Gal Oya National Park in Sri Lanka was established in 1954 and serves as the main catchment area for Senanayake Samudraya, the largest reservoir in Sri Lanka. Senanayake Samudraya was built under the Gal Oya development project by damming the Gal Oya at Inginiyagala in 1950.

How to Reach?

Gal Oya National Park can be reached from Colombo via Ratnapura, Pelmadulla, Udawalawe, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Moneragala and then north from Siyambalanduwa to Inginiyagala. The park entrance is 20 km west from Ampara at Inginiyagala.

You can choose easy way to reach Gal oya national park.

Best time to visit Gal Oya National Park is from March to July. During this period, the boat safaris bring the spectacle of herds of elephants swimming from one island to another island in the great Senanayaka Samaudra reservoir.

What You Can Do Here?

If you visit in Gal oya national park, there are lots of things to do for your enjoying. If you travelling Gal oya national park, you can get jeep safari or Boat safari, Both of these experience are wonderful and do not missed. If you choose boat safari, you can see bird island. Or yiu choose jeep safari, you can see elephants, leopards and many more.

Here is a long list of major things to do in Gal oya national park. Which the first time travelers can visit and experience.

Gal Oya National Park Jeep Safari

Gal Oya National Park allows the visitors to enjoy its beauty and wild life by Boat safari as well as by Jeep safaris. Boat safari affords the opportunity to land in an island within the reservoir called “Bird Island” swarming with birds.

Gal Oya National Park, The Jeep safaris that consist of two tracks of 5km and 13 km are ideal to catch the sights of elephants and leopards.Best time to visit Gal Oya National Park is from March to July. During this period, the boat safaris bring the spectacle of herds of elephants swimming from one island to another island in the great Senanayaka Samaudra reservoir.

However, if mention entrance fees in gal oya national park, a very low fee is charged. you can visit here and enjoying with reasonable price.

Gal Oya National Park Boat Safari

Gal Oya National Park is famous for it's boat safaris operated by Wildlife department and the most practical way of going to boat safari starting point is from Siyabalanduwa, that is halfway through on Monaragala - Arugam Bay road. The best time to go on the boar safari is at 6 AM or at 3 PM when the sunlight is not too harsh. The highlight in Gal Oya National Park boat Safari in Senanayake Reservoir is the swimming Elephants who swim across the Senanayake Reservoir to the islands in the lake in search of food.

Mighty water body of Senanayake Reservoir, Spectacular sunrise, Bird life are some of the other key features of Gal Oya National Park.

If you get a boat safari, do not worry about safety  and other things. All facilities with safety jackets you can get in here. In here guiders guide you how to do this.

Visit Gal Oya

You can visit gal oya for watch the elephants coming to the drink the water. And take some pictures.

The river was dammed in 1948 as part of the Gal Oya scheme. The dam created the Senanayake Samudra — the largest reservoir in Sri Lanka, at Bintenne. Resettlement of the Tamils and Sinhalese people displaced in this scheme gave rise to among the first ethnic riots in Sri Lanka.

Where you can accommodation in Gal oya?

Gal Oya National Park Bungalows

Gal Oya National Park has no accommodation options within the park. Rest house and bungalows are at Inginiyagala and a circuit bungalow is available at Eekgal Aru located 23km away from the park office. Rest houses are available at Inginiyagala.