Yala National Park
Yala is Sri Lanka’s premier game reserve and is its second largest park. Located in the dry semi-arid region of the country, the park offers many diverse landscapes - from shrub to thick forests and open plains to golden sandy beaches. Yala has arguably the highest density of leopard found anywhere on earth. It is a great place to spot the largest sub-species of leopard in the world, the Sri Lankan leopard or Panthera Pardus Kotiya. It is also home to a wide array of other wildlife including many bird species, spotted deer, sambur, elephants, crocodiles and sloth bears. Yala has something for everyone and is well worth the visit.
Udawalawe National Park
The park is centred on the large Udawalawe reservoir and is dominated by tall “elephant grass”, but most of the park is open grass land. The park is well known for its large population of elephants but also has plenty of sambur, deer, leopard and wild buffalo. Here you are bound to encounter herds of elephants and be surprised at how quickly they disappear into the grass lands. It is not to be missed and will hold a special place in the hearts of all elephant lovers.
Bundala National Park
A famous sanctuary for birds, Bundala is a maze of waterways, lagoons and sand dunes. A designated “biosphere reserve” of UNESCO this park will not disappoint the avid bird lover. It is home to over 160 species of birds, many of whom are migrant species making the journey all the way from as far as Siberia. Bundala snakes along the coast and also is the ideal nesting place for a few different species of turtles. For those who seek big game, the park has a small population of elephants and other mammals.
Lunugamvehera National Park
Lunugamvehera national park is an important corridor in the elephant migration route between Yala and Udawalawe national parks. Situated in the catchment area of the Lunugamvehera reservoir, the park is a mosaic of several forest layers made up of grassland and scrubland, with a clear view of the mountains in the distant horizon. Elephants, wild buffalo, Sambur deer and tufted grey langurs among many others call this park home.
Kataragama
One of the island’s holiest places, Kataragama is located in close proximity to the town of Tissamaharama and is surrounded by jungle. It is a multi-religious holy site and it is believed that King Dutugamunu built the Kataragama shrine for the resident god Kataragama in the 2nd century BC. Legend has it that the Kiri vehera dagoba, which is located near the Kataragama shrine, was built on the site visited by the Buddha on his last visit to Sri Lanka. Steeped in history, myth and legend, Kataragama is truly a spiritual experience.
Sithulpauwa Rock Temple
Located within the perimeter of Yala national park perched high up on two large rocks, the Sithulpauwa rock temple is an impressive sight. The rock temple is believed to have been built in the 2nd century BC and is known for its early Brahmi scripts, ruins of preaching houses and fragments of ancient paintings. Housing an intricate temple complex, it has several caves and pagodas and provides impressive vistas over the surrounding jungle areas. It offers a very calm and quiet environment for those seeking peace of mind.
Tissamaharama
The town of Tissamaharama or Tissa is the gateway to Yala National park and used to be the capital of the Sinhalese Kingdom of Ruhuna during the 3rd century BC. At the heart of this mellow town is the huge man-made lake known as Tissa Wewa, which is dotted with lotus flowers. The sky high pagoda known as the Tissa Dagoba is also situated in the locality and is believed to have been built around 200 BC. Surrounded by green paddy fields, the white stupa glistens during the day and is beautifully lit up at night.
Kirinda
The small beach side fishing town of Kirinda is largely overlooked by many travellers who pass through this area. Here you will find deserted beaches and rocky outcrops from where you get magnificent views of the desolate beaches, long stretches of sand dunes and the ocean beyond. It also offers great views of the Tissa town and on a clear day the lighthouse on the Great Basses Reef appears in the horizon like a lone sentinel. This town is steeped in history and romantic legends and is to be explored by the intrepid traveller.