Overview
The upper pools of Diyaluma Falls — reached by a 2-hour trail up the cliff side above the main 171-metre cascade — are one of the most extraordinary natural swimming experiences in Sri Lanka. A series of natural rock basins cascade from one to the next just before the water tips over the main escarpment, each pool a different shade of turquoise and green, each perfectly formed for swimming and wading, and each offering the extraordinary perspective of sitting in a pool of highland water at the very edge of a 171-metre cliff. The uppermost pools allow views down the full height of the falls to the valley below — a perspective simultaneously vertiginous and magnificent. These pools represent a more complete and rewarding experience than the standard lower viewpoint alone and justify the effort of the 2-hour approach trail.
Highlights
- Natural infinity pools at the cliff top above Sri Lanka’s second-highest waterfall
- Each pool a different turquoise shade — nature’s own infinity pool sequence
- The view down the 171-metre cliff face from the uppermost pools
- One of Sri Lanka’s finest natural swimming experiences
- The 2-hour approach trail is itself beautiful
- Swimming possible in the pools in dry season conditions
- The combination of the waterfall sound and the pool swimming
- A far more complete experience than the lower viewpoint alone
Best Time to Visit
November–April for the safest pool swimming and accessible trails.
Activities
- Natural pool swimming
- Cliff-edge photography
- 2-hour trail hiking to the pools
- Lower viewpoint combined with upper pool visit (full day)
Suitable For
Hikers, swimmers, photographers, adventurous travellers
Nearby Attractions
- Diyaluma Falls (lower viewpoint)
- Haputale (20 min drive)
- Bandarawela (25 min drive)
- Bambarakanda Falls (30 min drive)
- Lipton’s Seat (30 min drive)
Travel Tips
- Never swim in the upper pools in high water — the current can carry swimmers over the edge
- The trail starts from the road adjacent to the lower viewpoint
- A guide familiar with the upper trail is strongly recommended
- Bring food, water, and a towel for the full day experience
- The dry season visit (November–April) is the only safe time for upper pool swimming
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