Bopath Ella Falls, Sacred waterfall in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka

Bopath Ella Falls is a 30-metre waterfall in Agalwatte village, Kuruwita, Ratnapura District. It is fed by the Kuru Ganga, a tributary of the Kalu Ganga, and drops through a narrow rock gap before widening into a shape like a Bo leaf. Virgin forest with rich biodiversity surrounds it.

The waterfall held importance in ancient times as a place visited by ruling families for ritual bathing practices. This royal association contributed to its recognition as a sacred site within the region's spiritual geography.

The name comes from the Sinhala words for Bo-tree leaf and waterfall, after the shape the water makes. Ancient rulers are said to have bathed here while visiting the Maha Saman Devale in Ratnapura, and the deity Saman is believed to have appeared at the falls. Local myths tell of a pregnant village girl who drowned here and now appears as a blue light, and of a treasure guarded by ghosts.

The site is best visited during the rainy season when water flow is most abundant and the surrounding landscape is lush. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since the path to the falls involves walking across slippery rocks and muddy terrain.

The falls are the most thoroughly studied in Sri Lanka, and remnants of a failed hydroelectric project stand near the water. Bathers once included ancient rulers visiting the Maha Saman Devale at Ratnapura, and locals hold that the deity Saman appeared here.