Udawalawe National Park
For the love of nature, for the love of those life-sized creatures that roam the scrublands of this considerable expanse of 119 square miles, Udawalawe National Park should not be missed. The Park is home to a population of over 400 elephants and the probability of seeing them while on safari is almost always guaranteed. The Walawe Reservoir is also encompassed within the Park, spanning over 3,000 hectares; it’s a favourite elephant hangout during times of water scarcity. Over 180 species of birds, the mugger crocodile and sightings of more reptilian, plant life and other mammals too, are abundant spectacles at the Park. Udawalawa can be accessed through the city of Ratnapura following the Pellmadula-Embilipitiya Road and the Park can be visited throughout the year. November to March is recommended for bird watching expeditions.
Sooriyawewa
Marvels of Maduru Oya
Approximately 265 kilometres from Colombo, lies a treasure by the name of ‘Maduru Oya.’ Established as a National Park of Sri Lanka under the Mahaweli Development project, the park provides a sanctuary to wildlife. However, that is not all. This destination posses a rich history in engineering and a lot of adventure with an army camp being situated there
By: Time Out editorsPosted: Thursday December 10 2015, 12:00am
An extraordinary world
Named after Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, British Governor of Ceylon in the 19th century, Horton Plains is a beautiful paradise of diverse visions and nature’s marvels. Known as the ‘Roof of the Island’, it contains the most extensive area of cloud forest in Sri Lanka. The Horton Plains National Park at an altitude of 2,100 metres above sea level and spread over 3,169 hectares, along with the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary and Knuckles Mountain Range comprises the Central Highlands World Heritage Site. The landscape is covered in a tropical cloud of forest or lush montane savannah grasslands known as ‘patana’. It’s almost an Eden where every perfect blessing of nature including exist in peace and tranquillity. A popular tourist destination in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, it is situated 165km from the capital Colombo.The plains provides excellent hiking tracks, which include the main circuit Nature Trail that takes the visitor through grand views of the Small World’s End, the Big World’s End, Baker’s Falls and Chimney Falls. The World’s End is the most dramatic finale to a long hike, with a 1,000 metre abrupt vertical drop, that would certainly make the faint hearted a bit dizzy. One can choose the more adventurous nature trails to Thotupolakanda and Kirigalpoththa as well. The Main Trail starts at Farr Inn, which houses the Horton Plains Information Centre. Only eco-friendly material is allowed to be taken into the park from the entrance. Plastic bottles must be brought ba
By: Time Out editorsPosted: Monday April 25 2016, 12:00am
Gal Oya National Park
March to July is marked as Gal Oya National Park’s feast for the eyes. Boat and/or Jeep safaris make for a splendid late afternoon with its animals spread across 100 square miles of rich and unique landscape of grasslands, evergreen forests, elevations and depressions of rocky plains, and water bodies. Wildlife at the Park features toque and macaque monkeys, langurs, leopards, sloth bears, elephants, and over 100 species of birds, among many more inhabitants, like its butterflies. Via cities of Ratnapura, Pelmadulla and also through Wellawaya and Monaragala, the Park is easy to access.
Ampara
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
A protected rainforest named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve for its rich biodiversity. Endemic and rare life forms of all species can be found here. Department’s office at Kaduwa.
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