Kumana National Park (Yala-East) – කුමණ ජාතික වනෝද්යානය
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Peaceful Kumana – photo licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 by Johann du Preez
Yala Map
Source : padayathra.org
| Size | 18,148 hectares |
| Main attractions | Birds, Elephants and leopards |
This is a separate national park from the Yala (Ruhuna) National Park but joined to Yala on the west side by the Block 2 SNR.The park lies on the southeast coast in the Eastern province, 7 miles/12 km south of Arugam Bay, and is accessible from the Wellawaya-Pottuvil road. Kumana villu is a well-known nesting site for various species of herons, storks and also pelicans and a host of other water birds. Earlier Kumana had a village, whose residents were shifted to the Mahaweli project area.
At the base of most rock outcrops are caves, some with rock inscriptions of the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. A nine-metre stature of the reclining Buddha, now in ruins, was discovered in a large cave at Bambaragastalawa. Bowattagala is an ancient monastic site. Kudumbigala and Lenama, peripheral to the park, were once the hunting grounds of Nittawo, legendary pygmies (or dwarf ape men) who were sworn enemies of the Veddhas.
Accommodation
This park is at present rarely visited. It has two bungalows, one at Okande, near the park entrance, and the other by the waterhole at Thunmulla. A campsite is situated on the banks of the Kumbbukkan Oya at Kumana. A boat is available for hire at Kumana Villu.
Also See
Map of Kumana National Park (Yala-East) and Other Places of Interest
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 Kumana National Park (Yala-East)
There are two routes from Colombo. They fork off at Pelmadulla and meet again at Wellawaya, one going via Beragala and Koslanda and the other via Thimbolketiya, Udawalawe and Thanamalwila. From Wellawaya the road goes through Moneragala, Pottuvil and Panama. There is only one entrance to the park from Panama, through the Kudumbigala Sanctuary. The park office is situated at Okande, where a permit and guide should be obtained before entry. The distance from Colombo is approximately 243 miles/350 km.
Route I from Colombo to Kumana National Park Entrance | Route II from Colombo to Kumana National Park Entrance |
| Though : Ratnapura – Balangoda – Beragala – Wellawaya – Monaragala – Pothvil – Panama Distance : 350 km Travel time : 7 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Though : Ratnapura – Balangoda – Udawalawe – Thanamalwila – Wellawaya – Monaragala – Pothvil – Panama Distance :370 km Travel time : 7 hours Driving directions : see on google map |
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