UDA WALAWE, KATARAGAMA & TISSAMAHARAMAYA

Uda walawe, situated between the highlands and the south coast. Uda walawe is a game park and is the best place in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants throughout the year. Unlike other National Parks , Uda walawe dose not have a seasonal variation in elephants numbers and it is easy to encounter a few of them at any time of the year . Late evenings give the best lighting for photography with amazing sunsets over the Uda walawe Reservoir.

The Elephant Transit Home , run by Sri Lanka’s wildlife Department, the Elephant Transit Home at Uda walawe seeks to conserve Sri Lanka’s elephant population. Young elephants, either orphaned or are recovering from injuries, are rehabilitated before their release into the wild. Watch the mischievous baby jumbos being bottle fed.

Tissanaharama was the capital of the ancient Ruhunu kingdom in the 2nd century B.C.A scenic backdrop to Tissamaharama town is provided by the sprawling Tissa Lake, built 2,300 years ago. The town is dominated by ancient Buddhist temples as well as an archeological Museum that provides a glimpse into the ancient Ruhunu kingdom.

Katharagama is an ancient pilgrimage site where all religions are worshipped. Buddhist, hindus, and Christians visit this ancient holy site. It is believed that king Dutugamunu the warrior king and singala folk hero built a shrine here for the worship of the Kathargama God in the 2nd century BC. Each day at specific times, kataragama Hindu shrines come alive when devotions are presented the God a mesmerizing experience.

Sri Lanka is never short of statues and rock carvings to make up an enthralling activity for the historically minded. The ancient rock carving at Buduruwagala, close to wallawaya , comprise of seven gigantic Buddhist figures sculpted into a 70ft cliff. And the Maligawila statue , 15m Kim’s from Buttala and dating back to the 7th century, is the largest freestanding image of the Buddha in Sri Lanka.

Yala National Park, situated in the south-east corner of the island, is home to the greatest variety of Sri lanka’s Wildlife. Comprised of five separate blocks covering 14,100 hectares, its varying habitats consisting of scrub plains, jungles, rocky outcrops, forest, mangroves fresh water lakes, rivers and coastal lagoons provide homes for many species of animals including sloth bear, herds of elephants, monkeys, sambar, buffalo , deer, the endangered leopard sub species panthera pardus kotiya, which is found only in Sri Lanka.

Yala receives an annual rainfall of less than 1,000 mm from the north- east monsoon from about November to January. The rest of the year remains dry with the period from July to September showing severe drought conditions. Mean temperature is around 27c. The Dry months from May to September are the best time for viewing big game in Yala National Park, including Leopards and sloth bear. From October to April, Yala becomes home to many species of migratory birds and is a hotspot for bird watching. The first few months of the year are also good for observing Leopard cubs.

Mammals

Yala is home to 32 species of mammals. There are around 400 Asian elephants and among them many tuskers as well as spotted deer, sambar, mouse Deer, wild boar , Barking deer and water buffalo. Yala National Park also boasts the highest density of leopards of anywhere in the world, so your chance of a sighting are high. Early morning and evening are the best times of day to see Leopards. Other cats which roam through Yala include fishing cats, rusty – spotted cat and jungle cat, although these smaller species are just as elusive as the leopards. Yala National Park is also home to three types of mongoose and two types of civit, as well as Toque macaque and grey langurs . Those seeking out a sloth bear should go during June and July when the Palu fruit is in season.

Reptiles And Amphibians

The two endangered species of crocodile can be found in Yala basking in the noon heat. All five species of sea turtles which come to nest on the shores of Sri Lanka can be seen here, as well as two types of freshwater terrapin and the beautiful stars tortoise. Many species of snake also can be found in the park with the Indian Rock python being the most common. Three endemic geckos and fives species of skinks are found in the park, along with land monitors and a few other lizards including the commonly – sighted painted lip lizard.

Birds

Yala National Park is an excellent place for birdwatching in Sri Lanka over 100 species can be easily spotted in a full day’s visit to the park. Around 230 species of resident, migrant and endemic species of birds have been recorded in Yala National Park. Endemics include, the Sri Lankan jungle fowl, that can be seen along the edges of the roads any time of day, Brown capped babbler , Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Wood shrike, Sri Lanka Green pigeon, and Red- faced malkoha . Resident dry Zone species include Malabar – pied Hornbill, blue faced and shirkeer malkoha, Yellow wattled lapwing, great and Eurasian thick knee, the globally endangered lesser adjutant and the extremely rare black necked stork.

Many water birds can also be found in the park including painted storks, the globally threatened spot-billed pelican, Indian and little cormorants, Indian darter , Little grebe, Asian open-bill, Eurasian spoonbill, woolly necked stork , purple and grey herons and five species of egrets. Migrating waders include the marsh, common , wood and green sandpipers, curlew sandpipers, Little stints, common redshank, common greenshank, Kentish plover, lesser and greatest sand plover, golden plover, Grey plover, pintail snip, back- tailed godwit, ten species of terns and two species of gull. Yala National Park has many excellent places to observe diurnal birds of prey, including the endangered grey headed fish eagle, crested serpent eagle, crested hawk-eagle, white-bellied sea eagle, Brahaminy kite and shirkers.

The Elephant Transit Home in Uda walawe rehabilitates orphaned elephant calves before releasing them back into the wild. Visitors can watch the orphaned calves being fed, from the safety of a viewing platform, at one of the four daily feeding sessions, held every three hours from 9.am until 6.pm the Elephant Transit Home is connected to Uda walawe National Park, for much of the day, the orphaned elephants live in the park , in preparation for their eventual release into the wild . To see the calves and large herds of wild elephants in this natural setting, go on a morning or evening Jeep Safari into Uda walawe National Park.

Uda walawe National Park in Sri lanka’s South -central sector, is the area that most popular as game park. Wildlife reports say there are about 500 elephants in the park and they often roam in herds of up to 100 100 Leopards, buffalo , deer and sloth bears keep them company along with mongooses, bandicoots, foxes , water monitor lizards and crocodiles, A half -day tour in your own private Jeep with driver and guide is the best way to see the 30,821 hectares of protected area parked on the Uda Walawe Reservoir.

Mammals

Uda walawe is undoubtably the best place in Sri Lanka to see wild Asian Elephants throughout the year. Unlike other parks, Uda walawe does not have a seasonal variation in elephant numbers and it is easy to encounter a few of the at any time of year .morning and evenings are the best time to visit the park and late evenings give the best lighting for photography with amazing sun sets. Other mammals that can be seen include wild Boar, spotted Deer, Barking Deer , jackal , sambar, water Buffalo , Black-naped Hare , the endemic Toque Macaque And Gray Langers . If lucky, you can also see Leopard and some of the other smaller cats like Fishing cat and jungle cat.

Birds

Uda walawe can be one of the best places to see the Dry zone avifauna of Sri Lanka. By speaking just two days in the park you can easily see over a 100 species during the migrant session. Uda walawe is specially known for its many species of Raptors. Some of the common birds seen include spot-billed pelican, Little cormorant, Grey Heron , Indian Pond Heron , Cattel Egret, Large Egret , Little Egret, intermediate Egret , painted stork, woolly-necked stork, Yellow wattled Lapwing, Green Bee-eater, crested Tree-Swift, common , White-throated, pied and stork-billed kingfisher, orange breasted Green pigeon , Ceylon Green pigeon, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, crimson backed woodpecker, Black-shouldered kite, Brahaminy Kite, White-bellied sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle , Serpent Eagle , migrant included Booted Eagle , common kestrel, Harries, Rosy starlings, Black- capped kingfisher, Wood sand piper, common sand piper, Little Ringed plover , whiskered Tern , Yellow Wagtail, Forest wagtail and citrain Wagtail.

Butterflies

Being in the Dry Zone Uda walawe is home to many species of butterflies of Sri Lanka including the beautiful Banded peacock that is attached to the host plant the stain Tree which is found in the park. Other species found here include the common jezebel, common Indian crow, many species of Yelliws and white common Mormon and in the riverine forest areas Common Blue-bottle can also be seen. Uda walawe has become a haven for Butterflies in the resent past with the large number of Lantan trees which have taken over the vegetation of park. This being an invasive species to the park it is considered a pest, extensive work is being carried out by the park authorities husband this tree. It can not be eaten by any of the herbivores in the park and competes with the endemic trees. However the flowers the Lantan are a big favorite of all the butterflies and the birds.

The jungle shrine of kataragama , Located an hours drive away from Thissamaharama, has great religious and historical significance that cuts across race and religion. Ancient kataragama brings together Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian, all of which worship each day at its numerous temples which are dedicated to the various faiths. It is believed that king Dutugamunu, the warrior king and Sinhala folk hero built a shrine here for the worship of the kataragama God in the 2nd century BC . There is also a first century BC Buddhist Dagoba, kirivehera, at this site, the Maha Devala, the main shrine of God skanda, the Hindu war God , and several other adjoining Hindu shrines, conduct daily religious rituals. Each day, at specific times the Hindu shrines come alive when Devotions are presented to the Gods, baskets filled with fruit and flowers, burning incense and oil lamps, dashing of coconuts , clanging of bells, and the continues chanting, truly a Mesmerizing experience.