Lahugala Kitulana National Park is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka. Despite its land area, the park is an important habitat for Sri Lankan elephant and endemic birds of Sri Lanka. The national park contains the reservoirs of Lahugala, Kitulana and Sengamuwa and they are ultimately empties to Heda Oya River. Originally it was designated as a wildlife sanctuary on July 1 of 1966. Then the protected area was upgraded to a national park on October 31 of 1980. Lahugala Kitulana is situated 318 km east of Colombo. Lahugala District is Ampara district.

As the park lies in the dry zone, the tanks' vegetation is a dry mixed evergreen forest with scrubs. Beru, a tall reedy grass, covers the tanks. The park is traditionally used as a feeding ground by elephants, with herds of up to 150 known to be observed between June and August. Other mammals include endemic toque macaques, grey langurs, sloth bears, golden jackals, the Indian muntjac, and spotted deer. The birdlife is diverse and includes various waterfowl, raptors and the usual dry zone forest birds.

How to Reach?

From Colombo to Lahugala Kitulana Forest Reserve 395.7km far away.

You can choose easy way to reach Lahugala Kitulana Forest Reserve  .

What You Can Do Here?

If you visit in Lahugala Kitulana Forest Reserve, there are lots of things to do for your enjoying. If you travelling Lahugala Kitulana Forest Reserve, you can get jeep safari, elephant and bird watching, camping & many more.

Lahugala Kitulana Forest Reserve Safari

Lahugala Kitulana Forest Reserve allows the visitors to enjoy its beauty and wild life by Jeep safaris. This safari takes you on a wonderful wildlife experience in lahugala National Park, Get a chance to see the elusive Sri Lankan Leopard. Drive past grazing wild elephants. Glue your eyes to your binoculars to identify the hundreds of aquatic birds that nest at the reserve. Feel that rhythm of nature in the movements and colors of the wildlife you get to see. You can enjoy 3hours safari trip.

If mention Lahugala National Park safari price is a very low fee charged. You can visit here and enjoying with reasonable price.

Lahugala Cave (Hulannuge Cave)

Hulan Nuge, Tharu lengala temple is famous for two reasons. This temple has one of the oldest reclining Buddha statue made with clay. The other reason is that the Hulannuge cave is considered as the longest natural cave in Asia. This village got its name because of the large Nuga tree, which generate noise when the wind blows.

Once you are entered to the temple, you can see main temple cave where the reclining Buddha statue is located. This was made out of clay and bricks. Some parts of the statue was destroyed when for searching for treasure.

Visit Magul Maha Viharaya

If you visit Lahugala you must visit to Magul Maha Viharaya. It is ancient temple in SriLanka. The history of Magul Maha Vihara possibly dates back to the period of King Kavantissa (205-161 BC) who ruled the Kingdom of Ruhuna in ancient Sri Lanka.

There are evidence that suggests that the king has built this temple in the 2nd Century BC on the exact location where he married the princesses Viharamahadevi, the daughter of king Kelani Tissa. Other sources claim that King Dhatusena (463-479 AD) built this temple while many other monarchs renovated it through the centuries later. There is a stone inscription at the site of this temple that dates back to the 14th century which supports the latter view.

You can here research about Sri Lankan History and take photos.

Camping

You can camp in Lahugala Kitulana Forest Reserve. There are lots of camping team and places. You can join vcamping team and get knowledge how to do camping and get more instruction from cam guider.

A Unique Safari on Foot

You can get here different experience. The park prides itself for its untouched wilderness, and because of this cars aren’t allowed inside the park, instead, you can walk through the main road between Arugam Bay and Monaragala. Inside the park, you will also find Neelagiri Maha Seya, which is a colossal ancient stupa that dates back to the 1st century. It is believed that the massive stupa which is 72ft in height and with a circumference of 597ft, was built by King Kavan Tissa (205-161 BC), however, this area was occupied by the LTTE during the time of the Civil War, so the ruins may not be as well kept as others from the same time.

Where you can accommodation Lahugala Kitulana Forest Reserve?

Lahugala National Park Bangalows & Lahugala Hotels

Lahugala Kitulana Forest Reserve around lots of number of hotels, bangalows,resorts with modern amenities. There is eye pleasing area.you can spend time freely here. You can get these facilities in reasonable price.