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| size | 19,565 hectares (196 square kilometers) |
| Main attraction | mangrove swamps and sea grass, sand dunes and dry zone flora |
Chundikkulam lies in Mullaitivu district on the edge of where the Jaffna Peninsula connects to the mainland of Sri Lanka.
Chundikkulam Lagoon and its surrounding area were designated as a bird sanctuary on 25 February 1938 under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. Chundikkulam Sanctuary became a national park on 22 June 2015 with an area of 19,565 ha (48,347 acres) Chundikkulam Lagoon is partly surrounded by mangrove swamps and seagrass beds. The surrounding area includes palmyra palm trees, scrub forests and a variety of dry zone flora.
The best time to visit Chundikulam National Park is between November and February, as the weather is dry and pleasant. During this period, the park is teeming with migratory birds, making it an excellent time for bird watchers. Although the park remains open during the monsoon season from April to September, visitors should expect heavy rainfall and trails filled with water.
Numerous varieties of water and wader birds are found in the park including bar-tailed godwit, black-tailed godwit, black-winged stilt, brown-headed gull, common sandpiper, curlew sandpiper, eurasian coot, eurasian curlew, eurasian spoonbill, eurasian teal, eurasian wigeon, garganey, greater flamingo, gull-billed tern, marsh sandpiper, northern pintail, oriental ibis, painted stork, ruff, shoveler, terek sandpiper and wood sandpiper.
Chundikkulam was one of the most popular bird sanctuaries in the north of the country. However, with the Tamil Terrorists waging a war with the government, this was not accessible to the public for almost 30 years. However, after the end of this conflict, the government took further measures to protect the wildlife in the region declaring this area as National Wildlife Park.
Access
Access to the park is not organized or there is no formal ticket system. To reach the lagoon, you need to enter the Jaffna peninsula through an Elephant Pass and ride to the eastern edge of the peninsula. There is a sandy road parallel to the seashore along dunes, palmyra trees and thorny bushes. A four-wheel drive vehicle is advised to travel on this route. There is no habitation other than a few security points and seasonal fishing huts along the route. Over this road, you can drive up to the edge of the lagoon.
Also See
Map of Chundikulam 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
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Travel Directions to Chundikulam National Park
Jaffna can be reached through two principal routes. The most commonly used approach is via Elephant Pass, which has long served as the traditional gateway to the Jaffna Peninsula.
An alternative route reaches Jaffna from the direction of Pooneryn by crossing the Sangupiddy Bridge. This crossing follows what was historically the ancient route to the peninsula before the construction of modern highways. The route provides a connection between Jaffna and the Mannar region.
| Route 01 from Colombo to Jaffna Through Kurunegala (Popular Route) | Route 02 from Colombo to Jaffna Through Puttalam and Pooneryn (Lesser Traveled Route) |
| Through : Kurunegala – Dambulla – Anuradhapura – Vavuniya Distance: 410 km Travel Time: 7-8 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps. | Through: Puttalam – Thantirimale – Mannar – Poonaryn Distance: 408 km Travel Time: 8 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps. |
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