Sembuwatta in Sri Lankaa

         Known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, this small island is one of the fascinadoras destinations in the map of the Indian Ocean.  At the end of a journey in search of such a place, we set foot on a land owned by the Elkaduwa Plantation Company in the Matale District

        Named "Sembuwatta", it is a hilly tea estate with a 35 feet deep "Sembuwatta Lake" in the middle of the Russa Phineas Forest.

         During the colonial period, the English started cultivating tea here and the area around the lake was used as a polo stadium by the whites at that time.  However, a tea factory was built in 1949 adjacent to the Sembuwatta estate and a tank was built inside the Polo Stadium to supply electricity to it.

 It has been almost 20 years since the closure of the tea factory, but the tanks still supply electricity to the houses built in the vicinity.

        According to legends, a gold bar was found in a spring near the tea factory and Kankani, who had been working with the estate, had fled to India and his son had built a temple where the water source was located.  Legend has it that this is how the name "Sembuwatta" came to be.  Even now, tourists visiting 'Sembuwatta' have the opportunity to see the ruins of the temple.

 With the passage of time, the Sembuwatta will be restricted to its inhabitants.  Has been done.  Later, local and foreign tourists who visit this place for a fee are charged and the proceeds are used for its maintenance.

    

        At present, about 10 summer cottages have been built around the lake and can be reserved for overnight stays if required.  A separate children's play area has also been set up and a boat service has been launched around the lake for those who wish to see the wonders of the environment.

 The swimming pool near the lake is also about 5 feet deep so anyone can bathe in it.  The water from the springs feeds the bath, and it must be said that the water is too cold to melt for a long time

        There is a resort for overnight stay, which was previously used as the official residence of the "Sembuwatta" Assistant Superintendent of Estates.

 Anyone coming to Kandy can reach "Sembuwatta" by passing Katugastota and coming to Elkaduwa via Wattegama, while those coming from Matale can visit Elkaduwa via Ukuwela

An excerpt.  Photography is owned by the photographer