Minneriya National Park

Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle—Why Habarana Should Be on Your Travel Itinerary

Although unassuming at first glance, Habarana is a hidden gem worthy of your Sri Lankan travel itinerary—and the perfect base for a world of adventure. This fairly small rural city is surrounded by some of the most prolific landmarks found on the island, brimming with centuries of history and a rich heritage. So, begin in Habarana, and explore the charming heart of Sri Lanka’s “cultural triangle”.

Habarana Village

Habarana itself offers a charming countryside getaway, paying homage to a simpler way of life. Join a village excursion through hotels like Habarana Village by Cinnamon and get a taste of authentic Sri Lankan living — from traditional cooking classes to ox-cart tours and boat rides along a nearby lake.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Nearby, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress stands as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest cultural treasures. Looming over the forest canopy, the ancient fortress showcases architectural ingenuity that dates back to the 5th century, with an entire palace constructed atop a 180-metre-tall rock. Thanks to its popularity, tours are offered in abundance around the site — check with your Sri Lanka resort for more details.

Polonnaruwa’s Ruins

Another nearby gem, Polonnaruwa, offers well-preserved temples, statues, and palaces from a golden age of Sri Lankan civilisation. Established in the 11th century as the island’s second kingdom, this medieval stronghold features some of the tallest structures of the ancient world, surrounded by intricate granite carvings and royal palace ruins.

Minneriya National Park

End your cultural journey with a safari at Minneriya. Located a short drive from Habarana town, the national park is famous for the incredible gathering of wild elephants around its central reservoir—a truly magical wildlife experience.

Discovering Wildlife Wonderland

The gorgeous Minneriya National Park beckons nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers with its breathtaking landscapes and diverse fauna. From majestic elephants to exotic birdlife, here’s everything you need to know about exploring this hidden gem.

Elephant Gathering

Experience the awe-inspiring sight of the famous Elephant Gathering, where hundreds of Asian elephants congregate around the lush Minneriya Tank during the dry season. Witness these gentle giants from above with Cinnamon Air as they bathe, graze, and interact in their natural habitat.

Jeep Safaris

An exhilarating jeep safari adventure through the verdant terrain of the Minneriya National Park is your chance to become one with nature. Traverse rugged trails and dense forests as you search for elusive leopards, sloth bears, and other elusive wildlife species.

Birdwatching Bliss

Minneriya is a paradise for birdwatchers, boasting over 170 species of avian inhabitants. Keep your binoculars handy to spot colourful kingfishers, stately herons, and majestic eagles soaring overhead.

Nature Walks

Immerse yourself in the park’s serene ambience with guided nature walks led by experienced naturalists. Explore hidden trails, learn about the park’s flora and fauna, and enjoy close encounters with wildlife in their natural habitat.

Cultural Excursions

Combine your wildlife adventure with a visit to nearby cultural attractions such as the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Discover the rich history and cultural heritage of the region while exploring ancient ruins and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Guide To Minneriya National Park

A safari through the wilderness and rugged jungles of Minneriya National Park will offer you plenty of opportunities to see Sri Lanka’s gentle giants; the elephants!

Where is it?

Minneriya National Park is located in the North Central Province of the island. There are many ways to get here, either by bus, car or plane! As flying the fastest and most convenient way to travel to the park, you’ll be able to arrange a flight through Cinnamon Air. Those interested in driving can rent a car through the many car rental groups in Sri Lanka.

Minneriya National Park | Image Credit - Photnart, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia Commons — Minneriya National Park | Image Credit – Photnart, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia Commons

Elephants

The Sri Lankan elephant is a treasured beast on the island. The Minneriya National Park has approximately 150 – 200 elephants and The Gathering inside the park is known to be one of the largest wild elephant gatherings in the world.

Threats

Sadly, the Minneriya National Park faces a huge threat of being wiped out; the animals with it, due to human encroachment, overfishing, poaching, water pollution and the clearance of the forest.

Other animals

The other wonderful animals that reside in this park include the Sri Lanka leopard, deer, sloth bear, toque macaque, monitors, jungle fowl and much more.

Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting.

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Minneriya National Park is a national park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The park has 8890 hectares, and is located between Habarana and Polonarruwa. This park consists of mixed evergreen forestland scrub areas and is home to Sri Lanka’s favorites such as Sambar Deer, leopards and mainly elephants. The Hotel Sigiriya is a luxury Hotel in Sigiriya, which gives an opportunity to marvel at the grandeur and mystique of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Fabulous and scrumptious culinary cuisine will be offered at the hotel. Guests can get pampered at the Spa and by the Ayurvedic professionals. The hotel will give a unique experience that is guaranteed to make you relax and unwind. Guests will be enthralled by lush green landscapes and the rich cultural heritage.

The Central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank which was built in the 3rd century by the King Mahasena. The Tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze on the grasses, as well as a huge flock of birds that come to fish in the water. Among the reptiles that can be seen are the Red-Lipped lizard and Skinhal, both are endemic to Sri Lanka as well as endangered. Minneriya National Park mainly affords the opportunity to sight herds of Elephants throughout the year. May to October is the best period to visit Minneriya National Park in view of the famous Gathering of the wild elephants. Gathering is the largest known meeting place of Asian Elephants in the world. During this period herds up to 300 elephants are seen at the 8,890 hectare park within a few square kilometers of the Minneriya Reservoir. This amazing Gathering was listed as Number 6 in the Lonely Planet’s Guide to Natural Wildlife Spectacles of the World.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Minneriya National Park- nature lover’s paradise

Minneriya National Park which is located between the cities of Habarana and Pollonnuruwa was declared as a National Park in 1997. The park is an ideal place to watch elephant gatherings during the dry season. Home to different habitats and arrays of flora and fauna the National Park of Manneriya is a dream come true for nature lovers and photographers. Travellers planning holidays in Sri Lanka can use the services offered by the well renowned tour provider,Walkers Tours Sri Lanka and enjoy a comfortable tour through the North central province.

The central attraction of the park is the Minneriya Tank built by King Mahasena. During June to September this is an unbelievable place to observe the elephants and the flocks of birds such as the painted storks, pelicans, open bills and many other migratory and local birds. Travellers could also spot the Sambar deer, sloth bears, and the leopards when visiting the park. A feeding ground for the Sri Lankan elephants the reservoir sustains a large herd of elephants at a given time. The landscape of the park is simply magnificent; it consists of wetlands, grasslands and tropical evergreen forests as well as small shrubs areas. Apart from these there are a large collection of reptiles in the park such as the endemic and endangered red-lipped lizard and the skinks.

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.

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Minneriya National Park

Located 182 km form Colombo in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province is the famed Minneriya National Park which ranks amongst the country’s leading natural reserves. This is why when staying at a Sigiriya hotel such as Aliya Resort & Spa, a journey to the park is almost inevitable. Considered by many as one of the most sought after ofresorts in Sri Lanka to head over to, one would be compelled to set out on a day’s trip to the Minneriya National Park.
Featuring wetlands, grasslands, scrublands and secondary forests that hold many a secret, the park is also known for its bird population which attracts nature lovers from far and beyond. Unveiled as a national park in 1997, the premises perhaps is best known for the ‘Gathering’ which takes place between the months of August and September and sees the largest group of Asian elephants arrive to feed, drink and frolic in and around the Minneriya Reservoir. Jeeps Safaris are the best ways in which to capture not jut elephants but sloth bears, sambar deer, saltwater crocodiles, Indian pythons and a host of bird species in their natural habitats. Since it is found in the dry zone of the country, plenty of refreshments must be taken before you embark on a trip to the wonderful Minneriya National Park.

Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park, which is in the catchment of the Minneriya reservoir built in the 3rd century CE, is synonymous with the Sri Lanka elephant ever since it was observed that a large number of them congregate here to graze during the dry season. This event has been identified as the largest seasonally recurring wildlife phenomenon in the country. The importance of the area around the Minneriya reservoir to wildlife was recognized as far back as 1938 when it was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary. In 1997 it was upgraded to a Wildlife Park.

Other than the elephants the park is home to a diverse range of wildlife including the Sri Lanka leopard, the Sri Lanka sloth bear, the purple faced langur, the toque macaque, two species of deer and the gray slender loris that are among the 26 species of mammals, both large and small that are found here. The park has also been identified as an important bird area in Sri Lanka with 160 species of birds being spotted around the reservoir. They range from large populations of water birds to migrants and residents and include flocks of pelicans, jungle fowl, cormorants, grey herons, babblers, parrots and bulbuls among others.

Pythons, water monitors and crocodiles are among the 25 species of reptiles that inhabit the park. The park’s other denizen’s include nine species of amphibians, 26 species of fish and 75 species of butterflies.

However the other wildlife pales in comparison to the elephants that can be easily spotted and are in a large group. The ‘Gathering’ as the congregation of elephants here is now called, are elephant herds from Matale, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa districts that come to graze on the succulent grasses and enjoy the water of the reservoir from mid July till end October. The elephants usually come out of the surrounding jungle in the cool of the evening and it is indeed one of the most amazing sights to see them trickle out until they form into quite a large herd said to number 400 sometimes. This is a rare opportunity to observe them in the wild and in endearing family groups.

Whether it is viewing elephants or any other wild life, the natural beauty of the park is part of the amazing experience at Minneriya National Park.

Stay at Hotel Sigiriya in the shadow of one of Sri Lanka’s famous cultural sites and in the heart of the dry zone, home to many of the country’s wildlife. This prominent hotel in Sigiriya provides guests with spacious, comfortable accommodation and a host of modern facilities and amenities including relaxing Ayurveda spa treatments that make a stay here enjoyable. Stay at such conveniently located hotels Sigiriya to have unforgettable cultural and nature experiences.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Minneriya National Park

Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1938 and then upgraded to a Wildlife Park in 1997, Minneriya National Park houses the historic Minneriya reservoir that dates from the 3rd century CE. During the area’s dry season, the park is a very special place as elephant herds from Matale, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa districts come to enjoy grazing and quenching their thirst here. Together with two other reservoirs close to the park, Minneriya forms one of Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka.

While the park’s diverse range of large and small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and butterflies is undoubtedly interesting to all nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, the most iconic attraction is the large number of elephants that congregate here, which is known as the ‘ elephant gathering’ and this is globally celebrated as one of the largest gatherings of mammals, specifically Asian Elephants, in the wild. The magnet that sets off this seasonal movement of elephants is the succulent grasses on the dry parts of the reservoir bed and the easy access to water. The ‘gathering’ takes place from mid-July and lasts until end-October, but peaks in August and September. The best time to view the elephants is in the evening when they emerge from the surrounding jungle in little groups that slowly forms a large herd that is sometimes said to number 300. Not only can visitors have a rare sighting of elephants in family groups, but they are also seen at their natural best, gamboling and cavorting in the water.

For wildlife enthusiasts, the park’s other attractions, endemic species such as the purple-faced langur and toque macaque, the Sri Lankan leopard, the Sri Lankan sloth bear, the gray slender loris and many other endangered and endemic species that are the park’s other inhabitants are of interest as well. For fervent birders, the host of large water birds as well as migrants and many residents that are found in and around the Minneriya reservoir makes a visit here truly worthwhile. Flocks of cormorants, pelicans, grey herons and other water birds are busy foraging for food around the water while jungle fowl, parrots, babblers, bulbuls and other endemic varieties favour the forest and scrub areas around the reservoir. Crocodiles, pythons and water monitors are among the reptiles that prey on the animals coming to the reservoir for water. Combined with the natural beauty of the surroundings, viewing the wildlife in the park is truly an exceptional experience.

To discover these and more natural treasures on the island, take advantage of some well-tailored holiday packages Sri Lanka has to offer its visitors for a stimulating and pleasurable travel experience. Shanti Travel Sri Lanka is a renowned travel company, which offers some competitive Sri Lanka tour packages that enable visitors to explore the country’s culture, heritage and the beauty of its landscapes.

Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday.

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