Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka’s many wonders, spans close to one hundred and thirty thousand hectares of land that is covered in light forest, scrubs, grasslands, tanks and lagoons. The mighty Menik River, which translates to River of Gems, also flows through the park. It has earned this name from the abundance of precious stones that lie in the sands of its riverbed. The river is one of the main sources of water that sustains the country’s paddy farming. This key crop that feeds the nation surrounds Kithala Resort and makes for a picturesque setting.
Yala has a strict nature reserve with a national park. The protected area is divided into five blocks, of which, only two are open to the public. There is also much to see in the form of historical and cultural attractions in neighbouring town of Tissamaharama. Hotels have sprung up in recent times to provide accommodation for the host of visitors that have flocked to the region since the end of the thirty year civil war in 2009. The park and surrounding areas were also devastated in the tsunami of 2004 but have since been rebuilt.
During British rule, Yala was used by the elite as a hunting ground. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1900. Today it is home to forty four varieties of mammal and over two hundred species of bird. Visitors to the national park can expect to see leopards, elephants, sloth bears, sambar, jackals, spotted dear, peacocks, and crocodiles. The best time to visit Yala is during the dry season, between the months of February and July. The dry atmosphere draws animals out into the open in search of water. It is also possible to enjoy unobstructed views of the vast Indian Ocean.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
