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Voykit pocket guide · Sri Lanka
Beragala
Spend 1–2 days in Beragala for waterfalls and nature trails; longer if you want multiple hikes.
Beragala sits at the edge of the Uva hills, about 175 km (3½ h drive) from Colombo. Its main draw are Sri Lanka's highest waterfall, Bambarakanda, and several forest trails. A short stay covers the key sights; extra days let you explore nearby tea estates and villages.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Best months
- Jan–Apr, Jul–Sep
- Avoid
- May–Jun (higher rain, limited waterfall flow)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LKR
- Money
- LKR in small notes for tuk-tuks, buses, tea and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 2,500–4,000 excl. bed · Mid Rs 4,000–6,000 excl. bed · High Rs 6,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Dialog, Mobitel (SLT-Mobitel) and Hutch sell tourist SIMs at the airport; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 119 · Ambulance 1990 · Fire 110
- Plugs
- Types D, G, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Old three-round-pin (D and M) and UK three-flat-pin (G) sockets both appear; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Nothing extra if 10% service is on the bill; otherwise 10%.; Driver: Rs 2,000–3,000 a day at the end.; Safari jeep driver and tracker: Rs 1,500–3,000.; Guide: Rs 1,000–2,000 for a site visit.; Hotel staff: Rs 200–500; many hotels have a tip box.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many hotels provide filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants, with a hose; squat toilets in bus stations. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at resort restaurant | Rs 250–450 |
| Local tea (cup) | Rs 80–150 |
| Taxi (per km) | Rs 150–200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CMB · Bandaranaike International Airport
- ≈ 175 km (109 mi), 3½ h drive to Beragala≈ 109 mi (175 km), 3½ h drive to Beragala
Typical fares
- Colombo → Beragala, taxi
- about Rs 3,500, 3½ h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Hire a taxi or take a bus from Colombo to Beragala (≈ 3½ h). Within town use tuk‑tuk or walk to trailheads.
See and do
Known for
- Bambarakanda Falls – Sri Lanka's highest waterfall
- Kinchigune Nature Trail (5 km)
- Devils Staircase Trail
- World's End – Belihuloya viewpoint
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nuwara Eliya | Taxi or bus, about 2 h | ≈ 2 h |
| Bandarawela | Taxi, about 30 min | ≈ 30 min |
| Haputale | Taxi, about 15 min | ≈ 15 min |
Sleep
- Cambridge Villa Resort
- Tea‑estate setting, 20 deluxe rooms, Rs 4,000 per room (European plan). Breakfast Rs 250.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | සමාවන්නsamāvan |
| Thank you | ස්තුතියිsthuthiyi |
| How much is this? | මෙය කීයද?meya kiyada? |
| Can I pay by card? | කාඩ්පතෙන් ගෙවිය හැදේද?kāḍpaten gewiya hædēda? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Ayubowan' (Sinhala) or 'Vanakkam' (Tamil) with palms together; avoid: Kissing on the cheek
- Temples: White clothes, shoes off, walk clockwise; avoid: Posing with your back to the Buddha; pointing feet at statues
- Hands: Right hand to give and eat; avoid: Left hand for food or money
- Head wobble: A side-to-side nod means yes or OK; avoid: Taking it as no
- Dress: Swimwear only on the beach; shoulders and knees covered in towns; avoid: Topless bathing
- Buses: Leave front seats for monks, the elderly and pregnant women; avoid: Sitting next to a monk (women)
Scams and watch-outs
- Bambarakanda Falls has low flow in dry months; check recent photos.
- Trail sections can be steep and remote; carry water and a map.
Beragala is generally safe for tourists; remote trails have limited mobile coverage, so travel in groups and inform your lodge of plans.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Beragala yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bambarakanda Falls – Sri Lanka's highest waterfall
- Kinchigune Nature Trail (5 km)
- Devils Staircase Trail
- World's End – Belihuloya viewpoint
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Beragala coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Qxxxxx
- Wikivoyage: Beragala, revision 4908664 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4908664
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/beragala). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.