Minneriya National Park
| Size |
8,889 hectares |
| Main attraction |
Large herds of Elephants |
| Other Wildlife |
Elephants, Sambar, Spotted Deer and on rare occasions, Leopard and
Sloth Bear can be seen wading through the water in search of food.
Flocks of cormorant, Painted Storks , Great White Pelican, Ruddy Turnstones
and Grey Herons. The endemic birds found in this Park are the Sri
Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Brown-capped
Babbler and the Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill
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Situated 182 km from Colombo, Minneriya National Park is dominated by the Minneriya
tank. This is another park where you will find the Elephants in large numbers.
The entrance to the park is about 6 km from the Habarana Best time to see
Elephants in park is the early morning and late evening. The park opens at
6 am. It is best to be at the gate by this time. You can hire a safari jeep
from Habarana or from Polonnaruwa. They cost around Rs 1500/- per half day
and Rs 3000/- for full day. Vans are also allowed in to the park. They can
travel on almost all the tracks on the dry season. But if you have a 4WD jeep
you can go to the dried up lake bed during the dry season. This is where you
will find most of the animals. A permit is required from the Ambagaswewa Wildlife
Conservation Office (about 6 km from Habarana), to enter the park.
There are no bungalows inside the park. You will have stay either in Habarana
or in Polonnaruwa. Some good star class hotels can be found in Habarana and
Girithale.
You can also see elephants on the Habarana Road (Road connecting Habarana and
Polonnaruwa) itself if you travel along this road after 6.30. Herds of elephants
come to the road after dark. They are quite used to vehicles but sometimes
get annoyed by the head lights. Once my vehicle was chased for some good meters
by a herd probably because we stopped to vehicle (with head lights on) too
close to them. Obviously had other things in my mind than taking few photos.
I did take few photos another day on this road. This herd had come to the road
at about 4.30 pm. They are a little blurred as I took them from inside the
vehicle. I have posted them in the photo section.
Directions
The park can be reached through Ratnapura and is approximately 182 Km from
Colombo. If you are traveling from Colombo You will have to take the Kandy
Road and turn off from Ambepussa towards Kurunegala. From Kurunegala take the
Dambulla - Habarana Road. From the Habarana junction turn right towards Minneriya.
Photo Gallery
This herd was about 25 strong on the Minneriya Tank Bed |
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A protected Calf |
Same Herd |
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Irritated |
On the Charge |
Updated
February 21, 2007
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