Monkeys  Moreover, if you are on a night-adjacent drive, you can spot nocturnal slender loris here.   Reptile sightings are common too, with water monitors and the occasional mugger crocodile sunning near the reservoir's edge.  A Delight For Birders   Birders have plenty to work with here, as close to a hundred species of birds call it home. Some species commonly spotted here are:  Woolly-Necked Stork  Openbill  Painted Stork  Racket-Tailed Drongo  Sri Lanka Junglefowl  Yellow-Fronted Barbet  Spurfowl  My trip has been mammal-heavy so far. So, Maduru Oya was a good place to slow down and let the birdlife catch up.  Ruins The Safari Jeep Doesn't Usually Stop For  Maduru Oya also surprised me with the amount of history it stores inside.   It has a scattering of ancient Buddhist ruins, shrines, hermitages, statues, and dagobas concentrated around areas like Henanigala, Kudawella, Gurukumbura, Uluketangoda, and Weerapokuna.  Some of the Brahmi rock inscriptions here date back to the 1st to 3rd centuries BC.  Also, an ancient sluice gate uncovered during construction of the Maduru Oya Dam is believed to date to around the 6th century BC.   Most standard safari drives skim past these.  If ruins interest you, mention it to your guide or driver before you set out, since a slightly different route can take you closer to them.  The Vedda Community   The park also sits within Vedda country.   Sri Lanka's indigenous Vedda community, believed by tradition to descend from King Vijaya and Queen Kuweni, live in and around the reserve.  Some tours can arrange a respectful visit to learn about their way of life. I would treat this the way I would treat any community visit.  Go through a reputable operator, and let the encounter be led by the community rather than treated as a photo stop.  Planning Your Visit To Maduru Oya Mahiyanganaya, Polonnaruwa, or the Kuda Sigiriya area are the common base areas for a visit to Maduru Oya.   So, the park can easily fit into your itinerary as a side trip if you are already covering the Cultural Triangle.   There is no public transport into the park itself. So, you will need a hired vehicle or a pre-arranged safari jeep.  Most tour operators based in Habarana, Sigiriya, or Polonnaruwa can put together a half- or full-day excursion.  Safaris And Costs  A half-day safari jeep, roughly four hours, typically runs somewhere in the LKR 7,500–10,000 range.  However, this varies by operator and season and rarely includes the park's own entrance fee, which you pay separately at the gate.   It is worth booking your jeep a day or two ahead during the dry season, when demand picks up.   I would also second the advice I heard from more than one local guide.  Go with a small group. Maduru Oya rewards patience and quiet, and a crowded jeep makes both harder to come by.  Entry Fee  Entry Fee and Charges to the Park How Much To Pay  Local Adults   LKR 60  Local Children (6-12 years)  LKR 30 Local Student  LKR 20 Local Children (below 6 years)  Free Local Group Fee (per vehicle)  LKR 400 Foreign Adults  USD 12 Foreign Children (6-12 years)  USD 6  Adults from Foreign SAARC Countries    USD 10  Children from Foreign SAARC Countries (6-12 years) USD 5 SAARC Country Children (below 6 years)  Free of Cost Foreign SAARC Visitor Group Fee (per vehicle)   USD 10   Taxes on Total Cost  18%  Entrance Fee per vehicle LKR 300  What Is The Best Time To Visit Maduru Oya National Park? March through September is the sweet spot to visit Maduru Oya National Park.   It is the dry season when wildlife concentrates around the designated water points of the park. So, sightings are more predictable.   Early morning drives are cooler and calmer, and as with most Sri Lankan parks, the animals are noticeably more active before the heat of midday sets in.  Where Does Maduru Oya National Park Fit In A Sri Lanka Itinerary? Maduru Oya is not a park I would build an entire trip around.  However, it is an excellent addition if you are already in the Cultural Triangle and want a safari experience without the crowds of Yala or Minneriya.   Pair it with Polonnaruwa's ruins in the morning and a Maduru Oya drive in the late afternoon, or use it as a quiet counterpoint after the more chaotic parks further south.

BY  Sibashree Mar 31, 2026

If you want to explore offbeat Japan, you can surely visit Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido Island.   Hokkaido Island,anyway, teaches the art of slow living and slow traveling.   The scenic beauty here is amazing, the winters are snowy, and the food and beer here are amazing.   Also, it is an amazing year-round destination, and the things to do in Sapporo are as diverse as they can be.   And here are the details. However, before that, let us talk about the best time to visit Sapporo.  What Is The Best Time To Visit Sapporo?   As I have mentioned, you can visit Sapporo throughout the year. However, December to February is the best time to plan a visit.   Especially, February is the month of the winter festival in Sapporo.   Moreover, April to May is the ideal time if you want to experience the Cherry Bloosm Season from the Hokkaido Shrine and Maruyama Park.   Also, the warm and humid summer months are ideal for enjoying the “beer garden events.”   In addition, from September to November, or the autumn months, are great for seeing the fall foliage, hiking, and attending the food festivals.   What Are The Most Unique Things To Do In Sapporo?   More than ticking the bucket list, in Sapporo, you need to soak in the laid-back vibe.   It is way less crowded than Osaka and Tokyo, and despite that, it has an important role to play in the tourism industry of the country.   That is why many people travel from Tokyo to Hokkaido.   1. Visiting The Parks And Gardens  As a nature lover since forever and daily walking the streets and parks of Sapporo, I have learned that Sapporo has lots of green spaces where you can enjoy nature.  The parks of Sapporo are the city's heart.   Odori Park is my usual starting point in the morning when I first walk.   This park is located in the center of downtown and is an ideal and convenient place to take a refreshing morning walk before starting your day.   On days when I want to be more active, I cycle, jog, or photograph all the amazing trees and flowers at Moerenuma Park. It is absolutely stunning how vast the area is!  You will probably find me at Maruyama Park, located next to Hokkaido Shrine, during the spring and fall months.   It’s an incredible place to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, and it’s usually very pretty to see the fall leaves change color from green to red.   During the wintertime, it becomes a wonderful family-oriented ski resort that I simply love!  For a bit of a deeper dive, I love visiting the Hokkaido University Botanical Gardens. It’s a peaceful retreat where I can admire rare plants and learn about the indigenous Ainu culture.  2. Exploring The Galleries And Museums  Upon arriving in Sapporo, I did not take long to figure out that this is a city that has beautifully integrated its history with modernity, which is a masterclass.   I spent the first day of my trip exploring the history of the island of Hokkaido by visiting the Hokkaido Museum.  Then, I went to the Historical Village, which showed how the early infrastructure and primitive architecture were examples of the area's strength.   The Hokkaido University Museum is also a majestic place, with its enormous collection of extensive academic research and archaeological artifacts through the ages.  Of course, I couldn't resist a detour to the Sapporo Beer Museum. Learning the history of Japan’s iconic brew made that final tasting session feel well-earned.  As a fan of art, I was spoiled for choice with several locations from which I could pick my favorites.   The JR Tower Art Gallery has an impressive array of artwork, and at the Sapporo Art Park, there are some unbelievably large sculptures sitting throughout the grounds.   I was amazed at how much creativity and energy could be found in the city of Sapporo.   While looking at all the galleries, you can also plan a trip to Uji, located approximately 500 km south.   A visit to Japan would not be complete without enjoying a cup of matcha at this city's matcha capital.  3. Visiting The Shrines And Temples  Kyoto may have the most amazing shrines, but Sapporo also has some beautiful ones.   The Hookaido Shrine is the most popular among them, and you will find it just next to the Maruyama Park.   Furthermore, the Sapporo Suitengu Shrine is another place where families and pregnant women visit for a healthy baby.  Moreover, if you are a seeker and want some spiritual guidance, Joganji Temple is your place. It has the most meditative environment.  4.  Exploring The Historical Landmarks Of Sapporo  Sapporo has many historical places to visit, and you can start with the “Former Hokkaido Government Office.”   It has beautiful gardens, and with its insightful exhibitions, it offers a deep understanding of the local history.   The next place you can visit is the Sapporo TV Tower. It is an important landmark for broadcasting and tourism.   Furthermore, from the TV Tower, you can enjoy an amazing view of Odori Park and its surroundings.   The Clock Tower is another important landmark in Sapporo. It has been standing there since 1878.   However, for me, the most iconic historical landmark in the city was the Hoheikan Guest House.   This 1880 guest house in Nakajima Park had many important guests, including the royal family and important foreign guests.   In addition, for a culturally immersive experience, you can explore the Hokkaido historical village. It is like an open-air museum with distinct architecture, buildings, and Japanese townscapes.  5.  Souvenir Shopping   It’s a sin to visit Sapporo and not do some serious shopping.   Furthermore, souvenir shopping is one of the best things to do in Sapporo because of the diversity of stuff you can procure.   Firstly, the sweets here are amazing. You must try Marusei butter sandwiches and Royce chocolates.   Also, you will find skincare products made of horse oil.   In addition, you will love local crafts such as Ainu crafts and Otaru glassware.   Moreover, the best places for shopping in Sapporo are “Ario Sapporo Mall,” “Apia Mall,” “Sapporo Stellar Place Mall,” and “Tanukikoji Shopping Street.”