Kaudulla Wewa Reservoir| AmazingLanka.com

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(29 votes, average: 3.38 out of 5)

Grazing Elephants near the Kaudulla Tank — Grazing Elephants near the Kaudulla Wewa
Published under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 by Aitor Garcia Viñas

Sri Lanka’s reservoir-building technology reached its zenith during the mid-Anuradhapura to the Polonnaruwa Kingdom eras (1017–1236 CE), a period during which some of the largest and most complex irrigation systems in the country were constructed. Among these monumental feats, the Parakrama Samudraya stands out as the largest. Built in the 12th century by King Parakramabahu the Great, it features a 14-kilometre-long dam encompassing five reservoirs, forming a single interconnected system.

However, even earlier structures like Minneriya Wewa and Kaudulla Wewa, dating back to the 3rd century, laid the groundwork for these later achievements. These massive reservoirs are enduring examples of the engineering brilliance of the Anuradhapura period.

One of the most prolific builders of ancient Sri Lanka was King Mahasen (276–303 CE) of Anuradhapura, often regarded as the greatest reservoir builder in Sri Lankan history. He is credited with constructing Kaudulla Wewa, along with 15 other reservoirs and two major canals. The Kaudulla bund (dam) stands 15 meters high, has a base width of 120 meters, and stretches over 9.2 kilometers, with a water capacity of 64 million cubic meters, covering a surface area of 24.5 square kilometers, making it even larger than the more famous Minneriya Wewa.

Historical chronicles also record that King Vijayabahu I (1055–1110) and King Parakramabahu the Great (1153–1186) undertook restoration and rehabilitation work on Kaudulla Wewa. The reservoir was formed by damming the Kaudulu Oya and receives its water via the Elahera-Kantale Giant Canal (Yodha Ela), which originates at the Elahera Anicut on the Amban Ganga, an innovation attributed to King Vasabha (65–109 CE).

Despite its size and historical importance, Kaudulla Wewa remains largely overlooked, hidden away from the main roads and tourist circuits. Today, it is most commonly associated with the Kaudulla National Park, which surrounds the reservoir. While the park is known for its wildlife and elephant gatherings, few recognize the ancient irrigation masterpiece at its heart—a testament to Sri Lanka’s sophisticated hydrological engineering over 1,700 years ago.

Legends of Kaudulla Wewa: Sacrifice, Power, and Redemption

The ancient reservoirs of Kaudulla Wewa and Minneriya Wewa, nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, are not only engineering marvels but also steeped in rich folklore and legends passed down for centuries.

According to legend, following the death of King Mahasen, a severe drought struck the land. The failure of harvests brought famine and disease. In desperation, the people of Minneriya turned to their deified former ruler, Mahasen—believed to possess supernatural powers—offering him prayers and tributes, begging for relief and protection. Thus, Mahasen Deviyo came to be venerated in the region as a guardian spirit.

Historically, King Mahasen (276–303 CE) is a polarizing figure. Though remembered as a pioneering builder of reservoirs and temples, he is also criticized for controversial religious actions. Misguided by his teacher, he dismantled the Maha Viharaya in Anuradhapura, a central seat of Theravada Buddhism, to construct Jethavanaramaya, a temple aligned with Mahayana Buddhism, using its materials.

Mahasen began work on what would become his most iconic achievement—Minneriya Wewa. Yet, for seven years, the construction was plagued by repeated failure. Each time the massive bund (embankment) neared completion, it would collapse at the same point. Palace soothsayers eventually attributed this to an enraged spirit that demanded a human sacrifice—specifically, that of a royal prince.

Though devastated by the idea of sacrificing one of his own sons, Mahasen remembered his estranged sister, Princess Bisobandara, who had been exiled by him for falling in love with a commoner. She now lived in obscurity with their child. Seizing upon this, the king ordered his chief minister to bring the boy for the ritual. However, the minister, moved by affection for the child, deceived the king. Instead of sacrificing the prince, he killed a wild boar, wrapped it in cloth, and buried it at the cursed spot. The workers unknowingly completed the bund over the concealed carcass, and this time, the dam held.

On the day of the grand opening, King Mahasen, burdened by guilt, mourned the supposed loss of his nephew. Sensing the king’s guilt, the minister revealed the truth—that the boy was safe. Overjoyed, Mahasen forgave his sister and invited Princess Bisobandara to the ceremony. Proud of his reservoir, the king showed it to her with great fanfare.

But Bisobandara had her own surprise. She told him, “My king, I too have not been idle in exile,” and led him to Kaudulla Wewa, a larger reservoir she claimed to have built with the help of the local people. Legend says the king was stunned—and enraged—that her creation might surpass his. In a fit of jealousy, he is said to have conspired with his ministers to drown her in the very waters she helped create.

Another variation of the tale suggests that Kaudulla Wewa was commissioned by one of Mahasen’s queens. She allegedly built it to challenge the necessity of the prince’s sacrifice at Minneriya, proving a great reservoir could be constructed without bloodshed. When it was completed, she publicly declared it larger than Minneriya, provoking the king’s fury and sealing her fate. (Brohier, 1965/2000, p. 46)

Although official history credits King Mahasen with building Kaudulla Wewa, local memory keeps these alternate stories alive. In fact, a road leading from Habarana–Minneriya Road to the Kaudulla bund still bears the name of the forgotten princess—Bisobandara—ensuring her legend remains part of the landscape she helped shape.

References

Brohier, R. L. (2000). Seeing Ceylon in vistas of scenery, history, legend and folklore. Sooriya Publishers. (Original work published 1965)

Also See

Map of the Kaudulla Wewa

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.