1.) Yala (Ruhuna) National Park
Found in the island’s southeast area for an arid zone boarding, the Indian Ocean is one of the most famous national parks in Sri Lanka. Yala National Park or Ruhuna National Park is situated within the provinces of South and Uva. This park features a whole land area of 979 sq km divided into five cubes; nevertheless, two cubes are available for individuals. Proclaimed in 1938, the Yala National Park is the largest in Sri Lanka, and it houses the Majority of the large mammals of the Country.
The park’s climate is usually hot and dry. The rain is seasonal and normally obtains its annual rainfall during the northeast monsoon from November to January. The erratic inter-monsoonal rains normally happen in March, April, and September. The dry season begins in June and continues until September or perhaps mid-October.
The plant of this park includes chiefly semi-arid thorny scrub with scattered secondary forests. Furthermore, there are diminutive patches of mangrove plants across the coastal lagoons, dunes, and arid grasslands.
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The blocks I and II of this park are accessible to people. Block one is the most visited location, as it includes the utmost concentration of leopards. The park also acts as a habitat for more than 120 species of birds, from flamingo into flycatchers, crested hawk eagles to black bitterns, Indian Peafowl into Sri Lanka jungle fowl.
The park also boasts a few mythical archaeological pursuits like the historic monastery of Sithulpawwa settled on the peak of a gorgeous rugged platform along with also the Debarawewa Wetland and Palatupana Saltpans. The coast within the park also acts as a significant nesting ground for marine turtles.
When to see:
The perfect time to visit the park is during the rainy season, February to August. During these months, the herds are gathered in a given place for water supply, while throughout May will be the much-awaited sloth bear season. The park closes its gate throughout the breeding season, normally over September or October, and so November and December is a nice time to see wherein you might have a glimpse of their cubs.
The Best Way to get there:
The best way to make it to the playground would be by Train. The South shore could hit Park through Tangalla, Tissamahara, and Hambantota or via UdaWalawe from Ratnapura, Haputale through Bandarawela, Tanamalwila from Nuwara Eliya. There are two entrances to the publication, the main gate in Palatupana, 20 kilometers from Tissamaharama, and another gate in Kataragama -Sithulpawwa road. You’ll find only four-wheeler jeeps with soft-tops which may be hired to explore the park. An individual might have a comprehensive day safari or a morning or day trip to explore the park.
2.) Uda Walawe National Park
Situated 170 km southeast of Colombo, surrounded by Ratnapura and Morangala districts, is now the Uda Walawe National Park. The park is located on a sterile zone, and a bit of section lies inside the intermediate zone. It is a place roughly 306 sq kilometers and was established in 1972 to function as a catchment area of the UdaWalawe Reservoir. The park’s plant comprises dry lowland woods, grasslands, scrublands, and abundant teak woods.
The park is called a refuge to the crazy elephant and the ideal spot to see Asian Elephants. About 500 elephants are roaming freely around the publication. An elephant fence inside the region keeps the dinosaurs and the cows out too to guard other resident mammals against danger.
Furthermore, there are sightings of leopards in the area; they are often found on rocky outcrops. An individual may also have a glimpse of many species of reptiles, such as water monitor lizards. Additionally, there is a wide diversity of birds nesting in the area, including spot-billed pelican, Indian cormorant, grey heron, cattle egret, black-winged kite, crested serpent eagle, jungle fowl, flycatcher as well as many others.
Located within the publication is the Elephant Transit Centre. This center was set up in 1995 in the Department of Wildlife in Sri Lanka to nurture the left, wounded, or orphaned baby elephants before releasing them back into the wild. The center offers conservation and conservation of wild animals.
The Way to get there:
The park is roughly 4 to 5 hours drive from Colombo and may readily be accessed via Ratnapura Road, Pelmadulla or Colombage Ara intersection, or by Downsouth through Tangalle or even Hambantota. From basic slopes, the park is closer to Haputale and Bandarawela. There are buses from Embilipitiya to Thanamalwila, which will take tourists to this park’s entrance. The primary entrance of this park is all about the 7th milepost of Uda Walawe- Thanamalwila road.
3.) Wasgamuwa National Park
Wasgamuwa National Park is just another refuge to find. The park covers roughly 39, 322 ha, and is situated within Matale and Polonnaruwa’s districts. Adjoined by rivers, Mahaweli in the east, Amban in the west and west, the park is endowed with varied microhabitats of flora and fauna, the only National Park in the Central Province where you’re able to detect dinosaurs in their natural habitats.
The clearing of the massive region of the forests due to the implementation of the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Project limited the critters in the Wasgamuwa area, thus in 1984 that the Wasgamuwa was declared as a National Park.
The playground plant is chiefly monsoonal forest comprising riverine forest, dry mixed evergreen forests, grasslands, wetlands, and scrublands. Wasgamuwa Park homes 23 species of mammals in Sri Lanka, chiefly the crazy animals. Besides, there are reptiles, buffaloes, bears, leopards, sambar, wild boar, and deer. The park also houses 35 species of reptiles, for example, water paths, crocodiles, and lizards like red-lipped lizards and earless lizards. Additional fauna nesting in the area is the 8 species of amphibians, one of these would be the endemic and endangered Slender Wood Frog.
Located within the region’s reservoirs are 17 species of fish, such as the endemic stone sucker and combatant. The park could be inhabited by 143 species of animals where 8 have been considered endemic.
Besides the abundant faunas, the park is a home for a varied species of plants. About 150 species of flora located in the park, a variety of them are the substantial medicinal plants, Athi, Udayan, and Bin Kohomba; additionally, there are palu, weera, wood apple, Eragrostis viscose, lace, and ebony, as well as gal siyambala.
The playground is the perfect location for escape and meditation. In which you may enjoy moments of isolation from the hustle and bustle of the city. The location is also famous for its historical significance. The goliath trench of Kalinga Yodha Ela that was gathered during the reign of King Parakrama Bahu in the twelfth century and the remnants of Malagamuwa Wilmitiya is comparably placed in the playground.
The Way to get there:
The Wasgamuwa National Park may be attained through Matale and Hettipola. Guests from Polonnaruwa or Matale can arrive at the recreation center through Laggala and Wilgamuwa. From Mahaweli, the top approach to attain the location is through Wilgamuwa Japan Bridge.
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