Kaudulla National Park, situated alongside the Kaudulla tank, said to have built by Princess Biso Bandara a sister of King Mahasen is one of the prominent national parks of Sri Lanka.
The park is unique as, it is the only national park where a one-third of its area is surrounded by water.
Situated in the Polonnaruwa District, it is in the AGA divisions of Medirigiriya and Hingurakgoda and comprising the villages of Rathmale, Gal Oya, Rotawewa, Sinhagama, Kituluthuwa, Divulankadawala, Viharagama, Tissapura, Meniksorowwa and Kaudulla. The western border of the Kaudulla Park signifies a chain of mountains about 60,500 metre in height. And in the east it borders are the Kaudulla tank and a scrubby forest.
The region receives an annual rainfall of 1,500 to 2,000 milimetres from the rain from the North East monsoon. A dry period persists from April to October and temperatures range from 20.6 centigrade (69.1 F) to 34.5 centigrade (94.1 F).
Many plant and grass species grow well during the rainy season and due to the abundance of food and water, even during the dry period, large number of herbivorous mammals are attracted to the park.
Most of the tourists visit the park during the dry season as it is referred to as the spring season of the park.
But according to tourism experts the best time to visit Kaudulla national Park is between August and December, as the population of elephants peak to over 200 in September and October.
Apart from the elephants Kaudulla is home to 23 species of mammals including Sambar deer, Sri Lankan Axis deer, Chevrotain, wild boar, leopard and sloth bear. But a leopard or a sloth bear is sighted very rarely. This park is also one of the sites in which the Gray slender loris is reportedly found in Sri Lanka. Following the discovery of a two-month old albino Sri Lankan axis beer calf. Kaudulla is probably the only national park in Sri Lanka where albino axis deer exists
Many plant and grass species grow well during the rainy season and due to the abundance of food and water, even during the dry period, large number of herbivorous mammals are attracted to the park.
Most of the tourists visit the park during the dry season as it is referred to as the spring season of the park.
But according to tourism experts the best time to visit Kaudulla national Park is between August and December, as the population of elephants peak to over 200 in September and October
In addition, the national park recorded 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish and 160 species of birds. Among the large water birds spot-billed. Pelicans, Lesser Adjutant, Asian Spoonbill, Grey-headed fish eagle, black-headed ibis painted stork, open bill stork are common sights in the park.
It is also home to freshwater turtles, flap-shelled turtle and Indian black turtle.
In addition to watching wild life, tourists and local visitors are provided with many facilities which include a museum, paddle boat service, two camp sites and a tourist bungalow.
According to the officer in charge of the Kaudulla National Park Eranda Gamage, this park was established on April, 2002, and is maintained by the Wild Life Department. He also points out that Kaudulla also connects Somawathiya National and Minneriya and Wasgomuwa National Parks and is helping roaming elephants and other wild life to prevail and travel in larger areas.
He also states that the tourists who visit the park are provided with knowledgeable guides free of charge and they are able to stay at the tourist bungalow which can be booked at the head office in Colombo
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