Yala national Park is the second largest national park in sri lanka...............

"Yala National park"  Sri Lanka

the park history, geological & climatic conditions

                             the yala naional park which was declared as a national forest in 1938, is the second widest national forest in sri lanka, this is well known, the tourist as a forest which contain  abundant wild animals and the extent of the forest is 975 sq Km. it is spread over the south earstern region proximately hambanthota and monaragala. in 1900 it was proclaimed as a sanctuary 

the climate in the sanctuary is probably hot and it belongs to the dry semi region.the climate differs between 27'c to 32'c. june, july are drier than in the other month. the rainfall area is mainly by the north east moonsoon. the surface water place a major role in the dry season. the water sources in the park are vital for the survival of wild animals.                                                                                 

"Beauty of Yala " (pic by, Asela piumal , camlo lanka tours)

Yala national park   (pic by, Asela piumal,  camlo lanka tours)

Animals

some lagoon are found in the coastline in the park.inlet birds are profound and the deerand water buffaloes mingle about in the lagoon. elephants and birds are abundant in the park. meanwhile a considerable number of leopards ( Panthera pardus) is found. in addition 44 species of mammals and the reptiles such as indian cobra, Russel's viper etc are sighted. sun bathing crocodiles are a flamboyant scene that is prevalent in yala national park. it is recorded that yala provides a habitat for about 140 species of birds including six kinds of endemic birds. some of the endemic species are pelicone, rare black necked stork, purple heron, lesser flamingo etc.

deer in Yala national park   (pic by, Asela piumal  camlo lanka tours)

crocadile in Yala national park   (pic by, Asela piumal  camlo lanka tours)

water buffalo Yala national park   (pic by, Asela piumal  camlo lanka tours)

Beautiful peacok

sri lankan elephant Yala national park   (pic by, Asela piumal  camlo lanka tours)

Sectors & Lodgin

Yala national park is divided in to five zones as

Block 1 (14101 hectares)

Block 2 (9931 hectares)

Block 3 (40775 hectares)

Block 4 (26418 hectares) and Block 5 (6650 hec).

The menik River and the kubukkan oya, 114 km and 116 km in length respectively flow through the yala national park and reach the sea. the Block1 is introduced as the Ruhunu national park and there are convenient routes for the tourists to travel. and also six circuit bunglows are available in the yala national park.

1) Warahana bunglow ( near menik river)

2) Thalgasmankada Bunglow   ( near menik river)

3) Ondaghghi Bunglow ( near Sithulpauwa Road)

4) Old Buthawa Bunglow ( near the sea)

5) Maha seelawa Bunglow

6) Heen Wewa

all those circuit bunglows are situated in the Yala Block 01.  tourists have the capability to reserve lodgin under the permission by the wild life conservation department of sri lanka.

Department of  wildlife sri lanka -  0094112888585 

Yala national park -  0094473489297                          

for safari  tour arrangment  "www.camlolanka.com"

Railway tunnels sri lanka

                         Railway tunnels 

There are 43 tunnels in the Railway line from Colombo to badulla. The longest railway tunnel in sri lanka which is “singimale tunnel” lies between hatton and kotagala railway stations . Its length Is 559.75m the community nearby the tunnel use it for there transportation. Space is allocated for the protection of the pedestrians in case of a train’s arrival.

Likewise the highest  number of tunnels in  Colombo badulla railway line which  is fourteen is found between ohiya and idalgashinna railway stations. Another distinctive tunnel is found in this railway track. That is the 18^th tunnel situated near the highest railway station in sri lanka “pattipola”. ( 321.95 m length) this tunnel was made in 1919.  It is prominent as there’s a gloomy weather at one end but a dry weather at the other end. Moreover at one end the weather is clear but contradictory it is misty at the other end. 

18 tunnel ohiya end

no 18 tunnel pattipola end

This tunnel had been renovated several times due to slight and heavy earth slips. It had been renewed   for the last time firmly by the sri lankan locomotive engineers. The locomotion had been previously obstructed several times and the railway workers had even made a vow for the god. However eventually it had been restorate permanently and a statue is sighted at the pattipola extreme.

from top of the 18 tunnel

     

hortan plains national park, sri lanka

Hortan plains national park

hortan plains national park is the highest national park in the sri lanka.    its  always  covered  by misty cloud forest.  its  situated  at 

2300 M  (7500 ft.) above sea level. it is 31.6 square km spreaded over. hortan plains temperature is very low. average temperature is 16 c' but some night its descends below 1 c'.  hortan plains has been declared as a national park in 1988.

beauty of the hortan plains

the second highest mountain peak which is Kirigalpoththa (2395 m) and the third highest peak thotupola mountain (2359 m) of sri lanka are situated in hortan plains national park. its 12 km far from hortan plains national park entrance to kirigalpottha peak.its a trek  parth.

kirigalpoththa peak

way to hortan plains

the two main tourist attractions in hortan plains are 4000 ft. vertical drop (world's end) and spectacular "bakers falls". the bakers falls which was discovered by british officer, explorer sir samuel white bakers. bakers falls is situated 2.5 km away from hortan plains park entrance.   its a very spectacular waterfall and the water source of "belihul oya" river.

  there u may found a another attraction called by the "worlds end" its a highest gap wich is 4000 ft high. it meets its boundary at Balangoda plateau. 

herds of sambur can be seen in the early morning and the evening. perhaps u may be lucky to see sri lankan leopard in the hortan plains. although there are  number of leopard in hotan plains. its a very rare chance for u to have a look at them.      

sambur in hortan plains

cascade

sambur

water source of belihul oya River

endemic "maha rath mala"

bakers falls

chimini pond

foot path to worlds end

narrow way to hortan plains


Directions by vehicle or Bus

1) colombo ...Balangoda...Haputhale...Boralanda...Ohiya--Hortan plains road   204 km

2) colombo... Gampola...Nuwara Eliya.. Nanu oya... Pattipola--hortan plains roas   213 km

3) Colombo... Avissawella...Hatton... Nanu Oya...Pattipola--Hortan plains 

                                               By Train

1) Colombo- Badulla 05.55 AM     Podi menike   Train  reach to pattipola at 13.13 pm

2) Colombo- Badulla 09.45 AM    Udarata Menike Train reach to pattipola at 16.45 pm

3) Colombo- Badulla  0800 PM   Night Mail Train

* if u travel by train to hortan plains u have to go 10 km by foot. 

* u are not allow to enter the horatan plains national park after 05.00 pm

                             Adventurer route by 4 Wd Jeep       

    

1) Colombo...Balangoda...Kalupahana...Bambarakanda Falls (highest water fall in sri lanka..)..... Udaweriya estate...Devils stair case....Ohiya--Hortan plains.  this is the most beautiful way to hortan plains.. but u should have strong 4 wheel vehicle & good driving experience.

2)  Colombo...Balangoda...Imbulpe...Nanperial estate...upper nanperial Estate....worlds end... this is very adventure route.. u should have to climb cliff.

3)Colombo...Avissawella...Ginigathhena..Hatton...Dayagama...hortan plains national park. but u  should  get the early permission from department of  wild life srilanka to use Dayagama-Hortan plains sector.   

   

Walawe River sri lanka

Walawe river is one of the four major rivers in sri lanka. it start from "adams peak" (samanala kanda sacred mountain) flows down for 137 km and reaches the sea at southern hambanthota. this picture was taken at waleboda upper balangoda aria wich is the  first part of walawe river. 

hawk

"hawk" near  Balangoda , Sri Lanka

sri lanka tour: colombo to badulla "Udarata Menike" train near ida...

sri lanka tour: colombo to badulla "Udarata Menike" train near ida...: colombo to badulla "Udarata Menike" train near idalgashinna railway station, between ohiya & haputhale railway stations.

udarata menike train near idalgashinna railway staion

colombo to badulla "Udarata Menike" train near idalgashinna railway station, between ohiya & haputhale railway stations. 

udarata menike train

sri lanka tour: pattipola is highest railway station in sri lank...

sri lanka tour:

pattipola is highest railway station in sri lank...: pattipola is highest railway station in sri lanka wich has the altitude of 1891 m above sea level.. its locate at hill country railway t...

sri lanka tour: grate western Railway stationgrate western railwa...

sri lanka tour: grate western Railway station
grate western railwa...: grate western Railway station grate western railway station is one of the   spectacular place in srilanka situated at nuwara eliya di...

Grate western railway station

grate western Railway station

grate western railway station is one of the  spectacular place in srilanka situated at nuwara eliya district, high 1464 m above sea leval. its situated between watagoda & Radella railway station.   

pattipola highest railway station in sri lanka

pattipola is highest railway station in sri lanka wich has the altitude of 1891 m above sea level.. its locate at hill country railway track, 221 km far from colombo capital. pattipola is one of the coolest rural village in nuwara eliya district. u can reach highest national park in sri lanka (hortan plain) via pattipola. its 12 km pattipola to hortan plains.  the climate in pattipola is cool, temperatures typically 5 'c - 18 'c.