After a couple of hours of twisting uphill from Kandy, we finally arrived at what felt like the edge of a storybook, Sembuwatta Lake. Tucked away in Elkaduwa, Matale, and perched at a breezy 1,084 meters above sea level, Sembuwatta is one of those places that makes you pause, and remember how beautiful Sri Lanka truly is.

Picture this: a shimmering lake, so still that it mirrors the sky, encircled by rolling tea estates and guarded by towering pines. It almost feels like a secret mountain sanctuary. But here’s the twist, Sembuwatta isn’t a natural lake. It’s a man-made wonder, created in the early 1940s by the British, who managed the surrounding Elkaduwa Estate during colonial times. 

Its story dates back to the colonial period of the British, when they transformed these misty hills into lush tea plantations. Interestingly, the ground where the lake now shimmers was once used as a polo playground for British planters. Later, the area was converted into a reservoir to provide water for the tea estate and its workers, eventually morphing into the tranquil lake we see today.

Fed entirely by a natural spring, the lake has a soul of its own, stretching deep (between 9 to 12 meters). On one side of the lake, there’s a natural spring water pool and around the edges, quaint summer huts and rustic cottages dot the landscape. 

It’s no wonder this spot is a favorite for dreamy wedding shoots, music videos, teledramas, and the occasional group of noisy day-trippers snapping selfies at every bend.

For the restless souls, Sembuwatta offers more than just postcard views. There are zip lines, paddle boats, and paths that snake off into the tea gardens. Or you could do nothing at all — just sit, watch the shadows play on the water, and let your mind drift.

On our way there, we took a small detour to Hunas Falls, a 48-meter cascade born out of the Elkaduwa plantation’s irrigation system. While it might lack the wild power of Sri Lanka’s more famous waterfalls, Hunas has a quiet charm. There is an entrance fee of Rs. 150 for locals, and Rs. 500 for foreign visitors.

The path up to the falls can be a tad slippery so make sure to watch your step.

If you ever find yourself wandering the central highlands, don’t just pass through Matale, veer off, get a little lost, and let Sembuwatta show you a side of Sri Lanka that feels almost unreal.

We stayed at Lewella House in Kandy, a homely AirBnB which is about a 90 minute drive to Sembuwatte.

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