Mahiyanganaya Sorabora Lake | Ancient Reservoir in Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan Guides
Sorabora Lake is an old human-made water system. Legend says it was built by King Dutugemunu’s betel (a type of leaf) supplier, Bulata the giant. When the king was fighting Indian invaders, Bulata would supply betel to the camp. Every day, he’d pass through a narrow waterway, stacking stones and soil to connect the banks. After many years, when the war ended, Bulata finished building the dam for the lake.
The special part is the sluice gate, a smart engineering thing, built on a natural rock using ancient knowledge. It’s the only one like it in Sri Lanka and was made around 162 BC. It’s still working today!
Around the lake, there are villages where people mainly earn a living through rice farming and fishing. Tourism is growing there, with some guest houses for visitors. There’s even something new—canoe camping on a platform in the lake. Fishing there is supposed to be really fun!
