Sorabora Wewa, Legends, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

An elderly couple admiring the scenery.

The legends about Sorabora Wewa being narrated.

The ice-cream vendor who narrated the stories on the bund of the Wewa.

We came across an ice-cream vendor selling his ware on the bund of the Sorabora Wewa. He was full of legends of the place and related some of them to us. See video below.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GG943YkmF0

Birds spotted at Sorabora Wewa, Sri Lanka.

Pelican

Indian Pond Heron

I spotted these birds within ten minutes of ascending the bund of the Sorabora Wewa. It is indeed a bird-watchers paradise.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=219Iy0dYWjI

Sorabora Wewa, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka

The water channel

On the bund of the Wewa.

On the bund.

The wewa in the morning.

More than 2000 years of history is breath-taking especially when you see it still functioning and feeding the paddy fields to feed a nation. What beauty and serenity at this site which spans the centuries!

Sorabora Wewa legends, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

The village adjoining the bund of the reservoir.

A hearth outside a tea boutique.

The water channel leading water from the reservoir to the paddy fields.

A villager living here is supposed to have brought Queen Vihara Maha Dewi, the mother of King Dutugemunu - who reigned from 161 BC to 137 BC - , and surprised her by showing her this water reservoir which he claimed to have built single handed. The Queen had come on a visit to Mahiyangana. So many legends surround the building of this reservoir which fed a large area of paddy fields in Mahiyangana.

Sorabora Wewa seen from the 'look-out point' past Madugoda, Sri Lanka.

View of the Mahiyangana valley with the Sorabora Wewa.

'Look-out point'

Vehicle park

The other side of the road.

The highway leading from Hunnasgiriya to the 'look-out point' before the descent to Hasalaka by the 18 hairpin bends is a scenic panorama not to be missed. Spend some time at the 'look-out point' feeling the force of the cold wind which will drag your clothes away. Then drive down past the 18 hairpin bends leading to Hasalaka. If you want to appreciate the scenery tell the driver to go slow even though the surface of the road might tempt a higher speed.

Videos:-

Hunnasgiriya - Madugoda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h80RXLSoH5M

An elephant  getting a ride

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3mhIjHLh9k

The 18 hairpin bends after the 'look-out point'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KoNsI8wMnI

'Sorabora Wewa' and the 18 hairpin bends.

'Sorabora Wewa' seen before the 18 elbow bends.

Highway in the elbow bends region.

Coming down from Madugoda to the 18 hairpin bends leading to Hasalaka is a superb sight. Far away in the valley you can see the 'Sorabora Wewa' which irrigates the paddy fields around Mahiyangana.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KoNsI8wMnI