Arugam Bay,Sri Lanka "AbaY"

Arugam Bay is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's southeast coast. The bay is located 320 km due east of Colombo. It is a popular surfing and tourist destination.Arugam Bay has grown in the last twenty five years, into a big attraction for lovers of the surf, who converge on it in numbers from different parts of the world, to indulge in their favorite hobby of surfing and enjoy the bonus of a cheap, easy going, hassle-free lifestyle, among friendly Sri Lankan people.Arugam Bay is unique, in that it enjoys the distinct advantage of being unaffected by the ravages of two monsoons which hit the Island each year from opposite directions – the South West and North East. A phenomenon which makes Arugam Bay a “year round” destination with excellent weather and ideal conditions for a nice, relaxed holiday away from it all. Meteorological records show 330 sunshine blessed days/year in average.

Another rare phenomenon which sets Arugam Bay apart from other tourist destination is that, despite its popularity among visitors it managed to retain its natural beauty, charm, simplicity and above all, a tranquil atmosphere which makes it an ‘unspoiled’ holiday resort, offering low budget travelers a perfect ‘get-away’.

Away from the sea and sands, Arugam Bay has a wealth of magnificent inland landscapes for the nature lover, a sleepy lagoon which comes alive with an abundance of indigenous and migratory bird life in the European winter, plus the remains of an ancient heritage in the form of temples and monasteries. Sri Lankas’s biggest wild life sanctuary the Yala National Park and one of the most venerated shrines in the country -Kataragama, are also easily accessible from Arugam Bay.

Accommodation is as modest as the village itself, with very basic facilities available in several small hotels or guest houses which continue to provide unpretentious ‘homely’ accommodation, with no such luxuries as air conditioning, for instance. However, there are also a few hotels which are star class and provide up to date luxuries/facilities.

Surfing in Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is on the list of the top ten surf points in the world. Situated on the South East side of Sri Lanka Arugam Bay receives the same Antarctic winter swell’s that hit Indonesia in the in the middle of the year. The best time of the year is between May and November when the predominant wind is offshore for at least the first half of the day.

Three of the point breaks “The Point”, “Pottuvil Point” and “Crocodile Rock” are within a hour tuk tuk ride. There are several other points that are within a 1-hour’s ride or can be accessed by boat.

The Point: This is the main break at Arugam Bay. The point is a long right-hand point/reef break that breaks at the headland in front of Arugam Bay. It is also the best swell magnet of all the points and you can almost always guarantee that the The Point will be a couple of feet bigger than any of the other breaks. It breaks from anything between 2 and 6 feet but tends to max out after 6 foot. Due to its location it is also attracts the biggest crowd but seems to be handling it as it often sections in a few spots. On a good day it provides a clean rideble wall that will barrel in the sections and give you a 400-meter ride right through to the inside. When you ride all the way through the best option is to paddle a few yards to the beach and walk back out to the entry point (booties are advisable as the reef starts from ankle depth). 



Stardust Beach Hotel

Facilities

Type of accommodation - beach cabanas / double bungalows / deluxe rooms

Overhead fans

2 restaurants

Yoga lessons and reflexology foot massages

Nimalawa Forest Monastery, Sri Lanka

Nimalawa Aranya, adjacent to the Nimalawa Sanctuary, is a forest based monastery, situated about 8 km off Thissamaharama town, in the Kirinda road. The calm ambience of the aranya - which is a branch of the Kalyana Yogashrama Sanstha - will undoubtedly awe anyone who visits it.

The history of the monastery runs millania. Approximately 2200 years ago, thousands of great arhaths including Arhath Dhammadinna chose this monastery as a place of residence. It still boasts of stone inscriptions, caves and ponds that were used by arhaths at the time and is commonly referred to as the 'Holy Land of Ruhuna'. One particular stone inscription makes specific reference to a grandson of King Mahanaga, who is believed to be King Kawantissa. Another stone inscription is evidence that Thalaguru Wehera - Arhath Dhammadinna resided in - is in fact Nimalawa Aranya.

Unfortunately the aranya was overtaken by the forest, for hundreds of years, as the bhikkhus left it due to famines and other natural disasters.With unrelenting effort, Kadawedduwa Sri Jinawansa Thera had it reconstructed and was re-established as a monastery on December 23, 1950, with the presence of Mathara Sri Gnanarama Thera and five other Bhikkhus. Three new chambers - Meththa, Karuna and Dhamma Vichaya - were built on site and on July 18, 1951 were presented to four bhikkhus including Getamanne Wimalawansa Thera. It is now one of the most famous forest monasteries in the country, complete with a vihara,Akasa pagoda,library,Bo tree,etc. Moreover it consists of 16 caves including the Maharambhaka cave - which is believed to be the cave Arhath Dhammadinna used as his chamber.Its reputation is such that a dayaka has to be in the waiting list for two years to get an opportunity to give alms.There are more than 750 dayakas.

The Nimalawa Sanctuary - a total of 1065.85 ha - adjoining the Yala National Park, is home to a myriad of wildlife. The night jar, deer, Sambur and wild boar are a common sight in the area. Unfortunately Nimalawa, situated in the dry zone has a very arid climate, with only 550 mm of rain, which is restricted to only October, November and December. The whole area is subject to a severe drought every year during July, August and September. Although water is provided to the area by pipes, this is also cut off during the drought. Consequently human and beast alike, have to suffer during the drought. People have to walk for miles in search of water and carcasses of animals who have died of thirst is a frequent sight here in the Nimalawa sanctuary. Animals who enter villages in search of water become easy prey to humans.

The Nimalawa Aranya is also faced with dire conditions during the drought. Water service completely ceases during the dry season. The sandy soil of the area reduces absorption. Consequently ground water is not an option. There were no other natural water sources other than the stagnant ponds and lakes that completely dry up after just two months of drought. The bhikkhus have barely enough water to drink let alone wash.Newly constructed reservoir in the Nimalawa Aranya is beneficial to Bhikkhus as well as animals, who make Nimalawa sanctuary their home.

To participate for alms giving at Nimalawa Aranya;

Contact person: Mr.Chandrapala 

Telephone : 0473483700

Bundala National Park,Sri Lanka

Bundala National Park is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Bundala harbors 197 species of Birds, the highlight being the Greater Flamingo, which migrate in large flocks.Bundala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and redesignated to a national park on 4 January 1993. In 1991 Bundala became the first wetland to be declared as a Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. In 2005 the national park was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka.The national park is situated 245 kilometres southeast of Colombo.In January 2006, an area adjacent to Bundala covering an area of 3,339.38 hectares was declared as the Wilmanna Sanctuary.

The low country dry zone climate prevails in the area. The area have an average relative humidity of 80%. The national park contains five shallow, brackish lagoons with salt pans in three. They are Bundala lagoon of 520 hectares, Embilikala lagoon of 430 hectares, Malala lagoon of 650 hectares, Koholankala lagoon of 390 hectares, and Mahalewaya of 260 hectares. The Koholankala and Mahalewaya are almost totally developed for salt production. The climatic conditions are tropical monsoonal, with a mean annual temperature of 27 °C. Annual rainfall ranges from 900–1,300 millimetres, with dry period persists from May to September.The    elevation of the park ranges from sea level to 10 metres .The park was affected by 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Due to protection from sand dunes the park received very little damage.

Bird species
A total of 197 bird species have been recorded here, made up of 139 resident species & 58 seasonal visitors, the latter arriving during the northern winter (Sept- March). The lagoons attract an amazing variety of aquatic birds, including ibis, pelicans, painted storks, egrets & spoonbills. From September to March, you can see abundant stints, sand pipers, plovers, terns, gulls & ducks. The migrants Flamingoes join the resident water birds-pelicans, herons, egrets, cormorants, stilts etc.

Flamingos
The most famous visitors are the huge flocks of flamingos. The Bundala area is the flamingos' last refuge in the southern Sri Lanka, & you can see here in variable numbers throughout the year; their exact breeding habits remain a mystery, though it's thought they migrate from the Rann of Kutch in northern India. It's a winter home to the greater flamingoes & up to 2000 have been recorded here. Many other birds journey from Siberia & Rann of Kutch in India to winter here, arriving between August & April. About 350 flamingoes have made Bundala their year-round home.

Non-aquatic birds
Non-aquatic birds commonly seen here include delicate green bee eaters, one of the south's prettiest residents, blue-tailed bee eaters along with spotted doves, common babblers, parakeets & bulbuls.

Peacocks
Perched sententiously amidst the upper branches of the park's innumerable skeletal palu tees are the peacocks. A memorable site.

Elephants

In the scrub jungle is home to herds of elephants. There are permanent resident elephants & larger seasonal migratory herds comprising animals that roam the  Yala National Park & Uda Walawe National Park.

Mammals
Bundala is also home to species mammals, including leopards, sloth bears, civets, mongooses & giant squirrels, as well as rabbits, though the most commonly seen mammals are the excitable troupes of grey languor monkeys. 

Marsh & estuarine crocodiles

We will view crocs along the sides of the park's lagoons & watercourses. Depending on how wet it, your tracker might let you get within a couple of meters of their log-like forms, or even take you to have a peek inside this burros; a memorable experience, though not one for the faint-hearted.

Marine Turtles

Between October & January four of Sri Lanka's marine turtle lay their eggs on the coast of the park.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage,Sri Lanka

It is located northwest of Kegalle town along the Colombo - Kandy main road. The orphanage is in a twenty five acre coconut land near Maha Oya. The wide area of shallow water and the huge rocks of Maha Oya make the ideal place to these magnificent animals.

This facility was established in year 1975 as a conservation breading center for Elephants by Sri Lanka Wildlife department. It was started with a heard of five baby Elephants. In year 1978 it was taken over by the National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka. Pinnawala Elephant orphanage is treated as one of the largest breading center in the world. Today the heard has grown up to 69 elephants.

Daily activities:

During a visit to the orphanage you can evident two main activities. One is the bottle feeding and the second one is the elephant bath.

                                                     Feeding Time

Feeding time is a must see activity, where all the baby elephants are bottle fed by powdered milk using feeding bottles. at 09.15 am , 01.15 pm and 05.00 pm in the evening.

Daily Bath

The other attraction is the daily bath of the elephants. This is the most attractive event from all. A prior notice is given to the onlookers before the elephants are led out from the orphanage where they bath in Maha Oya which is about 150 meters form the orphanage. The view of how they go in a line to the Maha Oya is magnificent.

Breeding Program

The Asian Elephant has been endangered due to poaching and deforestation, with only about 50,000 estimated in the wilderness worldwide. In Sri Lanka its numbers are far lower with less than 3,000 estimated. Poaching and capturing wild elephants is therefore illegal, having led to the Pinnawela orphanage starting its breeding program in 1982. Generally breeding of captive elephants is a challenge as there is a high degree of still births and sometimes the females become aggressive killing their own calves. However, Pinnawela has had quite a successful track record, recording its 50th successful birth on 24th May 2009.

Udawalawe National Park,Sri Lanka

Udawalawe National Park lies on the boundary of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, in Sri Lanka. The reason for creating the national park was to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe reservoir on the Walawe River, as well as to protect the catchment of the reservoir. The reserve covers 30,821 hectares of land area and was established on 30 June 1972.

Before the designation of the national park, the area was used for shifting cultivation (chena farming). The farmers were gradually removed once the national park was declared. The park is 165 kilometres from Colombo. Udawalawe is an important habitat for water birds and Sri Lankan Elephants. It is a popular tourist destination and the third most visited park in the country.

Udawalawe is an important habitat for Sri Lankan Elephants, which are relatively easy to see in its open habitats. Many elephants are attracted to the park because of the Udawalawe reservoir, with a herd of about 250 believed to be permanently resident. 

The Rusty-spotted Cat, Fishing Cat and Sri Lankan Leopard are members of the Felidae family present in Udawalawe. The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear is seldom seen because of its rarity. Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, Sri Lankan Axis Deer, Indian Muntjac, Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain, Wild Boar and Water Buffalo are among other mammal species. Golden Jackal, Asian Palm Civet, Toque Macaque, Tufted Grey Langur and Indian Hare also inhabit the park. A study conducted in 1989 found that considerable numbers of Golden Palm Civets inhabit the forests of Udawalawe. Five species of mice also have been recorded from the park. The endemic Ceylon Spiny Mouse, known from Yala National Park, was recorded in Udawalawe in 1989. Indian Bush Rat and three species of mongooses are also recorded in the national park. Udawalawe is also a good birdwatching site. Endemics such as Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Brown-capped Babbler, and Sri Lanka Junglefowl are among of the breeding resident birds. White Wagtail and Black-capped Kingfisher are rare migrants. A variety of water birds visit the reservoir, including cormorants, the Spot-billed Pelican, Asian Openbill, Painted Stork, Black-headed Ibis and Eurasian Spoonbill.

The open parkland attracts birds of prey such as White-bellied Sea Eagle, Crested Serpent-eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Booted Eagle, and Changeable Hawk-eagle. Landbirds are in abundance, and include Indian Roller, Indian Peafowl, Malabar Pied Hornbill and Pied Cuckoo. Oriental Garden Lizards, Painted-lip Lizards, Mugger Crocodiles, Water Monitors, Bengal Monitors and 30 species of snake are found in the park. Garra ceylonensis is an endemic fish species recorded in park. Introduced Oreochromis spp., Giant gourami, Catla, and Rohu are important food fish species found in the reservoir.

Uda Walawe rainwater reservoir 

Most of all, at the centre of the sanctuary lies the huge man-made rainwater reservoir with a surface area of 3400ha providing irrigation for farmlands downstream & generating hydroelectric power to the tropical island of Sri Lanka. You will be reaching the park by following the road along the 4km bund across the Uda Walawe rainwater reservoir.

The variety of terrain makes the habitat home to variety of wildlife. While woodland of old Teak tree lines the River Walawe, open grassland is traversed by streams & scrub jungle. The extensive area of grassland devoid of forest cover makes the viewing of elephants easier than anywhere else in Asia: herds up to 100 or even more could be seen along the river & near the numerous streams & tanks.The wild elephants could be seen crossing the River Walawe too. The elephant-proof fence around the perimeter of the park prevents some 600 elephants, roaming freely around the reserve from getting out of it to attack the surrounding farmland. The fence also prevents the cattle, belonging to the farmers of surrounding villages, from getting into the reserve.

Uda Walawe Elephant Transit Centre

In 1995, Department of Wildlife in Sri Lanka, in an attempt to support the orphaned calves from the other areas of the island, set up the Elephant Transit Centre at Uda Walawe National Park itself with the support of Born Free Foundation. Twenty of the 32 calves are "foster parented". As in the famous Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, herein too you would have the joy of seeing the baby elephants being bottle fed. Although it is fun to watch baby elephants being bottle-fed every three hours, since the jolly good fellows are kept in pens, you will not get right amongst them & caress them as you do with good little fellows at the famous Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage of Sri Lanka. At the age of five, the young elephants are returned to the wild: living free. While some are born free in the wild some are born in the captivity at Uda Walawe Elephant transit Centre. 

Around Uda Walawe

The location of Uda Walawe makes it within a couple of hours drive from Unawatuna Bay Beach as well as Ratnapura, the world renowned city of gems of Sri Lanka. Tissamaharama, an ancient city, home to a beautiful Buddhist stupa & magnificent Tissa Wewa, a large rainwater reservoir & the town of Hambantota are within a few hours drive too. Hambantota of large salt lakes, where kitchen salt is produced from evaporated sea water in shallow lagoons. The sprawling salt lakes, with an ancient method of making salt, hugging main road make the drive with a sea breeze all the more pleasant. All along the drive are shore birds such as flamingos, gulls, plovers & terns attracted by the salt pans.

Accommodation

Walawa Park View Hotel
A reasonably good little lodge with simple rooms and spacious grounds, is about 8km from the park on the Embilipitiya road. 

Walawa Safari Village
This is located 3km south of a small junction on the road from Embilipitiya to Uda Walawe and 10km from the park entrance. The clean and basic rooms come in a garden setting.


The park has four bungalows and three camp sites along the reservoir and the Walawa Ganga. 

You must prebook with the Department of Wildlife Conservation(011-269 4241; www.dwc.gov.lk ;18 Gregory’s Rd, Colombo 7) in Colombo. The bungalows each contain 10 beds; the charge is US$24 per person per day, plus the US$12 park entry, US$2 per group for linen hire and a US$30 per group service charge. You must bring all of your own dry rations and kerosene. Camp sites cost US$6 per site per day, plus a US$6 service charge per trip. Students and children aged between six and 12 years of age pay half-price (kiddies under six are free).

Yala National Park,Sri Lanka

Leopard-Yala

Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka 's premier eco tourism destinations, lies 24km northeast of Tissamaharama and 290km from Colombo on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, spanning a vast 97,878 hectares over the Southern and Uva Provinces.The vegetation in the park comprises predominantly of semi-arid thorny scrub, interspersed with pockets of fairly dense secondary forest. Small patches of mangrove vegetation also occur along the coastal lagoons. The park is renowned for the variety of its wildlife and its fine coastline.It also boasts a large number of important cultural ruins, bearing testimony to earlier civilizations and indicating that much of the area used to be populated and well developed.

Leopards  
Yala West has probably one of the world's densest leopard populations. Panthera pardus kotiya, is a distinct subspecies of its Indian cousins, the largest in Asia. The best time to see leopard is February to July, when the water level of the park is low. Vepandeniya is considered a favourite spot. However we need to be accompanied by a resident naturalist.

Elephants

The resident elephants are best seen during the dry season from around January to May, near water sources.

Mammals

Among the 32 species of mammals are Sambar deer, spotted deer, muse deer, barking deer, wild boar, wild buffaloes, pangolins, porcupines, stripe-necked & ruddy mongooses, rabbits, wild cats, jackals macaque, langur monkeys, toque monkeys etc.

Sloth bears

Sloth bears are occasionally spotted, particularly in June, when they feed on local fruit.

Crocodiles

There are also plentiful crocodiles marsh as well as estuarine.

Sloth Bear-Yala

Crocodile-Yala

Birdlife

The Palatupana saltpans on the Tissa Road, 6km before the park entrance, are one of the best sites in the world for watching waders: the park is worth visiting for its birdlife alone. There are about 130 species overall. These birds include white-winged black terns, curlews, pintails, barbets, hoopers, Malabar pied hornbills, orioles, Ceylon shamas, & paradise flycatchers, though pea & jungle fowl are the most frequently seen.A bird-watching focused day trip including the riverrine forest of the River Menik may yield over 100 species, among them such rarities as red-faced malkoha, great thick-knee, sirkeer malkoha, blue faced malkoha & painted stork. Along with birds of prey is hawk eagle. Among the colorful smaller species are green & blue bee eaters, hoopoes, parakeets & bulbuls. You will not miss Peacocks.

Aquatic birds

The expanses of wetlands attract serpent - eagle, eastern grey heron, painted stork. White-fowl arrive each winter to augment the resident population. Among the common aquatic birds are various storks, egrets, pelicans, sandpipers, herons, ibises, kingfishers & the magnificent Indian darter. With a little bit of luck, you may also spot the rare black-necked stork near Buttawa on the coast.

Situlpahuwa Monastery

Situlpahuwa Monastery

Located right in the Ruhuna Yala National Park is the famous archeological site named Sithulpahuwa. The second century monastery proudly presents the renovated majestic dagobas. Rock carvings & more than 60 inscriptions testify to the history of the site.

History
The Yala Group of National Reserves was once a part of the ancient Sinhalese kingdom of Ruhuna. A monastic settlement, Situlpahuwa, alone had housed about 12,000 inhabitants including thousands of Buddhist monks during the period of ancient kingdom of Ruhuna of Sri Lanka. Recently resorted, Situlpahuwa is an important centre of pilgrimage en route to nearby Kataragama. Restored Magul Mahavihara & Akasa Chetiya date to the first & second centuries BC testify to a part of the ancient kingdom of Ruhuna. Magul Maha Vihara was built on the spot where King Kavantissa & Vihara Maha Devi were married. In Sinhalese magul means 'wedding'.

Situlapahuwa Monastery archeological site
Five km from Tissamaharama, the watering hole of the animals in transit to Ruhuna Yala National Park, the main road branches off to well laid gravel road. A half an hour drive through the woods that becomes thicker at each turn of the road takes us to barrier point of the game warden. From the barrier another half an hour's drive takes us to Situlapahuwa archeological site of stupas, temple, wild elephants & herbal tea. The monastery comprises of two rock-top dagobas with a small lake in between.

Into the middle of wilderness
The little path leads out of the shrine room with both sides of the path having caves in which monks used to meditate in the ancient times. The path takes us to a rocky outcrop from where we could see the whole expanse of Yala National Park. The existent dagoba on the top of the rocky outcrop is built over the foundations of an ancient dagoba. The inscriptions scattered around the site have identified Situlpahuwa as a monastery of great piety & scholarship.

Kuda Situlpahuwa (Little Situlpahuwa)
Still more into the wilderness & another kilometer through the woods takes us to a smaller dagoba atop another rock outcrop, which is even higher than Situlpahuwa. We will be trekking up a near vertical rock face with the help of rickety hand rail made of iron & tiny toe holds carved into the rock face. Once again we have a panoramic view of the national park.

Accommodation

Yala village

A couple of kilometers from the park entrance, with sixty plush a/c bungalows scattered around ten acres of jungle between sea and lagoon.

Yala Village Hotel