Nestled amongst verdant green hills saturated with crisp pine trees and blanketed with mystical fog lies Sembuwatta Lake situated at an elevation of 1,140m above sea level in the village of Elkaduwa located in the district of Matale. It is a man-made lake with water produced by a natural spring near the Campbell forest reserve which borders the lake. Adding into the hill countries’ long list of fantastic attractions the lake also provides a lifeline to the surrounding villages as it is utilized to generate electricity.

The enchanting expanse of water with the lush tea gardens and pine tree forests lying in the background adds up to the overall breathtaking beauty of the Sembuwatta Lake. The location’s history dates back to the colonial period of the British when they converted the surrounding areas into a tea plantation and utilized the ground where the lake is as a polo playground. And later in 1949 a tea factory was built nearby to which the lake was built to generate electricity for its consumption. The factory was later discontinued yet the lake continued providing electricity to the locals living in and around the area. Delving into the origins of the name Sembuwatta, there’s a rumoured folklore which describes a tale of a factory worker that discovered brass pot (sembuwa) in a spring nearby. He recovered the pot and left the country and his son has said to have built a kovil where the spring originated thus to have the area named “Sembuwatta” which directly translates to Brass Pot Estate. The ruins of the Kovilstill remains to be seen. While the location has generated a lot of crowds arriving atop the hill mesmerized by its scenic beauty the government further developed the lake to be a tourist destination with the addition of guest houses, summer huts and swimming pool which is managed by the Elkaduwa Plantations. The lake can be accessed via multiple routes such as the Wattegama – Alkaduwa or the Matale – Alkaduwa roads. If travelling from the city of Kandy it’s merely a two-hour drive depending on the road conditions. The climate around the lake is cool and the main attraction being the lake people often venture out here expecting a positive distraction from the hectic main cities. It is s safe haven to just unwind lost amongst the serene landscape and capture some Instagram worthy snaps. The lake is unsafe to swim as it has a depth of 30 – 40 ft. Therefore, a separate swimming pool has been built for swimming purposes. Activities that can be done here include Zip Lining, Canoeing, Motor Boat riding, Swan boat riding and hiking. Visitors also have the option of camping out and enjoying a BBQ session by the lake. There are a number of summer huts to accommodate this purpose by maintaining privacy. If you plan on spending a night at Sembuwattathe plantation house nearby is equipped to accommodate to 12 – 15 people with all the necessities provided. It’s the ideal destination to relax while not definitely breaking your bank.

A must visit location when visiting the hill country, The Sembuwatta lake doesn’t disappoint the senses of the vagabond in you. With rolling lush hills to the breathtaking waters of the lake it is sure to captivate you and render you speechless with the glorious views it can offer.