Hiriwadunna Village

distance from the bustling main roads of Habarana, this quiet hamlet is structured around the

Hiriwadunna Wewa, a scenic, lotus-covered man-made reservoir that feeds the surrounding

crop plots and provides a vital lifeline for both the villagers and local wildlife.

A visit to Hiriwadunna is designed as a multi-stage sensory journey through rural Sri Lanka. The

experience typically begins with a walk along the shaded bund of the reservoir, where massive

tree roots anchor the earth and colorful kingfishers dart across the water. Travelers then board a

traditional unpowered catamaran boat, gliding through patches of blooming pink and white

lotus flowers while enjoying views of Sigiriya and Pidurangala rocks rising in the distance. The

boat ride transitions into a walk through lush green fields, where local farmers cultivate

structural crops like finger millet (kurakkan), snake gourds, okra, and sweet potatoes using

traditional crop-rotation methods.

The heart of the village experience takes place inside a rustic, mud-walled gama gedara (village

home) topped with a thatched palm leaf roof. Here, local women demonstrate time-honored

culinary techniques, using heavy stone milling wheels to grind flour and clay pots over wood-

fired hearths to prepare food. Visitors can enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan rice and curry lunch

served fresh on a lotus leaf, featuring flavorful dishes enhanced by freshly scraped coconut,

aromatic curry leaves, and hand-ground spices. Hiriwadunna provides a meaningful cultural

connection, allowing travelers to slow down and experience the deep harmony that exists

between rural Sri Lankans and their natural environment.