Walking under a thick canopy of leaves, where sunlight penetrates in patches, you take shelter under towering trees from a sudden downpour of rain. The rainclouds slowly dissipate as the sun bursts through once more setting the forest aglow in a “fresh” radiance. Such experiences can be enjoyed when exploring the Kanneliya Rain Forest in Sri Lanka in the south-western part of the island. Intrepid travellers looking to explore this reserve can opt to stay at a hotel in Beruwela such as Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara and plan an excursion here.
This sanctuary is part of what makes up the Kanneliya Dediyagala Nakiyadeniya (KDN) Forest Reserves which can be found tucked away between two rivers, the Nilwala Ganga and the Gin Ganga. Kanneliya features a lowland wet evergreen forest which means you have plenty of opportunities to see a diverse array of endemic plant life as well as wildlife. Bird enthusiasts have lots to see as well with the forest being home to more than 100 species of birds. Keep your eyes peeled at the branches for you may just catch a glimpse of a blue magpie, Sri Lanka spurfowl, Sri Lanka junglefowl or a green billed coucal. As you wander along the Kanneliya Forest paths you also have a good chance to come across butterflies, amphibians and reptiles, all of which call this lush haven, home.
Those who like a good hike can choose from several trails to follow. Trek along the Anagimala Ella trail and you will end up at the picturesque Anagimale Waterfall which is a relatively easy site to reach. Those in search of more adventure can also choose the path that takes you to the Narangas Waterfall and on your way make sure to see the giant Navada tree. Also worth exploring is the Kabbale Mountain trail that gives you a chance to make your way to the summit where stunning vistas of Kanneliya await.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
