NATIONAL PARKS AND FORESTS RESERVES

HORTON PLAINS

The Horton Plains National park 3159 Hectares situated in the Hill Country falls within the Nuwara Eliya district and is 200km away from Colombo. The famous ‘Worlds End ‘ is a major attraction within the park. Endemic slender lories and purple monkey are among the important animal species that could be seen in the park.

YALA NATIONAL PARK

Situated 309 km south of Colombo , Yala is approximately 1,259 sq.km in extent and is located in the south eastern corner of the island . Its northern boundaries border on the Lahugala Elephant Sanctuary .Within its 1259 square kms roam bear , elephant , boar , leopard , deer , sambhur and peacock .Yala enjoys the added bonus of a scenic ocean frontage with beautiful lagoons .

UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK

Located next to Udawalawe reservoir, situated 170 km South East of Colombo , the park covers an area of over 30,000 hectares . Large herds of Elephants and Deer species such as spoted Deer , Sambhur , Barkig deer and Langur , Wild Boar , Sloth Bear , crocodiles Eater Buffalo , Jackal , are some of the prominent wild animals found in this park..It is also a great park for birds .

WILPATTU

Situated 176 km ,north of Colombo, Wilpattu is approximately 1,908 sq. km . in extent . It has a dense jungle cover which makes it a more exciting park where animals have to be tracked . There are numerous delightful little lakes –known as villus- and the leopard and sloth bear are the specialty rather than elephants .

GAL OYA

Situated at Inginiyagala , the Gal Oya National Park is 314 km from Colombo and is most renowned for its elephants population .

MADURU OYA NATIONAL PARK

The marduru Oya National Park is located in the Dry Zone and is 300 km away from Colombo and 58,849 hectares in extent . A wide variety of wild life including some endemic birds species and reptiles are found here . Endemic purple monkey is among the important animal species .

WASGAMUWA NATIONAL PARK

Situated approximately 200km away from Colombo , the Wasgamuwa Naational Park lies within the Polonnaruwa and Matale Districts.

FORESET RESERVES(STRIC NATURE RESERVES)

Sri Lanka has a striking variety of forest types brought about by spatial variations in rainfall, altitude an soil .

SINHARAJA (WORLD HERITAGE SITE)

Located in south west Sri Lanka ,Sinharaja is the last viable aea of primary tropical rainforest of the country . More than 60 per cent of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare . There is much endemic wild life , specially birds , but the reserve is also home to 50 per cent of the endemic species of mammals and butterflies , as well as many kinds of insects , reptiles and rare amphibians . It is one of the few parks in Sri Lanka where visitors are permitted to walk in the interior . Sinharaja, covers an area of nearly 20,000 hectares .

KITHULGALA (KELANI VALLEY FOREST RESERVE)

The Kelani Valley Forest Reserve accessed from Kithulgala is rich lowland tropical rain forest with a high diversity of endemic fauna and flora. A variety of birds and reptiles could be seen . the Kelani River, which roars across the boulders , provides the perfect setting for a scintillating experience of White Water River Rafting for the adventurous tourist .

RITIGALA

Ritigala is of historical and cultural importance. Ritigala mountain is situated 40 kilometers south-east of the ancient city of Anuradhapura and is a wet zone forest found amidst a dry area. These ruins are some of the most distinctive Sri Lanka has to offer. An archaeological site ,as well as refuge for many threatened species of animals and plants .

BODHINAGALA(DOMBAGASKANDA)

Situated surrounding a Buddhist monastery , this tropical rain forest is rich in fauna and flora and is a good birding venue in the western province , close to Colombo.

KNUCKLES FOREST RANGE

Hakgala is Strict Nature Reserve , Which has a very high conservation value and is a striking geographical feature. When the range is observed from a distance , it resembles the knuckles of a clenched fist. A remarkable feature in this area is that , most of Sri Lanka ‘s climatic conditions can be found within these 159 sq km .

THE MUTHURAJAWELA MARSHES

The Muthurajawela Marshes ,which is closer to Colombo , is also a “must-discover” site, on a nature lover’s agenda. Some 2,000 hectares , of this 7,000 hectares wetland ,is conserved in its present state ,mainly because of its rich plant and animal life . About 40 per cent of the vertebrate species of Sri Lanka are recorded here .

THE BEI-LENA CAVES

The bali- Klena Caves , where pre-historic man lived 20,000 years ago . The Vavulpane Caves are a combination of 12 caves of varying sizes , streams and a waterfall. The crystallized limestone formations of these caves have been formed by sea-creatures , which prove the exiting fact that these formations were once part of ancient seabed . This is the only place in the world where minced and crystallized formations are found in proximity to each other . Scientists have confirmed the age of the caverns to be 500 millions years , by studing these natural phenomena .