Wasgamuwa National Park is a natural park in Sri Lanka situated in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts. It was declared to protect and to make a refuge for the displaced wild animals during the Mahaweli Development Project in 1984 and is one of the four National Parks designated under the Project. Originally it was designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970s the area was regraded as a strict nature reserve.

Wasgamuwa is one of protected areas where Sri Lankan Elephants can be seen in large herds. It is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. The name of the Wasgamuwa has derived through the words "Walas Gamuwa". "Walasa" is Sinhala for sloth bear and "Gamuwa" means a wood. The park is situated 225 km away from Colombo.

Best time to Visit Wasgamuwa National Park 

Wasgamuwa National Park presents a climate that leans towards fairly dry, however the area does experience adequate rainfall seasonally as a part of tropical conditioning, therefore the best times to visit the Park is January through March.

How to Reach?

You can choose easy way to reach Wasgamuwa National Park. Distance from Colombo to Wasgamuwa National Park Park is 228km.

What You Can Do Here?

If you visit in Wasgamuwa National Park, there are lots of things to do for your enjoying. You can bird watching, safari, camping & many more.

Here is a long list of major things to do in Wasgamuwa National Park. Which the first time travelers can visit and experience.

Wasgamuwa National Park Safari

Wasgamuwa National Park is known in Sri Lanka for its large populations of wildlife and its remote location, making it a less-visited spot ideal for nature lovers. Tour the park on a private safari with your group of up to six people for a chance to spot animals like elephants, monkeys, and more in their natural environment while learning about their lives in the jungle from your guide.

  • ·        Ride through Wasgamuwa National Park in a Jeep with a private guide .
  • ·        Learn about local wildlife from your guide as you go.
  • ·        Opportunities to spot elephants, birds, reptiles, and more in their native habitat.

Rest assuring you the sights of mighty Elephants in a Wasgamuwa safari ride, the national park is also a home for a diverse of mammals including the Leopard, Sloth Bear, Purple-faced Langur Monkey, Wild Boar, Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, and Water Buffalo.

Plan your Wasgamuwa safari and enjoy a hassle-free safari with experienced drivers. However, if mention ticket fees in Wasgamuwa National Park, a very low fee is charged. You can visit here and enjoying with reasonable price.

Wasgamuwa National Park Animals

There are 23 species of mammal, 143 species of birds, 35 reptile species, 15 species of amphibian, 17 species of fish and 52 species of butterfly & many more have been recorded in Wasgamuwa National Park.

Watch Wasgamuwa National Park Elephant

If you want to watch wild elephants in their natural habitat, wasgamuwa national park is one of the best in Sri Lanka.

Birdlife at Wasgamuwa National Park

There are 143 species of birds at this National Park and that includes the endemic Red-faced Malkoha and 7 other endemic species. The Lesser Adjutant, Yellow-fronted Barbet and the Sri Lanka Spurfowl are the species that visit the reservoirs and streams at Wasgamuwa. Other aquatic birds that can be seen on a birding safari are the Peafowl, Painted Stork, Black-headed Ibis and Eurasian Spoonbill. The rarer Sri Lanka Frogmouth and the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo have been sighted as well while on safari.

Watch Ruins of ancient Buddhist temple at Buduruwayaya

Remains of a number of small rainwater reservoirs and ruins of temples reveal that the region of Wasgamuwa National Park (Wasgomuwa), was once home to prosperous villages. The ruins estimated to be about 1800 years old features a reclining Buddha statue at Buduruwayaya. Ruins of a palace with stone pillars are found in an island in a canal known as Kalinga Yoda Ela built by King Parakrambahu the great in the twelfth century.

Where can you accommodation in Wasgamuwa National Park?

Wasgamuwa National Park Hotels, Resorts & Bungalows

Wasgamuwa National Park around has lots of number of Hotels, Resorts, Restaurant & Bungalows with modern amenities. Especially there is calm & green nature, do you can spend time relax here.