Explore the rustic charm of the Wilpattu countryside through our curated cycling and walking trails. These quiet village routes wind through lush landscapes and connect a chain of seven beautiful lakes
Haba Lake: Conveniently located just north of the resort for a short, easy walk.
Hnuwilagama Lake: Located near the Wilpattu National Park Entrance, it is perfect for catching a glimpse of the park’s peripheral wildlife.
Walantelu Lake: A quiet spot tucked away near the Epic Wild area.
Horuwila Lake: A sprawling water body at the southern point of the trail.
Anwetiya Lake: Features a scenic crossing point where the trail splits toward the eastern lakes.
Thalgas Lake: The easternmost point of the journey, offering wide-open views of the surrounding wetlands.
Ihala Maragaha Lake: A scenic stretch through the wilder forest borders.
Kalundegama Lake: The final lake on the loop, located just steps from the resort.
The Route’s 7 Lakes
Ancient Origins: The Wewa Legacy
In Sinhala, these “lakes” are actually called Wewa (වැව). While they look like natural lakes today, they have a fascinating history tied to Sri Lanka’s ancient “Hydraulic Civilisation.”
The word Wewa translates to “Tank” or “Reservoir” in English. They were not formed by nature, but were engineered by ancient Sinhalese kings and villagers over 2,000 years ago.
The Wilpattu area is in the “Dry Zone.” To survive the long droughts, ancient engineers built massive earthen dams (called Wekanda) across valleys to trap rainwater during the monsoons.
The lakes you see on the map are part of a “cascade system.” This means they are connected; when the top lake (like Haba Lake) overflows, the water travels down a series of canals to fill the next one (like Hunuwilagama Lake). This ensured no drop of water was wasted.
In Sinhala culture, a village was considered complete only if it had three things: the Wewa (for water), the Kumbura (paddy field for food), and the Pansala (temple for the spirit). This is why almost every lake in the area is named after the village it sustains.
Most of these names describe the local environment or the people who lived there:
Walantelu: Named after the specific clay or local landscape features found in that section of the forest.
