Located in the eastern part of Sri Lanka, Galoya a wonderful ecological site and a National Park which centres around the Senanayaka Samudra Reservoir the one largest inland body of water in Sri Lanka, Wild Life and an Irrigational Culture of a District of many communities. Galoya is an immense place for bird watching, nature expeditions and Elephants. Galoya also consists of several Archaeological Sites with ancient Ruins. You must visit Randenigala wild life sanctuary as it is one of the places you must see in Sri Lanka.

WASGAMUWA NATIONAL PARK situated in the districts of Matale and Polonnaruwa, this substantial national park stretches up to a remarkable 36,948 hectares. Initially Wasgamuwa was affirmed to be a strict nature reserve in 1938 but then it was altered and declared into a national park in 1984. The park lies within the central and northern central provinces. Rainfall is generally by the northeast monsoon (December to February) and inter-monsoonal rains. Meaning annual rainfall can vary from about 1750mm in a dry zone to about 2250mm in an intermediate zone. The yearly temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius.

Park consists of Riverina forest, dry mixed evergreen forest, grasslands and wetlands. As park is almost surrounded by Mahaweli & Amban Rivers, riverine forest area is fairly large.

Wasgamuwa is famous as an elephant habitat. These elephants are known to be less habituated to people and are more wildish. Other than elephant, leopard, sloth bear, sambhur, spotted and barking deer, wild boar and wild buffalo are also found here. Torque Macaque, Purple face leaf monkey and nocturnal slender Loris is also found in the park. Lesser Adjutant, Wooly necked stork, open bill, painted stork, Racket tailed Drongo, Yellow fronted barbet, Sri Lanka Junglefowl & Spurfowl are among the over 100 species of birds found within the park.

There is historical evidence to that this area had been inhabited by man during the ancient Sinhala kingdoms in BC. Giant canal of kalinga (Kalinga Yodha Ela) built in the reign by king Parakramabahu in the 12th century while the remains of Malagamuwa, Wilmitiya, Wasgamuwa and Dasthota tanks bear witness to the past prosperity of the area. Kalinga island (Kalinga Duwa) too is an interesting place to visit. Kadurupitiya, Dagoda, Baduruwayaya Buddha Statue, Malagamuwa stone pillars and other ruins also bear witness to the past glory of the area

How to get there

Wasgomuwa can be reached through Matale and Hettipola or from Dehiattakandiya coming from Polonnaruwa or from Mahiyangana.

The only way to Experience a unique landscape is to travel to the wondrous national park of Somawathiya. Travel on a safari jeep and scan the wide-open plains upon some of the most magnificent creatures. The park measure to about 37,762 hectares and is said to be quite similar to immense Flood Plain National Park to the south.

On your journey, you'll see that the north of the park is dominated by dry evergreen forest, while to the south lays the sizeable flood plains. Aside from elephants who can be observed feeding on the mainly water tolerant grass species and aquatic plants growing on the plains, leopards, water buffalo, sambhur, the fishing cat and the rusty spotted cat may also be seen while the flood plains are idyllic for many species of aquatic and raptor birds.

Galoya National Park is situated in the eastern part of Sri Lanka, is an ecological destination and a National Park which centered around the Senanayaka Samudra Reservoir the largest inland body of water in Sri Lanka. Galoya is a great place for bird watching, nature expeditions and Elephants. The National Park lies South-East of the country in the eastern and UVA provinces.
In addition to the national park, three sanctuaries were declared to protect the catchments area of this tank. They are
Senanayake Samudra Sanctuary 

Together these reserves and the national park cover approx 63,000 ha of land. The park and the three sanctuaries was established by the Gal Oya Development board on 12 February 1954 and subsequently handed over to the Department of Wild life conservation in 1965.

Gal Oya is a valley, which has given refuge to several kings in the ancient past. In the 2nd century BC, king Tissa sought refuge at the Digavapi, a place Lord Buddha has visited in his third visit to Sri Lanka. The Digavapi Dagoba, built in the 2nd century BC to mark the spot where the Lord Buddha sat on his last visit to Sri Lanka, attracts thousands of pilgrims even today.

Flora

About 45% of the vegetation is evergreen forest, 33% savanna, 9% grassland, 2% cheina cultivations and the balance is water bodies dominated by Senanayake Samudraya. A host of medicinal shrubs and trees such as Aralu, Bulu, Nelli can be readily found in the Nilgala area, while a number of locally known trees such as Vevarana, Halmilla, Veera, Palu, Ebony and Mahogany are found in great numbers.

Fauna

The park with its thick green canopy is a haven for species of birds and nearer to the Samudraya even migratory birds such as Painted Storks, Pelicans, Cormorants and Teals could be seen. A host of local birds such as the Grey Dove, Malabar Horn Bill and Grey Horn Bill, Koel and a number of water birds are found in this jungle habitat. In addition to elephants, the park is home to leopards, bear, spotted deer, sambur, wild boar etc. Among other fauna are several species of monkeys, Porcupine, a number of fish species, reptiles and four species of butterflies such as the Crimson rose and Glassy Tiger have been recorded.

Located in Tangalle, ‘Hummanaya’ is reputed to as the 2nd largest blowhole in the world. A visit to the Hummanaya also gives you an opportunity to take a dip in the Sea and a day of Leisure at the glorious Tangalle beach.The place is 89 km. south of Colombo is Dikwella, a coastal town 22km east. The ocean water flows underneath the shore, and then comes out of this hole due to pressure. Water shoots up every minute or so, and it gives a very serene feeling.

Rekawa where sea turtle watching is popular, is among the top 10 eco-friendly destinations named by online travel community IgoUgo.

The beach at Rekawa village, 10km east of Tangalle Bay beach, is home to one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the world. At Rekawa, five of the seven species of sea turtle come to nest, with most popular being the green turtle. These species of sea lay their eggs in the sand here every night throughout the year.

The best time to see turtles is between January & April; periods when there's a full moon. Fullish moon too are good throughout the year, because there are both more turtles & more light to see them by. Rekawa has recorded 23 turtles in one night. We will definitely see at least a couple of turtles every night.

We wait long hours in the pitch black beach. At last, one arrives in the midnight crawling across the beach, away from sea. It leaves, on its path, a remarkable trail which looks as if a one-wheeled tractor has driven straight up out to the sea. It's an agonizingly slow crawl of exhausting half an hour by a creature not adapted to the land. Having reached the top of the beach, the turtle then spend about another 45 minutes digging an enormous hole. Silence of the midnight is broken by periodic thrashing & sound of great clouds of sand being scuffed up. As the turtle begins to lay eggs, we can get close to watch, although all we could see is the turtle's backside with eggs-looking just like ping-pong balls-periodically popping out in twos & threes. The turtle then rests, fills in the hole & eventually crawls back down to the sea. It's an epic effort, the sight of which makes the whole evening-long experience worthwhile.

In the absence of government sponsored project, the turtle eggs are then taken to be re-buried in a secure location, by the villagers who make a basic living from entertaining tourists. These creatures have acted as a rare bridge between marine & terrestrial ecosystems for 100 million years, enriching both as they steadfastly undertake their remarkable two-realm life cycle. We refuse to buy eggs for consumption. We refuse to buy turtle products

Across the lake and modest level walk through is rainforest is the lodge’s 110’ high steel staircase that terminates at a treetop viewing platform perfect for scanning the top of the canopy the monkeys and beautiful birds.

Kanniya Hot wells are reputed as one of the 7 wonders of Sri Lanka. This place has Seven hot wells. Water is in different temperatures. The place is located in Kanniya, 7 km away from Trincomalee town. It is also 1km inside from the main road of Anuradhpaura to Trincomalee. People believe that bathing in these well will refesh themselves. This is one of the historical places of Trincomalee district.

The Ranmasu Uyana, one of the ancient Royal parks located below the bund of Tissavapi or Tisa weva strictly reserved for the members of the royal family. The city's rulers constructed large lakes to irrigate paddy lands and also to supply water to the city. Nuwara wewa and Tissa wewa number among the best known lakes in the city.

Anuradhapura’s Heritage Park will extend from Ranmasu Uyana (water-garden) to Isurumuniya, Vessagiriya and Dakkina stupa but with no intrusive developments, only landscaping of the area and cleaning up of the natural ponds. “These will be beautiful parks where people will be able to spend time reflecting or even meditating while looking on the skills of crafts people at work or children painting, away from the hustle and bustle. Most tourists will pay a lot for such special memories,” he is sure. In Polonnaruwa, the park will cover the Nissanka Palace and water garden, resthouse and museum. A bird park will be set up by the old rest house road and the two islands in the Parakrama Samudra developed so that people can go there by boat.

This world famous ancient place is dedicated to God Kataragama. This temple is famed for its carved wooden pillars with intricate designs. The pillars leap to life with dancers, musicians, wrestlers, legendary beasts and birds.

Nearby are the ruins of an ancient Rest House with similar pillars carved in stone. All the above described monuments belong to the 14th century.

Trincomalee is famed for its world famous natural harbour. Once, described by admiral Lord Nelson as the finest harbour in the world when he visited aboard HMS Seashore in 1770. It is ranked as the world's 5th largest natural harbour. During the Second World War the harbour became the base for the combined East Asian Fleet of the Allied Powers.

For beach addicts, it is the ideal beach resort between April & November when the sea is at its best. Located at the mouth of Sri Lanka's longest river Mahaweli Ganga, Trincomalee's most famous landmark is Fort Fedrick, a centaury and a half of British fortifications can be found here. The cliff known as Swami Rock on the tip of Fort Federick promontory is associated with a tragic romantic tale woven around a Dutch maiden who is believed to have jumped to her death from this spot seeing her fickle lover sailing away.

The Thirukoneswaram Kovil, which stands on the top most pinnacle of the Swamy Rock, is a high venerated Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. World’s the most famous and beautiful beach on the East Coast is Nilaveli, situated at the centre of the 30 km strand of beach which runs uninterrupted from North to Trincomalee. Close to Nilaveli is Red Rock Beach - an estuary perch and pinkish colour boulders. A shot boat - ride off the beach and you may visit Pigeon Island.

The Parakrama Samudra is the largest irrigation tank of Great King Parakramabahu I. The huge lake upon whose north-eastern shore Polonnaruwa rests is an inland sea known as the Parakrama Samudra.. It was the life-blood of the ancient city in the same way that it is the blood life of the religion today, providing water for the growth of thirsty rice crops and other foodstuffs. Its 5,600 acres of water irrigated an estimated 18,200 acres of paddy land. Five minor lakes were incorporated in the building of the Parakrama Samudra, whose 8 1/2- mile bund contains 4 1/2 million cubic yards of earth. One thousand men employed in the hand labour of the period, working 24 hours a day, could scarcely have completed the job in 12 years.