Somawathi National Park – සෝමාවතී ජාතික වනෝද්‍යානය

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The Somawathi National Park is one of the four national parks set aside under the Mahaweli River development project. The other three national parks being Maduru Oya, Wasgamuwa and Flood plains. The park spans the Eastern and North Central provinces in the deltoid plain of the Mahaweli River.

It affords protection to a unique habitat, i.e. riverine villus and flood plains, as well as to a large concentration of elephants in the country, in conjunction with the adjacent Flood Plains National Park.

Although the area has been heavily exploited, regeneration will be rapid once human activity is phased out because of the abundance of moisture and high carrying capacity of the villus. Both parks are vital for migratory and resident waterfowl.

Currently the Somawathi National Park is under threat due to the government providing large land blocks belonging to the park for private large scale banana cultivations and development of public road networks through the park.

The park is most popular for the Somawathi Stupa which houses the left tooth relic of Buddha.

Also See

• Nature and Wildlife in Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

Map of  Travel Directions to Somawathi National Park and Other Places of Interest

Travel Directions to Somawathi National Park

Sungawila is the last town and border village you come across on the route to Somawathi. After this town you come to the entrance ofSomawathi National Park.

The park can be reached from Polonnaruwa or from Minneriya. Coming from Minneriya, you have to pass the Higurakgoda town to reach Sungawila. From Polonnaruwa, you need to turn at the Hospital Junction (between Polonnaruwa and Kaduruwela towns). The distance to the stupa from both these towns (Minneriya and Polonnaruwa) is about 40 kilometers.