5/5 Dilon F. 4 years ago on Google
The
Kotmale
Reservoir
which
is
nestled
in
the
central
highlands
of
the
country
between
hills
is
indeed
a
breathtaking
view.
When
watching
its
cool,
clear
waters
ripple
in
the
gentle
breeze
which
blows
across
the
vast
expanse
of
water,
no
one
would
believe
that
there
are
many
more
things
to
feast
one’s
eyes
on,
beneath
the
tranquil
waters.
Submerged
by
the
waters
of
the
reservoir
are
the
ruins
of
many
temples
and
human
settlements.
In
fact,
more
than
14
tea
estates,
57
villages
and
about
54
ancient
temples,
among
others
are
said
to
have
gone
under
water
when
the
reservoir
was
built.
While
many
of
these
places
do
not
exist
at
present,
even
underwater,
some
of
them
still
do.
Among
these,
the
ruins
of
the
Kadadora
Vihara
are
spectacular,
especially
the
sculptured
statues
of
the
Buddha
and
other
deities.
However,
they
are
a
rare
sight
and
can
only
be
viewed
according
to
the
whims
of
the
weather
gods.
Lying
silently
under
the
water,
perhaps
for
years,
these
ruins
which
are
a
nostalgic
reminder
of
the
past
life
in
that
area,
make
their
appearance
only
during
a
severe
drought.
So,
when
the
scorching
Sun
has
appeased
his
thirst
by
drinking
up
most
of
the
waters
of
the
reservoir,
the
remains
of
the
human
settlements
and
the
ruins
of
the
temples
that
once
saw
thousands
of
devotees
walk
its
floors
and
pay
homage
at
its
altars,
slowly
emerge,
mesmerizing
those
who
come
to
see
them.
In
a
severe
drought,
the
bed
of
the
reservoir
sometimes
becomes
bone
dry,
with
the
earth
cracking
up
to
create
a
striking
design
on
the
ground.
Perhaps,
some
of
the
villagers
whose
homes
went
under
water
to
give
birth
to
the
Kotmale
dam,
reservoir,
tunnel
and
underground
hydro-electricity
power
station,
then
walk
on
the
reservoir
bed,
reminiscing
the
days
gone
by.
Spread
across
a
land
area
of
2,270
ha,
the
Kotmale
Reservoir
which
embraces
lands
from
both
the
Kandy
and
Nuwara
Eliya
districts,
is
nestled
between
the
Tispane
and
Kadadora
hills.
The
Kotmale
Reservoir
project
was
one
of
the
five
major
projects
proposed
under
the
Accelerated
Mahaweli
Development
Programme,
(AMDP)
the
country’s
largest
ever
hydro
power
scheme
undertaken
in
ancient
and
modern
times.
Even
though
preliminary
studies
were
first
carried
out
for
the
Kotmale
project
way
back
in
1961,
and
again
from
1964
to
1968
by
the
government
with
foreign
assistance,
the
project
did
not
get
off
the
ground.
Then
again
another
feasibility
study
was
carried
out
with
Indian
assistance
from
1973
–
1976.
Thereafter,
taking
into
account
all
the
proposals
from
all
these
studies,
the
green
light
was
given
to
commence
work
in
February
1979
under
the
AMDP.
The
Kotmale
reservoir
was
to
be
built,
damming
the
Kotmale
Oya
which
is
one
of
the
main
tributaries
of
the
Mahaweli
River.
The
harvesting
of
the
Mahaweli
waters
was
carried
out
with
the
main
aim
of
generating
hydro
electrical
power
to
boost
the
national
grid.
And
by
damming
the
Kotmale
Oya
at
an
elevation
of
2,100
feet
above
sea
level,
the
reservoir
which
regulates
a
volume
of
174
million
cubic
meters
of
water,
at
full
capacity,
was
formed.
The
dam
was
constructed
with
three
sluice
gates
which
are
opened
to
discharge
the
extra
waters
when
the
reservoir
is
at
spill
level.
The
crest
length
of
the
dam
is
about
520
meters
and
the
height
is
about
87
meters.
The
picturesque
Kotmale
Reservoir
was
impounded
way
back
in
November
1984
and
power
generation
at
the
hydro-electrical
power
station
commenced
in
June
1985.
The
electricity
generated
is
206
megawatts.
-Amazing
Lanka