The Sinharaja Rainforest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching across the Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces. Visitors are mainly scientists and nature lovers who hike the rugged trails by day and retire to a Sinharaja eco lodge by night. The thick canopy above keeps much of the sunlight out of the forest and bestows a cool, tranquility below. If you hear the sound of gushing water: it could be from the Koskulana Ganga, the Gin Ganga or the Kudawa Ganga, the three bordering rivers. Sitting above the treetops on the south-western fringe, you will see the Rainforest Ecolodge – Sinharaja.
There is much myth and legend surrounding the mighty Sinharaja, beginning with its name that translates to ‘Lion King’. The name is said to refer to the lion that once lived in the forest. The lion, who is even depicted on the national flag, is said to have fathered the Sinhala race in Sri Lanka through his union with a princess. The Sinhala people of today are said to be his descendants. The name Sinhala also contains the word ‘Sinha’ which means lion.
Other legends tell of the jungles being the property of ancient kings who ruled the land. Early colonial records state the name of the forest as ‘Rajasinghe Forest’. Rajasinghe being the name of the last monarch of Sri Lanka. Other tales are spun around lions that lived and died out in the forest. Lions are not found in Sri Lanka in the present day but it is believed a prehistoric subspecies of the big cat we know today may have roamed the island over thirty thousand years ago. A more realistic theory suggests the name Sinharaja may just mean ‘King-sized forest’ as the jungle area was once much larger than it is today.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
