Sembuwatta Lake: A Walk in the Elkaduwa Hills
Easy · Matale District · Central Province
Sembuwatta Lake is a spring-fed reservoir at 1,074 m inside the Elkaduwa tea estate, ringed by tea slopes and pines. It was opened to visitors in 2005 and makes an easy half day out from Kandy or Matale.
What you’ll walk through
Paths lead around the lake and through the estate. The lake is man-made, fed by a natural spring, 9 to 12 m deep, and also generates power for nearby villages. Campbell's Lane Forest Reserve adjoins it.
The water is deep. Do not swim unless it is explicitly allowed.
Access & permits
Run by Elkaduwa Plantations and ticketed. Published foreigner prices disagree and none is official, so we do not print one.
On the map
Pin 1 is Sembuwatta Lake. The others are the nearest places in our trail directory.
- Sembuwatta Lake: The lake in the Elkaduwa estate.
- Gombaniya: Highest peak of the Knuckles. About 4 km away.
- Riverston: Trail guide: Riverston and Matale. About 10 km away.
- Pitawala Pathana: Mini World's End, on the Riverston road. About 13 km away.
Key landmarks & features
- The lake - Spring-fed, 9 to 12 m deep.
- Elkaduwa estate - The tea slopes around the lake.
- Pine stands - Along the shore.
- Campbell's Lane Forest Reserve - The forest next to the lake.
When to go
Mornings, for the calmest water and the clearest light.
Walk it with Hike Lanka
You can take this as a guided day trip, link it with nearby destinations into a multi-day trek, or build it into a custom Sri Lanka hiking itinerary. We handle transport, permits and the logistics; you walk.
Nearby in the directory
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