 Wasgamuwa National Park
Bordering the districts of Matale and Polonnaruwa is the Wasgamuwa
National Park, a vast sanctuary that stretches to a remarkable 36,948
hectares. Wasgamuwa was affirmed to be a strict nature reserve in 1938
but it was altered and declared a national park in 1984. The park is
situated within the central and northern central provinces and is
primarily an elephant habitat. Rainfall by the northeast monsoon
(December to February) and inter-monsoonal rains can vary from about
1750mm in a dry zone to about 2250mm in an intermediate zone. The annual
temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius.
 The park consists of riverina forest, dry mixed evergreen forest,
grasslands and wetlands giving a suitable environment for elephants and
other animals to seek refuge on a hot day.
The park is virtually surrounded by the Mahaweli and Amban rivers
making the riverine forest a fairly large area.
Famous for its elephants, the Wasgamuwa offers a wealth of wildlife
and is frequented by environmentalists and nature travellers in a bid to
understand more about Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Besides the magnificient
elephant, animals such as the leopard, sloth bear, sambur, spotted and
barking deer, wild boar and wild buffalo are also found here.
Torque Macaque, Purple face leaf monkey and nocturnal slender Loris
have also been reported to be seen in the park.
The Lesser Adjutant, Wooly necked stork, open bill, painted stork,
Racket tailed Drongo, Yellow fronted barbet, Sri Lanka Junglefowl and
Spurfowl are among the 150 species of birds found within the park.
There is historical evidence that this area had been inhabited by man
during the ancient Sinhala kingdoms. The giant canal of Kalinga (Kalinga
Yodha Ela) built during the reign of King Parakramabahu in the 12th
century is located here while the remains of Malagamuwa, Wilmitiya,
Wasgamuwa and Dasthota tanks bear witness to the past prosperity of the
area. The Kalinga island (Kalinga Duwa) too is an interesting place to
visit.
Kadurupitiya, Dagoda, Baduruwayaya Buddha Statue, Malagamuwa stone
pillars and other ruins also bear witness to the past glory of the area.
Wasgamuwa can be reached through Matale and Hettipola or from
Dehiattakandiya travelling from Polonnaruwa or from Mahiyangana. The
Wasgamuwa National Park has some very strict nature conservation
measures in place. |
