
Size | 6,216 hectares |
Main attraction | Elephants, deer etc |
Angammedilla National Park is a lesser known and lesser visited national park situated in Polonnaruwa. Angammedilla was a forest reserve within the Minneriya-Girithale Sanctuary declared on 12 February 1988 and was promoted to a National Park on 6tb June 2006. This was mainly to protect the catchment area of the Parakrama Samudraya or the Sea of Parakrama.
Amban river which is sourced by Sudu Kanda forms the southern border of the park. A mountain range stretches across the park from Girithale to Minneriya. In the drought period the park is very dry. In the rainy season, mountainous area receives more rainfall than the plains. Since a mix wet and dry climate persists in the park the vegetation is a mix of wet zone and dry zone plants.
The park office lies at the point Amban Ganga diverts water to Parakrama Samudraya through the 8km long Angammedilla Canal. At this location Angammedilla National Park connects to the Wasgamuwa National Park though a narrow corridor providing a path for the roaming animals to cross the jungles. Angammedilla was more synonymous with the Raja Bamma inside the park which is the ancient weir across the Amban Ganga built by king Parakramabahu (1153-1186 CE) over 900 years ago.
Until recently it was possible to drive upto this ancient weir and even camp by the river. However this is no longer possible and you need procure tickets to enter the park. Luckyly the ticket office lies at the beginning of the Angammedilla canal.
Access
To reach the ticketing office, from Polonnaruwa, you need to get on to the Parakrama Samudraya Bund and travel on this road to far end and again travel along the Angammedilla canal for another 8 km.
Visitors and Visitor Facilities
Accommodation is available in Polonnaruwa.
Entrance Fees for Angammedilla National Park
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 6-12 will have the cost of
2 x adults | USD 24.00 |
1 x 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 paid 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 11,000-15,000 for half day (4 hours) based on the park. For a full day, its double the cost of a half day.
Also See
Map of Angammedilla 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 Angammedilla National Park
The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains as the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.
Route from Colombo to Polonnaruwa Sacred City | Route from Kandy to Polonnaruwa Sacred City |
Though : Central Highway – Kurunegala – Dambulla Distance from Colombo :226 km Travel time : 4.45 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Through : Matale – Dambulla – Habarana Distance from Colombo : 145 km Travel time : 3.0 hours Driving Directions : see on google maps |
Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred City | Route from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa Sacred City |
Though : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance from colombo : 105 km Travel time : 2 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Though : Chenkaladi – Valachchena Distance from colombo :100 km Travel time : 1.5 hours Driving directions : see on google map |
Route from Polonnaruwa to Angammedilla National Park Entrance |
Through : Parakrama Samudraya Dam Distance : 20 km Travel time : 30 mins Time to spend : 2 hours Driving directions : see on google map |