+94 47 7634630-2
Thanamalwila Road, Udawalawe, Sri Lanka
The Madunagala Hermitage (Madunagala Temple) dates back to the time of the Anuradhapura period. It was founded by Sri Gnananandabhimana Mahanayake Mahimi who retreated into the jungle. It is said that when he first preached here, wild pigs had congregated to listen to him. The tranquility of the temple is broken only by the infrequent bird-call.
Situated a few miles away from Ambalantota, in the jungle. The journey takes about 30 minutes along the tarred road. A red dirt road leads to the temple about 12.5 kilometres away. The road winds in all directions and is joined frequently by other roads and choosing the correct road is near impossible for someone without a guide.
Madunagala hot springs are a wonderful creation of nature in all its natural beauty. Historically these hot springs flowed into a natural water hole. The reason being that are these thermal waters contains medicinal properties to cure ailments like skin eruptions and other rheumatic pains.
Often referred to as the Dark Prince of Ceylon, the Maduwanwela Disawe was a personality that defined an era. His influence with the colonial administrators of his time were such that they even bestowed on him the title of Sir James William. His ancestral home, the Maduwanwela Walawwa, is a reflection of the Disawe’s personality and an architectural icon of a bygone era.
Built in the 1700s under the aegis of the then Maduwanwela clan, the Walawwa lies upon part of the 82,000 acre estate donated by two Sinhalese kings. The Panamure estate (nindagama) consisted of 54,000 acres and was gifted to Maduwanwela’s great grandfather by Kings Raja Singhe II for having brought him the head of a General who was under the Portuguese service.
Sevanagala area is much popular among the nation for the sugar cane cultivation since 1986. Sugarcane cultivation are carried on under irrigated and rain fed conditions mostly with conventional agronomic practices. Sevanagala sugarcane plantation-factory-distillery complex which was established in 1986 with a production capacity of 1430 TCD of sugar and 60 tonnes of molasses per day is continuing operations at 1250 TCD of sugar 60 tonnes of molasses per day.
Supported by the Born Free Foundation, this complex is a halfway house for orphaned elephants. After rehabilitation, the elephants are released back into the wild, many into the Uda Walawe National Park. Seeing them at feeding time (from a viewing platform) is a lot of fun.
Udawalawe National Park safari gives you a first-hand experience of the wilderness and wildlife of Sri lankan wetlands. Udawalawe is an important habitat for Sri Lankan elephants, which are relatively hard to see in its open habitats. Many elephants are attracted to the park because of the Udawalawe reservoir.
No more flight bookings need to reserve for safari in Africa. Whole animal kingdom is roaming in Ridiyagama. The Department of National Zoological Gardens is eager to unveil it’s another flagship project for the nature lovers and pleasure hunters browsing the down south of Sri Lanka.
A 500 acre drive through Safari Park, the first ever Safari Park in Sri Lanka is being culminated in Ridiyagama, Hambantota. No doubt this will add one more landmark destination to the tourist map of Sri Lanka and to the history of the Department of National Zoological Gardens.
Situated in Sri Lanka’s south-east hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean, Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and was designated a national park in 1938. Ironically, the park was initially used as a hunting ground for the elite under British rule.
Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. Among its more famous residents are the world’s biggest concentration of leopards, majestic elephants, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, spotted dear, peacocks, and crocodiles. The best time to visit Yala is between February and July when the water levels of the park are quite low, bringing animals into the open.
UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK
UDAWALAWE ELEPHANT TRANSIT HOME
SEVANAGALA SUGAR FACTORY
MADUWANWELA WALAWWA
MADUNAGALA HOT SPRINGS
MADUNAGALA HERMITAGE
RIDIYAGAMA SAFARI
YALA NATIONAL PARK
LUNUGAMVEHERA NATIONAL PARK
The Lunugamvehera National Park was established as a protection corridor for elephant migrating from the Yala National Park to the Uda Walawe National Park’s Western region and for the protection of the catchment areas of the Lunugamvehera Reservoir. The Lunugamvehera National Park covers an extent of 23,498.8 ha. and the Lunugamvehera Reservoir within the park covers 3,283 ha.
Rich in biodiversity, the park is a habitat for a large number of wild elephants and wild buffaloes. In addition other species of animals such as Fishing Cat, Grey Mongoose, Bear, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer and Mouse Deer are found here. Being a dry-mixed evergreen forest, Lunugamvehera Park has a variety of tree and plant species which provide ample food-stocks for herbivorous animals.
2 km
4 km
13 km
28 km
40 km
47 km
44 km
70 km
60 km
Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home
Sevanagala Sugar Factory
Maduwanwela Walawwa
Madunagala Hot Springs
Madunagala Hermitage
Ridiyagama Safari Park
Yala National Park
Lunugamwehera National Park
DISTANCE FROM CENTAURIA WILD
