Wasgamuwa National Park

Wasgamuwa National Park

Province :  North-Central Province Area : 369 sq. km Altitude:   76 - 500 m Vegetation : Dry evergreen forest

Sri Lankan Elephants can be seen in large herds in Wasgamuwa National Park. The park is bound in the west by the Sudukanda mountain range and surrounded by River Amban Ganga and River Mahaweli Ganga on the eastern and western sides of the National Park. It is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. The name of the Wasgamuwa has derived from the words “Walasa" is Sinhala for sloth bear and "Gamuwa" means a wood.

Marsh elephant (Elephas maximus vil-aliya) roams in the Mahaweli river area. The best time to enjoy the sight of large herds is during November to May. In the rest of the year the elephants tend to migrate to nearby Minneriya and Kaudulla national Parks. Sloth bears are fairly common as are water buffalo, purple-faced langur and toque macaque.  143 species of birds have been recorded that include  8 endemic species , migrants, forest birds, water birds and waders.. Endemic red-faced malkoha , Sri Lanka junglefowl , Lesser adjutant, yellow-fronted barbet, Sri Lanka spurfowl , Peafowl, painted stork, black-headed ibis and Eurasian spoonbill are the park's other aquatic birds and the rare Sri Lanka frogmouth can be found here.  

There are also archaeological ruins of ancient settlements within the park, the most important of which is Buduruwayaya, which is comprised of ruins of Buddha statues which are estimated to be over 1,800 years old and buildings which date back to the Polonnaruwa period. One of the key battles, in the 2nd Century BC, between the kings Dutugemunu and Elara occurred at Yudaganawa in the SE corner of the park.