Eco Tourism
Ecotourism is the theme of new tourism in Sri Lanka. The country has wide
and vibrant source of ecotourism. It is a tool to conserve the environment
and offer maximum economic benefits to the host country. It satisfies all
three, those who are in need of employment, people working for conservation
for environment and tourists who want to frolic in the lap of nature. While
in ecotourism in Sri Lanka you can tour genuine sites without harming the
sustainability of the destination.
While eco touring in Sri Lanka you have plethora of activities for your
family. Options are many: Wildlife Safaris, Bird Watching, Hiking, Trekking,
Photography, Cycling, Nature Trails, Snorekelling and many more. You can
relax in a long tranquil beach or trek to nature forest reserves. While in
Sri Lanka, you can enjoy yourself fully in the lap of nature. Various travel
companies in Sri Lanka are now offfering eco tourism packages catering to
every budget.
Sri Lanka has the highest biodiversity per 10,000 square km in Asia. All
this land provides different wildlife oppurtunities and variety of
landscapes. You would also find in Sri Lanka remnants of ancient
civilisation. Sri Lanka hosts innumerable cultural sites of antiquity. Six
sites in Sri Lanka have been designated World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Wildlife
Sri Lanka has got plentiful and varied wildlife. It being an island
makes it naturally isolated from other countries. Tropical climate and
geographical location gives Sri Lanka some unique type of plants. Natural
isolation from other countries pronounces that the island has high
endemicity among its fauna. Sri Lanka is most famous for its elephant herds.
Leopards are also popular presentation of Lankan wildlife. You can enjoy
turtles for hours in the coastal areas. For people interested in
birdwatching the country would be pure delight. Even the persons least
interested in wildlife can find themselves charged. For hundreds of years
nature in the forests of Sri Lanka has remained unchanged. 12% of the
country has been designated by the authorities for conservation of wildsife.
National Parks
Ruhaun National Park at Yala is the best known national park in Sri Lanka.
The Park is known for its elephants who wander in big and small herds.
Leopard and sloth bear are main attraction in Wilpattu National park.
Established in 1954, Gal Oya National Park gives home to about 30 species of
animals. About 150 species of birds are also found in this park. Located
170km off Colombo Uda Walawe National Park is known for providing home to
elephants, various species of deer, monkeys, jackal, water buffalo and wild
boar. , Madhu Oya National Park is the home of creatures like Sambhur,
Purple Monkey, reptiles and birds. Designated as a National Park in 1988,
Horton Plains National Park is comprised of cloud forests embedded in wet
grasslands. Bundala National Park offers large variety of aquatic birds feed
on the harvest of numerous lagoons in the park.
Bird
Sanctuaries
Kumana, Wirawila, Bundala and Kalametiya are more known bird sanctuaries in
Sri Lanka. Their location on Sri Lanka's extreme south eastern coast and
abundance of lagoons and swamps declares that these have become the
preferred residence of waterbirds. You can find large flocks of both
resident and migrant aquatic birds.Two highland sanctuaries are Udawattakele
and Peak Wilderness.
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
Put up in 1975, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, located 90km off Colombo, has
developed as the world's most successful elephant breeding centre. A major
attraction for eco tourism lovers, it has the largest captive herd in the
world.
Dehiwala Gardens
National Zoological Gardens, located at Dehiwala, is renowned for rich
assemblage of beasts, birds, reptiles and fish all over the world. Aquarium
of Dehiwala Gardens offers over 500 varieties of aquatic life. The
Zoological Gardens also hosts attractions like Aviary, Reptilium, Butterfly
Park.
Botanic Gardens
Three botanic gardens in Sri Lanka are located in Peradeniya, Hakgala and
Henarathgoda.
Sinharaja world heritage forest
Singharaja Forest Reserve, most well-known rainforest in Sri Lanka, is a
living heritage. The forest has very rich biodiversity. Most vegetation in
this forest is endemic to the country.
Waterfalls
Several hill chains in Sri Lanka are interspersed by waterfalls and
streams. Particularly mentionable are at Wetlands, Muthurajawela, Bolgoda
Lake, Hakgala, Gampaha and Peradeniya.
Museums
Two famous museums of Sri Lanka are National Museum and Natural History
Museum, both located at Colombo.
