While basking in the golden sun and being pampered by world class service is a holiday to die for, the itch for adventure may tempt you. Yes, Pasikuda is heaven on earth, with its gorgeous shoreline, shallow, blue waters and great all round weather. In Pasikuda, things to do are aplenty. Adding to its awesomeness is the fact that is within close proximity to Minneriya, one of Sri Lanka’s most popular wildlife parks.
Minneriya is located just under 2 hours from Pasikuda. In fact, resorts like Uga Bay are ideal for your stay as they help you organize all types of excursions to get the best out of your holiday. Minneriya was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. It gets its name from the massive Minneriya reservoir which feeds water to the entire region. The reservoir was built by King Mahasena during the 3rd century AD.
The park is known internationally for a phenomenon like no other – the congregation of about 300-400 elephants around the reservoir. Nowhere else in the world has such a huge elephant sighting ever been reported. During the months between July and September, which is the dry season, herds of elephants from surrounding areas flock to the reservoir for food, socialising and even mating. Known as the Minnerya Elephant Gathering, this occurrence was listed by Lonely Planet as one of the Top 6 Wildlife Spectacles ever!
Minneriya is home to a myriad of creatures – 24 mammal, 160 bird, 25 reptile, 9 amphibian, 26 fish and 75 butterfly species. You will also get to see two endemic monkey species – the purple-faced langur and toque macaque. Some of the other animals you will spot are the sambar deer, Sri Lankan axis deer, sloth bear and if you are lucky, the elusive leopard.
Besides a number of birds, you will also see the saltwater crocodile, painted-lip lizard, Indian python, Bengal monitor and Asian water monitor.
| Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+ |
