Size | 1,554 hectares |
Main attraction | Large herds of Elephants, Deer, Wild boar, Bear, Birds and Fish |
The Lahugala Park was initially declared a sanctuary on 1st July 1966 and then upgraded to a national park on 1st October 1980. Although this is one of the smallest national parks in the country, this is a popular location for elephant enthusiasts and bird watchers.
There are 3 tanks within the park. They are, Lahugala (243ha), Kitulana and Sengamuwa. The water from these tanks flows into the Heda Oya. These tanks are largely silted up and support an abundance of Beru grass, which is a delicacy for elephants. These lakes also support a large variety of birds, local as well as migratory.
Being in the dry zone, the land is generally flat with occasional boulder formations. In addition to the elephants, the park is home to the endemic toque macaque, common languor, sloth bear, jackal, rusty spotted cat, fishing cat, leopard, wild bear, Indian muntjac, spotted deer, sambar, pangolin and black naped hare. The tanks and the surrounding area have become nesting places for wetland birds like a pelican, purple heron, painted stork, lesser adjutant stork, white-bellied sea eagle, grey-headed fishing eagle, common kingfisher, stork billed kingfisher and white-breasted kingfisher. Endemic comb duck, rare red-faced malkoha and Sri Lankan Spurfowl too can be seen in the park.
There is no accommodation in the park itself, but Pothuvil and Monaragala can be used as the base when visiting the park.
On the northern edge of the park is the Magul Maha Viharaya, an ancient temple built by King Devanmpiyathissa in the second century BC. This is said to be the location where the king married Princess Vihara Maha Devi. The foundations of the “Magul Maduwa” where the wedding ceremony took place can still be seen in the vihara premises.
The entire Vihara complex covered an extent of around 10,000 acres where ruins of a palace, moonstone, monastery, bo-maluwa, stupas, ponds etc. are found scattered all over. The moonstone here is said to be unique in the country as this is the only location where elephants are carved with their mahouts in the moonstone.
Lahugala Kitulana National Park Ticket Prices
Description (Fees Applicable for Category 2 Parks) | Price |
---|---|
Local – Adults | LKR 60 |
Local – Children (6-12 years) | LKR 30 |
Local – Student | LKR 20 |
Local – Children (below 6 years) | FOC |
Local – Group Fee (per vehicle) | LKR 400 |
Foreign – Adults | USD 12 |
Foreign – Children (6-12 years) | USD 6 |
Foreign SAARC Countries – Adults | USD 10 |
Foreign SAARC Countries – Children (6-12 years) | USD 5 |
Foreign – Children (below 6 years) | FOC |
Foreign – Group Fee (per vehicle) | USD 10 |
Taxes on total cost | 15% |
Entrance Fee per vehicle | LKR 300 |
For example, for 2 foreigners with 1 child between 6 and 12 will have the cost of
Description | Cost |
---|---|
2 adults | USD 24.00 |
1 child | USD 6.00 |
Group Fee | USD 10.00 |
Total | USD 40.00 |
Tax (15%) | USD 6.00 |
Total | USD 46.00 |
Payments can be made in USD or equivalent LKR by foreigners. You can call 1919 (government information center) for the latest ticket prices. If you are hiring a private safari Jeep, the prices vary from LKR 11,000 to LKR 15,000 for half a day (4 hours) based on the park. For a full day, it’s double the cost of a half day.
Also See
Map of Lahugala Kitulana National Park
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.
Travel Directions to Lahugala Kitulana National Park
Route from Colombo to Lahugala Kitulana National Park |
Through : Southern Highway – Buttala – Monaragala – Siyambalanduwa Distance : 250 km Travel time : 6.5 hours. Driving directions : see on google map |
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