Udawalawe National Park is a sanctuary for wild animals, providing home for wild animals that were displaced during the construction of the Udawalawe reservoir. The park which was initially set up in 1972 on the boundary of the Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, in Sri Lanka, spans 20,821 hectares and is situated in the dry zone and is 165 kilometres from Colombo. This has been a popular tourist destination for people who visit Sri Lanka, love wildlife and want a natural setting as the backdrop to see the endangered species.
The park is the best example for an In-Situ conservation area, and is rich in diversity among the species, which include genetic variations of the same kind of species. The park itself serves as the home for a number of animals, especially sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, water buffalo (toque-macaque, common langur, jak,sloth bear, toddy cat, leopard, black-naped hare, small Indian civet, endemic golden palm civet, three species of mongoose (herpestesfuscus, herpestessmithi and herpestesvitticollis), endemic shrew, soft-furred field rat, Indian bush rat, and the famous Sri Lankan elephants.
The park is also famous for its bird life which are aplenty, and includes very rare bird kinds; Indian cormorant, osprey, spur fowl, Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Malabar pied hornbill, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, warblers, and capped babbler. Among the raptors (birds of prey) are crested serpent, hawk, fish eagles, brahminy, black-winged kites, & the lovely white-bellied sea-eagle. Not only is the park a sanctuary for birds and animals, it is home for classified vegetation types such as Sain, Halmilla, Ebony, Ehala, Kolon, Milla, Kon, Kunumella, Satin, Lunumidella, Kumbuk, and the endemic Mandorang. 189 species of avifauna have been recorded in the park, on a single trip to UdaWalawe, a tourist would sight no less than 100 species of birds.
Udawalawe is located within a distance of 1 ½ hours' drive from the city of gem, Ratnapura. It is also in the close proximity of Tissamaharama, the ancient city of Sri Lanka which is the home for the most beautiful Buddhist stupa & magnificent TissaWewa, a large rainwater reservoir. A few hours away you will also be able to set foot into Hambantota, the fastest growing city of Sri Lanka, which boasts of a new airport, a new port, and new infrastructural developments. Udawalawe is also situated within a couple of hours' drive (approximately 3 hours) from Hanwella, where Ambalama Leisure Lounge, an ancient Sri Lankan theme based boutique type hotel is located.
Tourists have been delighted with their experience at Udawalawa national park and describe it to be brilliant and magical. The attention to detail provided by the park employees are outstanding and they are the friendliest people you can find. Enjoy a holiday in Sri Lanka at Udawalawe - close to Mother Nature.
The park is the best example for an In-Situ conservation area, and is rich in diversity among the species, which include genetic variations of the same kind of species. The park itself serves as the home for a number of animals, especially sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, water buffalo (toque-macaque, common langur, jak,sloth bear, toddy cat, leopard, black-naped hare, small Indian civet, endemic golden palm civet, three species of mongoose (herpestesfuscus, herpestessmithi and herpestesvitticollis), endemic shrew, soft-furred field rat, Indian bush rat, and the famous Sri Lankan elephants.
The park is also famous for its bird life which are aplenty, and includes very rare bird kinds; Indian cormorant, osprey, spur fowl, Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Malabar pied hornbill, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, warblers, and capped babbler. Among the raptors (birds of prey) are crested serpent, hawk, fish eagles, brahminy, black-winged kites, & the lovely white-bellied sea-eagle. Not only is the park a sanctuary for birds and animals, it is home for classified vegetation types such as Sain, Halmilla, Ebony, Ehala, Kolon, Milla, Kon, Kunumella, Satin, Lunumidella, Kumbuk, and the endemic Mandorang. 189 species of avifauna have been recorded in the park, on a single trip to UdaWalawe, a tourist would sight no less than 100 species of birds.
Udawalawe is located within a distance of 1 ½ hours' drive from the city of gem, Ratnapura. It is also in the close proximity of Tissamaharama, the ancient city of Sri Lanka which is the home for the most beautiful Buddhist stupa & magnificent TissaWewa, a large rainwater reservoir. A few hours away you will also be able to set foot into Hambantota, the fastest growing city of Sri Lanka, which boasts of a new airport, a new port, and new infrastructural developments. Udawalawe is also situated within a couple of hours' drive (approximately 3 hours) from Hanwella, where Ambalama Leisure Lounge, an ancient Sri Lankan theme based boutique type hotel is located.
Tourists have been delighted with their experience at Udawalawa national park and describe it to be brilliant and magical. The attention to detail provided by the park employees are outstanding and they are the friendliest people you can find. Enjoy a holiday in Sri Lanka at Udawalawe - close to Mother Nature.