Meemure Eco Village

Meemure is a traditional village surrounded by the Knuckles Range of mountains situated on the border between Kandy and Matale Districts in the Central Province. 

Travel approximately 35km via Kandy-Mahiyangana main road, turn left from Hunnasgiriya Junction and proceed about 15km towards the Loolwatte village. To reach Meemure you need to travel about 15km more. Road conditions are unsatisfactory beyond this point due to lack of development, so you will need to choose a vehicle capable of negotiating rough terrain.

Meemure is situated on the Lakegala border of the Matale District, 36km away from Udadumbara town. It is surrounded by Lakegala Mountain in the Knuckles Range, Endirigala Mountain Range and the Kalupahana Mountain Range. The village folk draw water from Dimbigolla Oya, also known as Meemure Oya, a stream fed by Diyanilla Ela, a tributary originating from the Kalupahana Mountain.

In this village, one can witness genuine natural splendor, and the traditional lifestyle of village folk. About 123 families live in Meemure, comprising a population of about 400. Tourists to Meemure can enjoy many forms of recreation, including bird watching, cycling, mountain climbing, walking, photography and safari.

Farmers in Meemure engage in paddy cultivation as well as Chena cultivation. Paddy is grown here using the helmalu system, a tedious process in which the plots are made by leveling the ground in layers or tiers, one below the other along steep mountain slopes, like stairs. Paddy cultivation is still the main livelihood of these village folk, whose simple, peasant lifestyle remains unchanged even today. They till about 100-150 acres of paddy fields, using the ancient and traditional ‘Attham Piyaveema’ method to organize the required laborers. Although the main purpose of paddy cultivation is to secure a livelihood, they also depend on it to produce straw, which is essential to thatch the roofs of their houses. Even today, a ‘Piduru Pansala’ (bales of straw heaped on a high platform) is seen near every old house. Below the village, helmalu paddy fields shrouded in the morning mist create a spectacular view of Meemure. Women in every household are capable of making all the implements they need with their own hands. 

Traditional ways of hospitality are still practiced here, and you could still see a straw mat spread on the kotta Pila in every old house for visitors to sit on. Weaving Pan (rushes) and manufacturing cane products is a cottage industry practiced by housewives and men alike in every household as a means of generating income. To date, one can see that the traditional structure of ancient villages is maintained intact in Meemure. Accustomed to a communal lifestyle in an agricultural economy, the villagers here live close together in houses clustered towards the Centre of the village, thus avoiding isolation. This is their way of finding strength in unity, protecting themselves from wild elephant attacks or any other invasion. 

Houses with clay walls made of wattle and daub and plastered with kaolin are commonly seen here. A typical house has two circle-shaped windows, together with a front door and a back door. A straw-thatched roof, kotta Pila, and the ‘atuwa’ (loft) in the front portion to store grain are common features seen in these houses even today.

Other tourist attractions in the Meemure area are Mini World’s End, Corbet’s Gap, Lakegala, Wedi Lunu Guhawa (Nitre Cave), Alugal Lena, Gerandi Ella, Sera Ella, Yahangala Kanda, Koboneela Kanda, J. R. Kanda and Kalupahana Kanda.