Wilpattu National Park Sanctuary
131,693 hectares in extent Wilpattu is the largest national park in the country,. The main topographical feature in Wilpattu is theconcentration of "Villus" or lakes within the park. These water bodies though looking similar to lakes are formed by flat basinlike depressions with the surface containing pure rain water. The park is unique as there are a number of these with large sandylake shores (Villus) which provide the animals with a continuous water supply during the dry season. Two of these "Villus" are
salty due to a characteristic of the soil. A permit is needed to be purchased at the entrance and a game guard is also provided.Except at a few locations, visitors are not permitted to get off their vehicles. This is a very scenic park. There are bungalows inthe park which have to be booked in advance through the Department of Wildlife Conservation. There are a few privately ownedbungalows also outside the park.
How to get there: - Colombo -Negombo -Chilaw -Puttalam -Tabbowa -turn left at the Wilpattu Name Board few Kilometres before the Nochchiyagama town (4 hours).
BIRDS: Brown-Capped Babbler, White-RumpedShama, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Pintail Snipe, Ceylon Jungle Fowl, Black-TailedGodwit, Great Stone Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Ceylon Green Pigeon, Orange-Breasted Green Pigeon, Malabar PiedHornbill, Racket-Tailed Drongo, Forest Eagle Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Black-Backed Yellow Woodpecker, Rufus Woodpecker,Golden-Backed Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Common Kestrel, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, White-Bellied Sea Eagle,Grey-Headed Fish Eagle, Ceylon Frog Mouth etc.
