Glen Falls, Nuwara Eliya: 12 Tips Before You Go

Yes, if it has rained in the last few days and you are already in town. It is a modest seasonal fall, about 10 m for the main drop, reached by a short walk through a tea estate, and few tour groups go. Pair it with Lake Gregory and Victoria Park for a three-hour morning. In a dry spell, especially February or March, you may find only a trickle, so spend the time at Lover's Leap instead.

No. Glen Falls ran all year until the early 1990s, when clearing on Single Tree Hill above it and water drawn off for the town turned it into a seasonal fall. It now flows best during and just after heavy rain. October to December is the most reliable stretch, and the monsoon months from May to September bring it back on many days. February and March, the driest months, are the worst time to go.

Go between October and December, or any morning after a day or two of heavy rain. October is Nuwara Eliya's wettest month at about 247 mm. Aim to be on the path by 7 or 7:30 am, before the afternoon mist and showers roll in, and be back on the road by 5:30 pm because the path is unlit.

About 1.7 km from Nuwara Eliya bus stand via Badulla Road. That is roughly 10 minutes by tuk-tuk or about 30 minutes on foot, followed by a short walk through the estate to the falls. Ask locals for Unique View Road, save the location offline, and allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the whole visit.

It isn't recommended. The pool at the base is shallow, cold and rocky, and the water can rise quickly when rain falls upstream on Single Tree Hill. Paddling at the edge on a calm, dry day is fine, but there is no lifeguard and help is a road away. Keep children well back from the rock near the ledge.

No. Glen Falls is free and has no gate or ticket counter. You only pay for transport, usually a tuk-tuk from town, so carry Sri Lankan rupees in cash. If you go on to Lake Gregory, foreign visitors pay LKR 200 at the main entrance, and Victoria Park charges about LKR 300.