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Animal Sanctuaries |
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The animals to be seen in
Sri Lanka's national parks include elephant, leopard, sloth bear,
sambhur, deer and monkeys, wild buffalo, wild boar (pig), porcupine,
ant-eater, civet cat, jackal, mongoose, loris (unique to sri Lanka)
several varieties of lizards, squirrels, reptiles and amphibians. Each
park however has its own specialities. |
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Yala (Ruhuna) National
Park |
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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 and it has the added bonus
of a scenic ocean frontage. The terrain is varied flat plains
alternating with rocky outcrops. The vegetation ranges from open
parkland to dense jungle. Water holes, small lakes, lagoons and
streams provide water for the animals and birds. The speciality here
is the large numbers of elephants. |
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Gal Oya National Park |
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Situated at Inginiyagala,
the Gal Oya National Park is 314 km. from Colombo and is most renowned
for its elephant population. |
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Uda Walawe National Park |
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Situated 170 km. South
East of Colombo the Uda Walawe National Park is approximately 30,821
hectares in extent. This Park which lies within the Ratnapura and
Monaragala Districts acts as the catchment to the Uda Walawe Reservoir
and is located in the Dry Zone. This Park comprises grasslands and
thorn scrubs and many valuable species of trees are found within it.
Large herds of Elephants and Deer species such as spotted Deer,
Sambhur, Barking deer and Langur, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Jackal are
some of the prominent wild animals found in this Park and a variety of
avifauna is seen. |
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Wasgamuwa National Park |
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Situated approximately 200
km. away from Colombo, the Wasgamuwa National Park lies within the
Polonnaruwa and Matale Districts and have the Mahaweli river and Amban
river as its eastern and western boundaries. Tropical intermediate dry
mixed evergreen forest predominates its environment. |
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Horton Plains National
Park |
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The Horton Plains National
Park is the only National Park situated in the Hill Country and falls
within the Nuwara Eliya district and is 200 km. away from Colombo.
Panoramic scenic beauty of the Hill Country could be witnessed within
the Park. The famous `Worlds End' is a major attraction within the
Park. Endemic slender loris and endemic purple monkey are among the
important animal species that could be seen in addition to sambhur, a
member of the cat family etc. There are some endemic avifauna also
found within this Park. |
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Bundala National Park |
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Bundala National Park is
the latest addition to the National Parks and is situated 260 km. away
from Colombo. All species of waterbirds resident in the country and
the migrant birds inhabit this Park. |
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Bird Sanctuaries |
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The sanctuaries at Kumana
312 km. from Colombo, Wirawila 261 km. Bundala 259 km. and Kalametiya
224 km. are all lagoon locations in Sri Lanka's extreme south eastern
coast. The Giant's Tank in the north western corner of the island is a
huge ancient irrigation reservoir of 3,800 hectares. The coastal
sanctuaries are exotically picturesque with combinations of lagoon,
swamp, river, jungle, lake and plain. Large flocks can be found here
of both resident and migrant aquatic birds. The highland sanctuaries
at Udawattakele 118 km. from Colombo and the Peak Wilderness 141 km.
are quieter but equally picturesque with wooded hills and secluded
streams and have the added bonus of rare flora such as our unique
Wesak Orchid as well as numerous species of rare butterflies. The
Udawattakele Sanctuary is in the suburbs of Kandy, our picturesque and
fascinating hill capital. The Peak Wilderness is situated on the
slopes of Adam's Peak (Sri Pada), Sri Lanka's sacred mountain. |
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National Zoological
Gardens |
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Situated
11 km. from the Fort, the Zoo has a fine collection of animals, birds,
reptiles and fish from all over the world. The aquarium is the only
one of its kind in Asia and displays over 500 varieties of aquatic
life. Also walk in through Aviary, Reptilium, Butterfly Park. There
are daily elephant performance at 5.15 p.m. Open daily between 8.00
a.m. and 6.00 p.m. Entrance fees : Rs 90/- per adult and Rs.45/- per
child. |
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Elephant Orphanage |
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An orphanage for elephants
has been set up by the department of National Zoological Gardens, at
Pinnawela, 90 km. from Colombo. It was established in 1975 and several
animals brought here at the inception are now mature enough for
breeding, which is the ultimate aim of the institution. Entrance fees
: Rs.200. Pinnawala elephant orphanage has largest captive herd in the
world The Pinnawala elephant orphanage has not only got the largest
captive herd of elephants in the entire world but it also has become
the most successful elephant breeding centre, according to reports.
The elephant orphanage was established in 1995 with seven orphans
today has a population of sixty two. The elephant orphanage now boasts
of its sixteenth birth and the second generation of births in
captivity. It has become a major tourist attraction because of its
uniqueness. This is an ideal site for photography, research and
education on elephants as the visitor is able to observe a large herd
comprised of week old babies to sixty year olds.
A state of the art zoo is under construction at Pinnawala which will
be open to the public by 2003. The Department of National Zoological
Gardens now maintains two farms at Pallekelle and Gonapola to meet a
part of its food requirements for animals. |
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Botanic Gardens |
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Sri Lanka has three
beautiful Botanic Gardens - Peradeniya at an elevation of 488 metres,
Hakgala at an elevation of 1,680 metres and Henarathgoda in the low
country. |
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Natural Iron Wood Forest |
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JATHIKA NAMAL UYANA
ULPOTHAGAMA, MADATUGAMA
Naamal Uyana” is an
extremely rare forest replanted with Ironwood Trees (Mesua ferara) in
the 8th Century AD by King Dappula. The Ironwood Tree is endemic to
Sri Lanka and the replanted forest is over 200 acres in extent. The
area is also geologically important allowing visitors to view one of
the largest Pink Quartz Mountains in Sri Lanka. Other attractions
include ancient monuments dating back to the 2nd Century AD and three
surface waterways, which intriguingly disappear, and then resurface
around 500 metres away in the form of water fountains!
ACCESS
Turn from Dambulla Anuradhapura road at Madatugama Junction and
proceed 6km to Andiagala Road (158 km from Colombo(the name of the
village is Ulpotha))
RICH ANIMAL AND PLANT LIFE
The Namal Uyana holds a rich animal and plant life with over 19
species of birds and rare species of lizards and 76 kinds of
medicinal plants. |
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Iron Wood Forest |
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National Iron Wood Forest
is a unique forest in Sri Lanka where the Iron Wood (Mesua ferara)
trees dominate the vegetation of the 238 acres of forest. It is said
that during King Dappula IV’s period (8th century AD) this Iron Wood
forest was created and the remaining trees are the shoots of that
forest. Hence it is considered the oldest man made forest in Sri
Lanka.According to botanists this is the only Iron Wood forest in the
dry zone with wet zone vegetation. Among the many streams that meander
through the forest, one stream intriguingly disappear out of sight
only to emerge as a great fresh water fountain 500 metres away. |
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Pink Quartz Mountain |
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The main topographical
feature of the forest is the Pink Quartz mountain with seven peaks.
The height of the mountain is 1070 ft above sea level. Geographers
believe that it was formed 4,000 million year ago and it is the only
mountain of this kind in Sri Lanka. |
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Information provided by
Sri Lanka Tourism Board. |
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