Travel Guide Contents

කොත්මලේ ජලාශයෙන් මතු වෙන කඩදොර විහාරය.

Ornate carved stone shrine with a seated Buddha statue emerging from the dry bed of the Kotmale reservoir at Kadadora Viharaya

Kadadora Viharaya also known as Kadadora Sri Priyabimbaramaya Viharaya, was a Buddhist temple, situated in Kadadora, Kotmale. The temple was abandoned and ruined as the construction of Kotmale Dam in 1979 by Mahaweli Development programme. it is said that about 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. but many of places are not exist at present, even underwater. Still as a miracle Kadadora tempale and statues of load Buddha still can seen when the water level get reduced.

Ruined stone temple walls surrounding a seated Buddha statue on the exposed reservoir bed, with visitors walking in the background

Lcals have been arriving at the Kadadora area to visit the ancient ruins of Buddhist temples re-emerging from the depths of the Kotmale reservoir as water levels are receding fast due to the prevailing drought in the central hills. The temples of the Kadadora Sri Piya Bimbaramaya, Thispane Viharaya, Morape Viharaya and the Medagoda Devalaya were submerged when the reservoir was built in 1979.

Travel at Glance

  • Direction :  Colombo ->Kegalle ->mawanella ->Gamploa -> Ulapane ->Kotmale (Google_Map_Location)
  • Transport : Any Medium (Taxi / Public Transport / Train)
  • Travel Time: (Form Colombo 4 hrs)
  • Activities: Photography / Nature Trails / Hiking / Filming
  • Better to travel at drought season


A magnificent temple drowned with a village at the time of constructing the Kothmale reservoir. The temple is of absolute beauty though some of the parts are being ruined. The temple comes to visibility time to time when the reservoir level goes down. It’s pretty sure this would have been so beautiful sometime back.

Sumudu Ranasinghe

The Kotmale Maha Seya was erected in memory of these submerged religious sites.

Wide view of the Kotmale reservoir with low water levels revealing muddy shoreline and surrounding hills

Image Gallery

  • Aerial view of the seated Buddha statue amid the ruined stone walls of Kadadora Viharaya on the dry lakebed
  • Aerial view of visitors gathered near the ruined temple walls by the edge of the Kotmale reservoir
  • Aerial view at dusk of monks and devotees gathered around the resurfaced temple ruins near the reservoir
  • Aerial view of a crowd of visitors gathered around the seated Buddha statue amid the temple ruins

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I actually see Kadadora Viharaya?

Only when the Kotmale reservoir’s water level drops significantly, usually during drought periods – it’s submerged the rest of the year, so it’s worth checking current reservoir levels before planning a visit.

Why is the temple underwater?

It was submerged when the Kotmale Dam was built in 1979 under the Mahaweli Development Programme, along with more than 50 villages and dozens of other temples.

Is there a memorial for the submerged sites?

Yes – the Kotmale Maha Seya was built to commemorate the temples and villages lost beneath the reservoir.

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