Area based plan for Waulpane Sri lanka

Eco-Adventure Tourism with Waulpane

TP3603 Area Based Planning Registration No.102353B

Eco-Adventure Tourism with Waulpane TP3603 Area Based Planning

Reg. No. 102353B

Level III - Semester VI

Department of Town & Country Planning

University of Moratuwa

Waulpane

With

Eco

Adventure

Tourism



Acknowledgment

Module Lecturer, Mrs. Prathibhani Bandusena, Department of Town & Country Planning,

University of Moratuwa for her directive guidelines & thoughtful words to complete this

report.

Residences of Waulpane Village for their kindness to giving information about the

Limestone cave & it surrounding area of the Waulpane.

The villager of Mr.Jayantha who guide us for the tour of limestone cavern.

All other participants to tour of limestone cave with me.

Grama Niladari of the Kumburugamuwa GN Division.

Ms. Chanchala who is my batch mate for her valuable explanation about experience of

the cave tour of Waulpane.

All others for their help to collect relevant information that helped us to make this

report success way.



Abbreviations

1. ABP- Area Based Planning

2. Ft- feet

3. m- Meters

4. hr- hours

5. km- kilo meters

6. PS- Pradesiya Sabha

7. GN- Grama Nildari

8. Dept.- Department



Content

1. Introduction & Identification of the Catalysts

1.1 Identification of Catalyst

1.2 Location of the Catalyst

2. Eco-Adventure Tourism with Waulpone

2.1 Why Waulpone is not popular for tourism yet?

2.2 Justifications of Selected Catalyst as Eco-Adventure Tourism by strengths &

opportunities

2.3 How Eco-Adventure Tourism with Waulpane can be stimulated economic development

of the region

2.4 Strengths & Opportunities of region which can be used as catalysts pertaining to

ABP

List of Tables & Diagrams

Diagram 01- How Eco-Adventure Tourism with Waulpane can be stimulated economic

development of the region

Table 01- Strengths & Opportunities of region which can be used as catalysts

pertaining to ABP



1. Introduction & Identification of the Catalysts

1.1 Identification of Catalyst

The identified catalyst is Waulpone which rural undeveloped area with full of untapped natural

resources. It is the one & only limestone cave of Sri Lanka which consist of limestone cave

known for beautiful stalactites & stalagmites that are formed over 100s years of natural

activity. There is a waterfall inside the cave it about 150ft height & it is known as the second

longest brackish internal waterfall of the Asia. This waterfall is simply known as the “Wavulpane

Ella” and botanists have identified over 100 endemic species of flora in and around the

waterfall. The inside the cave there are thousands of bats & cockroaches living with very dark.

The waterway is following across the main entrance of the cave it called as Halwini Oya. The

surrounding area of the Waulpone cave imaging like a rain forest with 100ft above some unknown

trees. There is place of called “pit which carved by giant” (Yodaya Kepu Wala) near to cave

inside the forest. The diameter of this place about 10ft & it fully with brackish water of Halwini

Oya. It is the most suitable place for bath after visit Walupone cave. This is the main catalyst

for Eco-Adventure Tourism with Waulpone.

Following pictures shows from entrance to end point of Waulpone which can be identified as

catalyst for the Area Based Plan.

Halwini Oya 500m footpath access way to Waulpone

Footpath for Cave Stage for see the cave mouth



Steep slope to Waulpone cave mouth One of the cave mouths of Waulpone

Entrance of the Waulpone cave Entrance of the cave with local guide

Stars inside the cave are the eyes of bats Path over the rocks & tree branches

More inside the cave More inside the cave



Limestone inside the cave wall More bats eyes inside the cave

Stalactite of the cave Sediment of marble

Waterfall inside the cave Fossil inside the cave

“Yodaya Kepu Wala” Surrounding area imaging like a rain forest



1.2 Location of the Catalyst

Legendary limestone cave of Waulpone which is belongs to Rathnapura District, in the Kolonne

Korale, Northwest to the Embilipitiya. It is an isolated cavern set against the eastern slopes of

the Rakwana mountain range, located about a 1 ½ hr drive from Pallebedda. It located in 278m

above mean sea level. The access way of Waulpone goes on Rathnapura Embilipitiya road(A18)

between Godakewela & Pallebedda, there is a road to the right side which leads to

Kumburugamuwa called as Thuntota junction is access to the Waulpone with 13 km. Out of 13 km

destination from main road, 12.5 km want to travel by vehicle & rest of 500 m has footpath to

the cave.

Waulpone is located near to the Udawalawe National Park & Elephant Transit Home. Tourist can

arrive about 1.5 hr from Udawalawe to Waulpone & this journey takes around 40km. In between

Udawalawe & Waulpone tourist can visit historical cave temple of Sankapala. Not only that

Siharaja & Deniyaya Forest Reserves are boarder to the Waulpane cave & it has direct access

way through Rakwana Suriyakanda road. As well as it is located close proximity to Maduwanwela

Walawwa which ancestral home of Maduwanwela Maha Disawe. In order to that we can identify

location of the Waulpane cave full with surrounded most important catalysts of the region.

Location Map of the Waulpone Limestone Cave

Province: Sabaragamuwa Province

District: Rathnapura District

PS: Kolonna PS

GN: Kumburugamuwa GN

Source: Google map



2. Eco-Adventure Tourism with Waulpone

2.1 Why Waulpone is not popular for tourism yet?

Waulpone is the second largest limestone cave of the world & it consists with second longest

brackish internal waterfall of the Asia. Although Waulpone has great place from the world,

there is no any local or foreign tourist come to visit this marvelous place other than ecologists.

The reasons behind for it are we can divide in to two categories. First category as we can take

natural factors. The problem of thousands of bats is the first natural barriers of the cave.

Actually this cave tour is definitely not for the faint hearted tourists. Caving in tropic regions

offers special threats to health of some tourists. This cave is a river cave and tourists wade

through a river during most of the tour, which would never intend to bath in. Beneath the water

there are bats, which could cause diseases like histoplasmosis. The cockroaches and other

insects feeding on the bat guano are not really dangerous, but probably a little disgusting &

there is the ammonia smell of the bat guano.

The physical infrastructural factors are belonged to other category. The problem of the access

way is main infrastructural barrier to Waulpone & it is very narrow road which go through the

huge bushes & it appears as jungle. The access way is not enough for moving two vehicles & if

the tourist vehicle is breakdown due to some reasons with in this journey, they want to travel

very long distance to find the even a house. If the world achieve global village concept, this area

is very rural undeveloped area in Rathnapura District. Development is not reached to Waulpone

due to the very far away from main access & it cause to less of infrastructural facilities for

that area. Therefore most of the local & foreign tourists have fear to go to Waulpone due to

the access barriers.

Kolonna PS, forest conservation dept. are only administrators for take caring about Waulpone.

The environmental unit of the Kolonna Pradesiya Sabha provided name boards for Waulpone but

due to not proper maintaining that also so became a jungle now. The most of the normal tourists

don’t know about the geological value of the Waulpone because the cave is very remote and hard

to find. As well as If the Waulpone has its own unique identity from the world; these several

reasons cause to diminish the value of the Waulpone from tourism aspect.

Infrastructure Barriers Problems of bat’s guano Water inside the cavern



2.2 Justifications of Selected Catalyst as Eco-Adventure Tourism by strengths & opportunities

Locational Factor & the Environment Setting of the Catalyst.

Waulpane is located close proximity to the Udawalawe which is the main tourist attraction of

the Sabaragamuwa Region. It is located around 40km away from Udawalawe National Park &

Elephant Transit Home & around 25km away from Cave Temple of Sankapala which was built by

giant of Pussadewa. As well as it is located close proximity to Maduwanwela Walawwa which

ancestral home of Maduwanwela Maha Disawe.

The environmental setting of the Waulpane it is very suitable for Adventure Tourism because it

is located inside the tropical rain forest of the wet zone which boarder to Rakwana-Bulutota

mountain range. The Wavulpane cave site actually consists of one main cave structure and

another dozen various caves, each with its own beauty and charm. Tourists would be struck with

the ethereal appearance of these caves and plunge in to a frenzy of exploration and adventure.

Moving all to the dimensions of the Wavulpane cave, it has been confirmed that it

is approximately 150m in length and it can be accessed via two disparate doorways. The colonies

of bats are found inside the caves and some wildlife enthusiasts place the count of bats at a

million. The famous limestone pit is continuously growing and a substantial number of fossils of

animals have been discovered here. This locational & environmental setting it is very suitable for

promoting Waulpane as the ABP of Eco-Adventure Tourism.

Geological Value & Archeological of the Catalyst

The tourism hotspots have unique identity. Likewise Waulpane also has geological value with the

stalactites & stalagmites. Most of the environmentalist & geologist came to visit Waulpane due

to this geological value. Each & every catalyst wants to have some value to promote as an ABP.

So that in this catalyst has some special value of Geology. Not only that this catalyst consist

with some archeological value with fossils. Based on these two values of this catalyst we can

promote tourism in this area.

Rich with Biodiversity

Waulpane limestone cave is located inside the tropical rain forest which belongs to the forest

conservation dept. & it is situated in Rakuana Bulutota range which rich in biodiversity. The

forest has spread out about 300 acres of the land & inside this forest tourists can see endemic

species of Sri Lanka. Under the endemic species, tourist can see specially lot of types of birds,

types of butterflies, types of chameleons & peacocks, junglefowls, wild pigs, moose, bats & lot of

endemic fish species & valuable herbal timbers for also there. These all types of species

tourists can see surrounding area of the Waulpane cave & inside the cave.

Waulpane has potential to cater for tourism with ecological manner

Waulpane is located mainly rural setting & it has lot of potential to cater the tourism industry in

ecological manner. Most of the residents of this area are farmers. They cultivate mainly fruits

& pepper. Under the fruit cultivation they cultivate verity of local fruits. It has opportunity to

upgrade their income level by catering the tourists with traditional fruits. They like to treat to

tourists with traditional potential in ecological manner.



2.3 How Eco-Adventure Tourism with Waulpane can be stimulated economic development of the

region

As I identified in catalyst in above, it is the virgin catalyst with capacity for economic growth

not only for locality but also to the national economy. Tourism is the most important methods to

achieve economic development without consuming the catalyst by sustainable resource

consumption & management according to the attributes of the ABP. I selected Eco+Adventure

tourism for the Waulpane, because it has potential to achieve adventure tourism in ecological

manner.

World famous limestone caves are the most tourist attraction places of the world. Jenolan cave

of the Australia is most suitable reference to promote Waulpane for adventure caving. In Sri

Lankan context tourism industry has high contribute to achieve economic development. Most of

the developments are targeting for the tourism under the political manifesto of “Mahinda

Chinthana”.

There are about 100 families with around 500 population lived in Kuburugamuwa GN Division

which belongs to Waulpone village. Among that population most of them are farmers & rest of

them are labors, government workers & etc. Waulpone cave is located as heart of the village &

they appreciate the valuable world class potential.

Adventure caving is the one part of the proposal of the Waulpone & I hope to develop it with

water based covered roof tub system for tourists, because inside the cave lot of bats are living

& bat guano can be affected to the tourist. To avoid that situation covered roof system is very

effective. Government can provide technology for tab system to this village. People of that

village can start a small industry to cater the adventure caving. As well as If the Waulpone has

world famous limestone cave with thousands of bats, there is no any accommodation place to

enjoy the one day night for tourist. In the night time is very important to see thousands of bats

getting out from the mouth of the cave at once. This is the very rare opportunity to see inside

the forest. So that proposes to construct few cabanas for tourists to provide the Eco-

Adventure Tourism in Waulpane. Cabanas can construct in Rakwana-Bulutota range with inside

the forest in ecological manner. People of the Waulpane village & surrounding villages can

provide facilities to the Cabanas by their cultivations & etc. Actually most of the women of the

villages are unemployed. So they can treat the tourists by providing foods & beverages. Not

only that without any guidance of the village’s, tourist can’t go inside the cave, so peoples can

work as tourist guide in Waulpane. These will help to generate over 100 job opportunities for

unemployed generation of the region. It helps to upgrade the living standard of the people of

the region.

When Waulpane will open up & develop to the tourism industry it will cause to increase the

infrastructure facilities of the area. Especially in road facilities can be develop & it will directly

affect to the upgrade living standards of the region by easy transportation. As well as Eco-

Adventure Tourism will increase the GDP contribution from the region to the national economy

by foreign exchanges. Through that Waulpane can simulate Economic development of the region.



Increase Tourism Arrivals

Increase Income by

Tourism

Increase Employment

Opportunities for People

Generate Extra Income

Source for People

Increase Infrastructure

Facilities to the Area

Upgrade the living

Standard of the People

Introduce new knowledge

& Technology for the

Area.

Increase connectivity

with surrounded other

catalysts.

Udawalawe National Park

Elephant Transit Home

Udawalawe

Tank of Udawalawe

Maduwanwela Walauwa Sinharaja Rain Forest&

Deniyaya Reserve

Locational Factor act

as the marketing

force to Waulpane

Increase GDP

Contribution from Region

Diagram 01



2.4 Strengths & Opportunities of region which can be used as catalysts pertaining to ABP

Strengths Opportunities Knowledge & Experience of peoples about the

cave tour.

The Villages of Waulpane well know about the

cave tour & they can share their knowledge &

experience with the tourist about the

adventure caving in Waulpane.

Location Factor

Connectivity with surrounded ABP & historical

monuments & tourist attraction places.

( Udawalawe National Park & Elephant Transit

Home, Sankapala cave Temple, Maduwanwela

Walauwa , Sinahraja & Deniyaya Forest

Reserves)

Geological, Archeological value of the catalyst

& surrounding area

Catalyst consists with geological as well as

archeological value. Limestone cave has history

of thousand & thousand year back & It is

creating due to the geological process. Inside

the catalyst there is some archeological site

which was also identified by the several

professionals.

Geological Education

Under the education system of Sri Lanka

students want to learn about Geology under

the subject of Geography. So students can get

practical knowledge by limestone cave tour.

Because this cave is full with stalactites &

stalagmites. It is good opportunity to promote

cave tour to get practical knowledge about the

geology.

Marvelous hospitality of the villages of

Waulpane.

Waulpane is full with the local traditional

foods. That means in that area people have

jacks, breadfruits & full with fruit cultivation.

Therefore people have potentials to cater the

tourists for ecological manner by local foods.

The World demand for the adventure caving

As an example:-An exclusive adventure tour

into Vietnam's Son Doong Cave, the largest in

the world, is fully booked until 2015 according

to the data of tourism officials Vietnam. It

costs US$3,000 each tourist. Based on that

example we can identify what is the demand

for adventure caving in the world.

Bio diversity of surrounded forest cover &

inside the cave.

The area is full with endemic flora & fauna. It

cause to rich biodiversity of the surrounded

area of catalyst. It strength to the eco-

adventure tourism. Specially many of the

tourist like to spend night camping to see

thousands of bats in night time from mouth

cave. These are strengths for the ABP of

Waulpane.

Environmental setting & Climate zones

This region consists with zones of dry & wet. I

selected catalyst located wet zone of the

region but part of that region near to the

catalyst belongs to the dry zone. As an

Example, Udawalawe National park is located

dry zone & Sinharaja forest is located wet

zone of the region. Tourists can get

experience of both wet & Dry zone from this

region



References

http://www. Waulpone Caves | AmazingLanka.com

http://www. waulpane cave - Sri Lanka, Holiday, Hotel, Tour, Tourism

http://www.Udawalawe National Park - Waulpane Cavehttp

http://www.Jenolan Caves - Blue Mountains Australia

http://www. Jenolan Caves NSW - Accommodation, Cottages, Cabins, Weather,

Tours

http://www.thanhniennews.com/travel/tour-to-worlds-largest-cave-in-vietnam-

fully-booked-until-2015-28830.html

Poster of Waulpane which was written by Forest Conservation Dept.

http://www/

http://www/

http://www/

http://www.thanhniennews.com/travel/tour-to-worlds-largest-cave-in-vietnam-fully-booked-until-2015-28830.html

http://www.thanhniennews.com/travel/tour-to-worlds-largest-cave-in-vietnam-fully-booked-until-2015-28830.html