Submerged
in the Kotmale reservoir, this historic village and its various temples have
surfaced for the first time in 35 years:
Drop in
water levels at the many reservoirs courtesy El Nino weather conditions had
me making tracks to the Kotmale reservoir for a glimpse of the Kadadora Sri
Priyabimbaramaya Vihara, one of the ancient temples that went underwater when
the Kotmale reservoir came into being.
The
diminishing water levels meant the Vihara was visible in all its ruined glory
for the first time in 35 years.
During the
Kandyan period, Kotmale became one of the seven Ratas of the Kandyan Kingdom.
It came under the Gampola Kings during the Gampola Period in the 14th
century.
In 1977,
the UNP led government decided to accelerate Mahaweli Ganga development
program, damming five major reservoirs. The Kotmale project was one of the
five major projects proposed under the Accelerated Mahaweli Development
program. The basic element of the project was a dam at an elevation of 2,100
feet above the sea level on the Kotmale Oya, which is the main tributary of
the Mahaweli Ganga.
Spread
across a land area of 2,270 ha, the Kotmale reservoir, which embraces lands
from both Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Districts, is nestled between Tispane and
the Kadadora hills. The dam site was located at the historic Kadadora. This
resulted in the displacement of 3,300 families from their ancestral homeland
and the submerging of the Kotmale valley, after the dam was constructed. The
picturesque Kotmale reservoir was impounded in November 1984.
However, 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 temples do not
exist at present, some of them still do, even though fully submerged.
Among
these, the ruins of the Kadadora Sri Priyabimbaramaya are spectacular,
especially the sculptured statues of the Buddha and other deities. However,
they are a rare sight and can be only viewed according to the whims of the
weather gods.
These
ruins, which lie nestled under the water for more than 30 years, are a
nostalgic reminder of the past life of Kadadora village in Kotmale valley.
They make rare reappearances during severe droughts in what is a bittersweet
reminder of how the people are suffering.
These rare
situations also provide bittersweet opportunities for some of the villagers
whose homes went under water to give birth to the Kotmale reservoir, to
revisit the past and reminisce about the days gone by.
The temples
completely submerged by the reservoir are Sri Priyabimbaramaya-Kadadora, Sri
Subaddraramaya-Thispane, Devale-Morape, Bodirukkaramaya-Othalawa and Pattini
Devale andGangaramaya-Medagoda.
On the
right bank of the Kotmale dam at Kadadora, facing the reservoir, a massive
Mahaweli Maha Seya (Chaitya) has been built to symbolise the religious
aspirations of the people whose Viharas and Devales were lost forever due to
the Kotmale project. Rising to a height of 247 feet from the ground and
having a 238 feet diameter, this Chaitya stands as a monument to the people
of Kotmale.
See you with my next post
Thank you
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| The front view of the Star Fort visible today |
Star Fort Matara is located opposite the Matara Urban Council Office. This was the last defensive structure by the dutch in sri lanka. Star Fort derived its name from its shape as it was constructed in the shape of a six - pointed star. In 1760 the "Matara Rebellion " took this place and this Fort Came up affter the sinhala army attack on Matara. by March 1761, the Kandyan (Up country) forces and the rebellious lowlanders had occupied the fort. in 1762, the fort was retaken by the Dutch. As a result of the rebellion, matara was reinforced by the erection of the star fort, standing on the west bank the Nilwala River
