Yala National Park tends to dominate when it comes to environmental sanctuaries in Sri Lanka. There is, however, another gem of a park farther north tucked away in the Matale and Polonnaruwa districts, where the experience is just as, if not more, rewarding. It’s name is Wasgomuwa.
Wasgomuwa National Park is a short drive from Handungamuwa. Even in the dry season in the dry/intermediate zone, the park is a nice mix of greens and browns. Wasgomuwa hosts a range of micro-climates, both primary and secondary, ranging from grasslands to tall, dense forest cover. Each gives you a different feel with varying tones of colours, shapes and lighting. Several tanks with water lilies and bea-ru (reeds elephants eat) are scattered through the park. Two of the tanks – Dumbarawa and Wilmitiya - have viewing platforms. These increase the visitor experience as you can watch the birds hunt, feed, preen, nest, call out, or just “hang out” and mingle.
In Wasgomuwa, sightings of the famous three - leopard, bear and elephants - are less in comparison to Yala, but bird species are more abundant. If you are interested in taking in a patchwork of changeable landscapes, Wasgomuwa is the jewel to explore.
Wasgamuwa National Park is a natural park in Sri Lanka situated in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts . It was declared to protect and to make a refuge for the displaced wild animals during the Mahaweli Development Project in 1984 and is one of the four National Parks designated under the Project.Originally it was designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970s the area was regraded as a strict nature reserve. Wasgamuwa is one of protected areas where Sri Lankan Elephants can be seen in large herds. It is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. The name of the Wasgamuwa has derived through the words "Walas Gamuwa"."Walasa" is Sinhala for Sloth bear and "Gamuwa" means a wood. The park is situated 225 km away from Colombo.
Physical features
The National Park's annual daily temperature is 28 °C (82 °F) and has a dry zone climate.Annual rainfall ranges between 1650–2100 mm. Rain is received during the north-eastern monsoon, from October to January. July–September is the dry season. Highest elevation of the National Park is Sudu Kanda (White mountain), which is 470 metres (1,540 ft) of height. The soil of the national park contains quartz and marble. The forests of Wasgamuwa represent Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests. The park consists of primary, secondary, riverine forests and grasslands.History and historic irrigation
Ruins of Malagamuwa, Wilmitiya, Dasthota irrigation tanks and Kalinga Yoda Ela canal which are built by Parakramabahu I remain in the national park. In the past water was irrigated from the Minipe anicut's left bank canal to Parakrama Samudra by Amban ganga which had run through Wasgamuwa.Yudangana Pitiya has identified as the battleground of the battle between King Elara and King Dutthagamani taken place.A grassland that the Dutthagamani's army supposed to have camped before the battle is known as Kandauru Pitiya. The ruins of Chulangani chaitya which is built by King Mahanaga can be seen in the national park. Its circumference, 966 feet (294 m) is greater than the Ruwanwelisaya's. The artifacts that have been recovered from the bricks of the chaitya include a bowl used by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha and several bronze statues are now kept in the Yudangana vihara.
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