Sri Lanka - Nature: 2011

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Pitawala Pathana

Pitawala Pathana

Pitawala Pathana situated close to Riverstan the edge of Knuckles Mountain Reservation which is on the way of Matale - Ilukkumbura road. It is about 31 kilometers from the Matale town. The area is covered by mist in most of the times. Knuckles Mountain Reservation starts right after Reverstan. Most of the travelers go to Reverstan and return without going to Pitawala Pathana which is just 3Kms from Riverstan. The area is really eye catching and do not miss to visit the breathtaking Mini World's End! Further down there is a natural pool in Ilukkumbura where you can have a refreshing bath. There are few trekking trails to Meemure through Knuckles mountain range. Waterfalls flowing down from the surrounding mountains.

Pitawala Pathana - Matale

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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Kadugannawa

Kadugannawa

Kadugannawa is a town in Kandy District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is located along the A1 road west of Peradeniya. The town is served by Kadugannawa Railway Station. Climbing Kadugannawa Pass by train gives you a breathtaking view of the mountain range including the famous Bible Rock. Kadugannawa incline, the gateway to the hill country starts from Rambukkana, approximately 51.7 miles from Colombo-Fort and 290feet Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL). The rail track winds up through the rugged terrain and reach its peak at Kadugannawa, 1690AMSL, the highest point in Kandy line, keeping along the side of the Alagalla Mountain and across Balana Pass. When the train approach Balana, the passengers could get a breath taking view of the Dekanda Valley, the sensational Kadugannawa rock where the train passes through a narrow cliff with a sheer drop of around thousand eight hundred feet. Balana pass, 62 miles and 1,405 AMSL was strategically important place where the brave Kandyans held their capital for centuries against all the attempts of Europeans to take it. Ruins of the Balana watch tower is still exist and it is around two miles away from the station. There are four small stations between Rambukkana and Kadugannawa.

Lion’s Mouth

Lion’s Mouth is an overhanging rock that is found along a bend in the railway between Balana and Kadugannawa, that earned its unique name due to its resemblance to the face of lion. As the train takes the bend under the Lion’s Mouth, a steep drop into the valley below is visible – viewing through the window of a compartment at this point offers a breathtaking view.

Lion’s Mouth - Kadugannawa

View from Lion’s Mouth

Looking down from Lion’s mouth, a beautiful patched landscape of paddy fields can be spotted located in the valley, between the Ihala Kotte and Kadugannawa Railway Stations.

View from Lion’s Mouth


View from Lion’s Mouth

View from Lion’s Mouth

Alagalla Rock

The Alagalla Rock is a steep mountain located near the Ihala Kotte Railway Station. It marks the entrance of the railway to the upcountry. A train tunnel has been bored 300 feet through the solid rock of the Alagalla Mountain, called the Meangalla tunnel. The mountain offers a variety of interesting routes to get to the summit, which offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding area.

Alagalla Rock

Bible Rock

Bible Rock, also known as Batalegala Mountain is a prominent flat topped rock, which acquired its name from foreigners who compared its likeness to an open Bible. It is located in Aranayaka, an ecologically important area and can be spotted along the Kadugannawa Pass along the Colombo to Kandy Road.

Bible Rock

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Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Wasgamuwa National Park

Wasgamuwa National Park

Wasgamuwa National Park is a natural park in Sri Lanka. The park lies within central and north- central provinces. It was declared to protect and to make a refuge for the displaced wild animals during the Mahaweli Development Project in 1984 and is one of the four National Parks designated under the Project. Originally it was designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970's the area was regarded as a strict nature reserve. Wasgamuwa is one of protected areas where Sri Lankan Elephants can be seen in large herds. It is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. As park is almost surrounded by Mahaweli & Amban Rivers, riverine forest area is fairly large. The name of the Wasgamuwa has derived through the words "Walas Gamuwa". "Walasa" is Sinhala for Sloth bear and "Gamuwa" means a wood. The park is situated 225 km away from Colombo. Wasgamuwa can be reached through Matale and Hettipola or from Dehiattakandiya.

Wasgamuwa National Park

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Monday, January 17, 2011

Sigiriya

Sigiriya

Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings, which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. The Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I , and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya may have been inhabited through prehistoric times. It was used as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 5th century, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the Buddhist Sangha. According to the chronicles as Mahavamsa the entire complex was built by King Kashyapa, and after the king's death, it was used as a Buddhist monastery until 14th century.

Sigiriya - Sri Lanka

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Friday, January 7, 2011

Yala National Park

Yala National Park

Yala National Park or Ruhuna National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 square kilometers and is located about 300 kilometers from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds. There are six national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries in the vicinity of Yala. The park is situated in the dry semi-arid climatic region and rain is received mainly during the northeast monsoon. Yala hosts a variety of ecosystems ranging from moist monsoon forests to freshwater and marine wetlands. It is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka. Yala harbours 215 bird species including six endemic species of Sri Lanka. The number of mammals that has been recorded from the park is 44, and it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world. The area around Yala has hosted several ancient civilizations. Two important pilgrim sites, Sithulpahuwwa and Magul Vihara, are situated within the park.

Yala National Park

Yala Map

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Monday, January 3, 2011

Sithulpawwa Rock Temple

Sithulpauwa

Sithulpawwa rock temple is historically significant and identified as one of the greatest 2nd century sites of Buddhist scholarship. Located in Hambantota district 30 Km from Yala Village. With a history of over 2200 years, this is an ancient place of worship. The modern name Sithulpawwa is derived from the ancient ‘Cittalpabbata’, ‘The hill of the quiet mind’. It is said that in the 1st century AD as many as 12,000 Arahants lived here (monks that have achieved the highest mind level in Buddhism). Maha Sithulpauwa rock is 400 feet in height and it houses an intricate cave complex and the dagoba situated on top of the rock; the dagoba is believed to have been built by king Kawantissa. The rock temple is famous for its early Brahmi script, ruins of the preaching house and the fragments of paintings that can be viewed at the image house. For nature lovers wonderful environment around the temple.