Wasgamuwa National Park

Wasgamuwa was named Walasgamuwa due to its abundance of bears and Walasgamuwa later came to be known as Wasgamuwa. Wasgamuwa National Park is one of the oldest forests in Sri Lanka. The forest is spread over three provinces and mainly two districts. Its boundaries are as follows.

1. Northern Boundary - Parakrama Sea, Amban River
2. Western Boundary - Elahera and Bakamuna areas
3. Southern Boundary - Dunuwila Oya, a tributary of the Mahaweli River
4. Eastern Boundary - Mahaweli River

The forest was designated a High Protection Zone by the government in 1940 and a reserve for the first time in 1938. The forest includes evergreen tropical forests, grasslands, swamps and shrubs. This is why it is called a dry mixed evergreen forest.

They include vavarana, milla, kaluwara, kumbuk and palu trees, katupila, keppetiya, kukuruman and nelu shrubs and kahambiliya, kala, walpichcha and olinda vines. The forest is endemic to Sri Lanka with Atuudian, Atamba and Gal Siyambala plants.

There are several large and small hills in Wasgamuwa. Sudu Kanda, Elune Kanda, Bombaragala, Dematagala, Veheragala, Walasgala and Thawalamgala are the main mountains.

The Mahaweli River, Kalu River, Amban River and Dunuwila Oya are fed by streams such as Wasgamuwa Oya, Elagolla Oya, Karapane Oya, Kanda Bidunu Ela, Veddige Ela and Yoda Ela which flow through this forest.

There are many tanks in Wasgamuwa which are fed by the canals made by the kings and also by the natural streams. Kadurupitiya, Wilmitiya, Dambarawa, Dikpitiya, Kok Ebe, Yudaganapitiya, Maha Rotawela, Kuda Karamalawewa, Maha Tharamalawewa and Malagamuwa tanks are the main ones.

Elephants, bears, deer, spotted deer, leopard, leopard, squirrel, squirrel, scorpion, parrot and rabbit are the major mammals in Wasgamuwa National Park. Also endemic to Sri Lanka are green monkeys, parrots and golden hornbills. Sri Lankan endemic birds such as the peacock-tailed deer, black-headed hawk, red-flowered coho and haban cockle, as well as the common birds such as batagoya, peacock, porcupine, black eagle and lake eagle, are also migratory birds such as the Malayan clay coho, the Indian sparrow and the brown brown mare. Special can be seen in Wasgamuwa.

Snakes, spotted snakes, pythons and ahetullas are common in Wasgamuwa. Crocodiles, lizards, squirrels, thalagoya and kabaragoya can also be seen here. Galpadiya, Walaya, Ankutta, Lula, Kawaiya and Telia, Pulutta and Pethiya are the main fish found in the lakes and reservoirs. Blue Glass Tiger, Common Indian Crow, Blue Oak Leaf, Blue Mormon and Common Rose. The most common species are butterflies.

Wasgamuwa National Park has become a special tourist destination for both local and foreign tourists. What is special about this place is that it is associated with the history of kings Dutugemunu, Dhatusena and Parakramabahu from the time of Ravana. In addition, the feeding of the Mahaweli River due to the inflow of water from Wasgamuwa is a special service rendered by this forest.

To visit Wasgamuwa National Park :

• Route 01 18 bend road across Kandy --> Hasalaka --> via Wilgamuwa or Matale --> Illukkumbura --> Wilgamuwa --> Wasgamuwa National Park
• Route 02 Kurunegala --> Dambulla --> Naula --> Elahera --> Wilgamuwa --> Wasgamuwa National Park
• Route 03 Mahiyanganaya --> Girandurukotte road --> Girandurukotte --> Matale road --> Wasgamuwa National Park

Best time to visit in year: January through March

Best time to visit in day: 6.00am to 10.00am and 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Entry points: Handungamuwa and Wasgamuwa

Climate : There is a dry climate most of the year

Temperature : Is about 28C

Annual Rainfall : Between 1650 - 2100 mm

Open hours : 6.00am to 6.00pm

Contact details : 066366904

Things you should not do in a park:

• Get off the vehicle and walk freely in the park except in a designated place
• Speeding, honking horns, blocking wildlife tracks and obstructing wildlife
• Playing musical instruments, turning on the radio
• Put anything in the garden such as food packaging, wrapping, etc
• Transfer of plants, animals or parts of the park to the copy
• Arrive at the park with pets, plants or meat
• Staying in the park beyond the allotted time
• Drinking or carrying alcohol
• Driving off-road
• Put flammable materials, such as polythene and plastic, in the garden
• Behaving indecently.

Special remark: Give your support to protect the parks without contributing to such illegal activities. If you ever visit Wasgamuwa, keep in mind the beauty of this great forest and how to avoid harming its wildlife.