Scenic Sembuwaththa Lake - Elkaduwa Matale

We started the journey around 9.00 am from Kandy. It was a 2 hour drive to scenic Sembuwaththa Lake. This beautiful lake is located in Elkaduwa – Matale district. If you are travelling from Colombo first of all you have to reach Kandy city then take the Kandy Matale main road. Once you come to the Ukuwela junction turn right towards to the Elkaduwa road. Then you have to touch the Elkaduwa junction which is a small city. From Elkaduwa you have to take the Hunugala road. There will be a 3- 4km drive on the Hunugala road then again you have to take the turn to the right which will take you to the beautiful Sembuwaththa Lake. There is another alternate way that you can reach this place is from Kandy you have to take the Madawala road this will take you to the Wattegama town. From Wattegama you can reach Elkaduwa junction and then have to take the Hunugala road. State of the road from Ukuwela to Sembuaththa Lake is not that good. So it’s better to drive in a jeep or in a van. Road is narrow and with many bends.

With reference to the conversation with Mr. Jayawickrama who is very good friend of my uncle, this lake is located in western side of the knuckles mountain range. The visible mountain range is a part of the Knuckles range. From here we can reach “Madolkele”, “MeMale”, “Nellimale”, & kabaragala which belong to the knuckles mountain range.

According to the villagers during the British rule this place was their golf course later they have converted this place to a lake.Please do not bathe in the lake.  The person who in charge of this place says, lake is 30 to 40 feet deep. By the side of the lake there is a pool that has been built from spring water.

Currently this lake belongs to the elkaduwa plantations. This lake produces electricity for the villagers who live in Sembuwaththa division in Elkaduwa estate.