Question 1

What is Udawalawe Reservoir used for?

Accepted Answer

Udawalawe Reservoir serves three main purposes: irrigating agricultural land in the dry-zone districts downstream, generating hydroelectric power through three 2 MW turbines commissioned in 1969, and providing a permanent water source for the wildlife of Udawalawe National Park. It is managed as a government irrigation and power facility.

Question 2

Can I see elephants at Udawalawe Reservoir?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Elephants regularly visit the reservoir margins to drink, especially during the dry months from May to September when water is scarce elsewhere in the park. The bund road along the dam crest is a free-access vantage point where herds are often seen in the late afternoon.

Question 3

How long is Udawalawe Dam?

Accepted Answer

The dam has a total length of approximately 3.9 km, combining an embankment section and a gravity section. The reservoir it creates extends around 8.6 km in length with a maximum width of about 7 km.

Question 4

Is there a fee to visit the Udawalawe Reservoir bund road?

Accepted Answer

The bund road along the dam crest is outside the national park boundary and can generally be accessed without a park entry ticket. However, entering Udawalawe National Park itself requires purchasing a permit, which covers the park's road network and safari zones.

Question 5

Are there crocodiles in Udawalawe Reservoir?

Accepted Answer

Mugger crocodiles are present throughout the reservoir and are commonly seen basking on mud banks and shallow shores. This makes swimming in the reservoir inadvisable. They can be observed safely from the bund road or during a guided jeep safari along the reservoir edge inside the park.

Question 6

What birds can I see at Udawalawe Reservoir?

Accepted Answer

The reservoir and its wetland margins support painted storks, open-billed storks, purple herons, great cormorants, several kingfisher species, and a variety of migratory waterfowl during the December-to-March period. It is considered one of the more productive waterbird sites in southern Sri Lanka.

Question 7

How far is Udawalawe Reservoir from Colombo?

Accepted Answer

The reservoir is roughly 165 km from Colombo, making it a three-to-four-hour drive depending on the route taken. Most visitors travel via the Southern Expressway to Matara and then inland through Embilipitiya, or directly via Ratnapura on the A18.

Question 8

What is the Elephant Transit Home near Udawalawe?

Accepted Answer

The Elephant Transit Home is a government-run rehabilitation centre for orphaned elephant calves, located close to the northern shore of the reservoir just outside the national park. Calves are raised here until they can be released back into the wild, and public viewing sessions are held at scheduled feeding times each day.

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