Sri Lanka · Nuwara Eliya District
St. Clair's Falls
St. Clair's Falls is one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka and is commonly known as the "Little Niagara of Sri Lanka".
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
St. Clair's Falls drops 80 metres (262 ft) on the Mahaweli River. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Talawakele, Sri Lanka. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at St. Clair's Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Talawakele are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Monsoon-fed: flow builds from July and the falls are fullest, and usually safest to approach, from late August to November once the rains ease.
Getting there
- Base town Talawakele, Sri Lanka
- Country Sri Lanka
- Region Nuwara Eliya District, South Asia, Asia
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
St. Clair's Falls
Sri Lanka
Height80 mWidth—
Most similar
Namaste Falls
Nepal
Height80 mWidth—
Also a cascade waterfall, of similar height and in Nepal
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
Angel Falls is 12× taller than St. Clair's Falls. Victoria Falls is 1.4× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for St. Clair's Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
6.95118, 80.64788
Quick answers
Where is St. Clair's Falls?
St. Clair's Falls is in Sri Lanka (Nuwara Eliya District). The nearest base is Talawakele, Sri Lanka. Its coordinates are 6.9512, 80.6479.
How tall is St. Clair's Falls?
St. Clair's Falls drops 80 metres (262 feet). It is a cascade-type waterfall on the Mahaweli River.
When is the best time to visit St. Clair's Falls?
Peak flow is August to November. Monsoon-fed: flow builds from July and the falls are fullest, and usually safest to approach, from late August to November once the rains ease.
What can you do at St. Clair's Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to St. Clair's Falls?
The usual base is Talawakele, Sri Lanka. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
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