Yala National Park

Yala National Park is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka with an area of 378sq miles. It consist of five blocks and two are opened for the public which is named Ruhuna National Park and Kumana National Park that brings experience of close and personal with untamed world of while life. It is well known for its verity of wild animals such as birds, Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and invertebrates. Apart from them it is a place of conservation for Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds and it has the highest leopard density in Sri Lanka. It host variety of ecosystems including moist monsoon forests, dry monsoon forests, semi deciduous forests, thorn forests, grasslands, fresh water and marine wetlands, and sandy beaches. Two important pilgrim sites of Sri Lanka, Sithulpahuwa and Magul Vihara, are situated within the par. The park is around 260 KM from Colombo and the nearest city is Kataragama. Best time to visit Yala National Park is from June to September and opens from 6am to 6pm in the evening.