Sri Lanka has many national parks which are also wildlife sanctuaries where animals are born free and live free. Kaudulla National Park located in the Polonnaruwa district in north central Sri Lanka is within the island’s Cultural Triangle. In close proximity are the sacred cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the Minneriya National Park and the rock fortress of Sigiriya. There are many Sigiriya hotel options around, if you’re looking for a homely Sri Lankan village style which offers comfort in a rustic, traditional and tropical setting, properties such as Habarana Village by Cinnamon and others, are a good option for visitors to the area.
The Kaudulla National Park is centered around the ancient Kaudulla Tank built by King Mahasen who also made the Minneriya Tank, thereby earning for himself the name Minneriya Deiyo (God of Minneriya). Another legend credits the Kaudualla Tank to King Mahasen’s estranged sister Princess Bisobandara.
Kaudulla consists of hills, lowlands, forests, scrubland and abandoned chena (slash and burn cultivation) lands. Kaudulla is linked to the elephant corridors of Minneriya and Wasgomuwa Parks and to the Somawathiya elephant corridor. The best time to visit Kaudulla is between August –December. The elephant population peaks to about 200 in September – October especially after the great gathering of the pachyderms at Minneriya. Other denizens of Kaudulla include Sri Lankan sāmbhar deer, Sri Lankan axis deer, leopard and sloth bear .This is also a site for the Grey Slender Loris and the only place in Sri Lanka where albino axis deer have been found. The Asian spoonbill, black headed ibis, painted storks, peacock and eagles are among the bird species found at Kaudulla. A spectacular sight is the hundreds of pelicans at the tank at sunset. The endemic amphibian fejevarya pulla inhabits the Kaudulla tank along with about 26 fish species. The Park is also home to 25 species of reptiles. Making their home at Kaudulla National Park are the fresh water turtles, Indian flap shelled turtles and Indian black shelled turtles.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
