Yala National Park is the second largest national park in
Sri Lanka, which is considered to hold the highest concentration of leopard in
the world. The entry point of the park is Palatupana, located at a distance of
about 305 km from Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka.
The park is situated
in Hambantota District of the Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Yala was
established as a National Park on 1st March 1938, when the Flora and
Fauna Ordinance were passed into law by the then Agricultural Minister, D. S.
Senanayake.
Attractions
One of the main attractions of the park is the wildlife
safari provided by the Yala National Park, which allows the visitors to explore
the bio-diversity of the region.
Flora
The park covers over an area of about 1,260 sq. km, but
only one fifth of the park is accessible to the visitors. Yala National Park
holds a varied kind of eco system, including dry monsoon forest, thorn forest,
moist monsoon forest, semi deciduous forest, grasslands, fresh water and sandy
beaches.
Fauna
The place is also home to large variety of wild animals,
like the leopards, sloth bear, jackal, wild boar, wild buffaloes, elephants,
sambar and spotted dear, macaque monkeys and langurs.
Avifauna
It is also a popular destination for bird watchers as
over 215 species of birds have been recorded in this area. The diverse species
of birds that you can spot at this place are crested serpent eagle, white
bellied sea eagle, pelicon, spoonbill, grey heron, purple heron, lesser
flamingo, painted stork, rare black necked stork and darter.
Reptiles
Reptiles also form a major part of the fauna of this
national park. Mugger crocodiles are found in large numbers around the tanks
and the rivers flowing through this area. Species of snakes like cobra and
Russel’s Viper are found at this place. Its coastlines are also a popular
nesting place for sea turtle, Olive Ridley and Leatherback.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the park is between the months of
June and September.
Accommodations
Tented safari is widely popular along the outer circle of
this park, which offers a unique opportunity to explore the wilderness of the
place from close quarters and saving much of your time while traveling. If you
want better accommodation facilities, then there are hotels and resorts located
in Tissa, which is the closest major town to Yala National Park.
How to Reach
By Road: The place can be visited through road
by bus transportation from Colombo. It will take you around 9 to 10 hours from
Colombo to get to the place, as it is located at a distance of about 305 km.
By Air: The nearest airport to the place is
Mattala International Airport, located at a distance of about 27 km. The
airport conducts regular flights to several major cities around the world. One
can hire a taxi or board a bus from the airport to get to the place.
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