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| Image by Tibor Lezsófi from Pixabay |
-**Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka, bordering the Indian Ocean.Three of the park's five blocks are currently accessible to the general public. Each block has a unique name, for example, Block 1's Palatupana. It is situated in the southeastern region of the country , in the Southern Province and Uva Province. Situated approximately 300 kilometers (190 miles) away from Colombo, the park spans 979 square kilometers (378 sq mi).
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| Image by sandtask94 from Pixabay |
-**History-**
-**Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 , along with Wilpattu, designated in 1938, as the first two designated national parks in Sri Lanka. On March 23, 1900, the government proclaimed Yala and Wilpattu reserves under the Forest Ordinance. Initially the extent of the reserve was 389 square kilometres (150 sq mi) between the Menik and Kumbukkan Rivers. At that time the reserve did not bear the name Yala
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| Image by Penny from Pixabay |
-**Physical features-**
-**Yala is situated in the lowest peneplain of Sri Lanka , which extends from Trincomalee to Hambantota. Topographically the area is a flat and mildly undulating plain that runs to the coast with elevation is 30 metres (98 ft) close to the coast while rising in the interior to 100–125 metres (328–410 ft). The national park is situated in the dry semi-arid climatic region and rain is received mainly during the northeast monsoon. The mean annual rainfall ranges between 500–775 millimetres (19.7–30.5 in) while the mean temperature ranges between 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in January to 30 °C (86 °F) in April. It is windier in Yala, during the southwest monsoon compared to the wind during the northeast monsoon with wind speeds from 23 kilometres per hour (14 mph) to 15 kilometres per hour (9.3 mph).
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| Photo by Oleksandr |
-**Biodiversity and Wildlife-**
-**Yala is renowned for its variety of wildlife. Sri Lankan Elephants creatures roam freely within the park , often seen in herds. Yala boasts one of the highest leopard densities globally. The wetlands attract a variety of aquatic birds, including storks, herons, and kingfishers.It is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka, harboring 215 bird species, including six endemic species.
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| Image by Katherine Slade from Pixabay |
-**Flora-**
-**Yala National Park has a variety of ecosystems including moist monsoon forests, dry monsoon forests, semi deciduous forests , thorn forests , grasslands, marshes, marine wetlands, and sandy beaches. The area under forest cover mainly consists of Block I and rangelands of open parkland (pelessa grasslands) including some extensive grasslands. The vegetation of Block II is similar to those of Block I, and Yalawela, once a fertile paddy field, represents pitiya grasslands. In the Blocks III, IV, and V, forests are more widespread. The canopy of the forest mainly contains Drypetes sepiaria and Manilkara hexandra plant species.
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| Photo by Oleksandr |
The area around Yala has a rich historical past. Within the park, you'll find two important Buddhist pilgrim sites.
- Sithulpahuwa
- Magul Vihara
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| By Shehanw - Own work |
-**Sithulpawwa Rajamaha -**
-**Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist monastery located in Hambantota District, South Eastern Sri Lanka. Situated 18 km east of the pilgrimage town Katharagama, it is believed to have been built in the 2nd century B.C by king Kavantissa. Sithulpawwa Vihara can be reached by travelling 18 miles along the Tissamaharama-Yodhakandiya road towards the Yala National Park. The name Sithulpawwa is derived from the word "Chiththala Pabbatha", which means "the hill of the quiet mind". This monastery was a place of worship for devotees as well as a center of Buddhist education for Buddhist monks. Paintings of the Anuradhapura era and the ruins of stone Buddha images, Bodhisattva images, Image Houses, Circular Relic Houses are spread throughout the monastery premises.
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| By Amila Tennakoon |
-**Magul Maha Viharaya-**
-**Magul Maha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Lahugala, Ampara District of Sri Lanka. The temple lies on the northern edge of the Lahugala National Park, about 22 km off from Siyambalanduwa town and about 11 km off Pottuvil town. Lahugala has been part of the Kingdom of Ruhuna in ancient Sri Lanka. The ruins of Magul Maha Vihara are one of the major tourist attractions of the Eastern province. This temple is also an archaeologically protected monument of the country.