Kadadora Vihara - Sri Lanka's Hidden Temple
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Kadadora Vihara is a Buddhist temple that has fallen into decay since the water of the Kotmale reservoir flooded the village of Kadodara after the erection of Kotmale Dam in 1979. The consturction was part of the Mahaweli Development Programme, which is the major hydropower and irrigations scheme of Sri Lanka after independence. Kotmale was the first reservoir of the upper Mahaweli scheme, this is to say, upstream of Kandy.
The temple built by the villagers in the early 20th century was originally called Sri Priyabimbaramaya Viharaya of Kadodara (or Pratibimbarama Viharaya). Most other temples of several submerged villages completely disappeared, not so Kadodara Vihara. The Tispane Temple on the opposite side of the lake also surfaces, but only foundation wall are left of it. Further east, also one Gopuram tower of a former Hindu Temple can emerge from the reservoir. However, Kadadora Vihara is the most impressive of all the "underwater temples" arising from time to time.
The temple built by the villagers in the early 20th century was originally called Sri Priyabimbaramaya Viharaya of Kadodara (or Pratibimbarama Viharaya). Most other temples of several submerged villages completely disappeared, not so Kadodara Vihara. The Tispane Temple on the opposite side of the lake also surfaces, but only foundation wall are left of it. Further east, also one Gopuram tower of a former Hindu Temple can emerge from the reservoir. However, Kadadora Vihara is the most impressive of all the "underwater temples" arising from time to time.
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Though submerged in the Kotmale Gamini Dissanayake Reservoir for most of the time, the Kadodara Temple reemerges in periods of very low water levels. Sometimes, only parts of the temple cut the surface, facilitating swimming in the ruins. The temple therefore earned the name "hiding temple". When it surfaces, visitors often come in large numbers to donate flowers to gain blessings. The season with the lowest inflow and water levels is usually March and April, just prior to the first inter-monsoon. July and August can be a second season of low inflow, before the region's peak precipitation period starts. However, there were many years without the temple surfacing any time at all.
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To walk down from the car park at the B431 down to the temple in or at the lake, visitors have to cross army property close to a training area. But usually it's permitted to go to Kadodara Temple even without special permission.
The car park is at the B431, which leads from Ulapane (near Nawalapitiya) to Pussellawa. The distance from the Kotmale Dam Museum (best view point to dam and lake) is only 1 km. Ramboda is in 17 km (10 miles) distance by road, driving distance from Kandy is 37 km (23 miles).
Kadadora Temple, just like the entire Kotmale Valley, belongs to the Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka's Central Province.
The car park is at the B431, which leads from Ulapane (near Nawalapitiya) to Pussellawa. The distance from the Kotmale Dam Museum (best view point to dam and lake) is only 1 km. Ramboda is in 17 km (10 miles) distance by road, driving distance from Kandy is 37 km (23 miles).
Kadadora Temple, just like the entire Kotmale Valley, belongs to the Nuwara Eliya District of Sri Lanka's Central Province.
