Area based plan for Waulpane Sri lanka

Eco-Adventure Tourism with Waulpane
TP3603 Area Based Planning Registration No.102353B
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 Oya500m footpath access way to Waulpone
Footpath for Cave Stage for see the cave mouth

Steep slope to Waulpone cave mouthOne 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.

Area based plan for Waulpane Sri lanka

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