Well-preserved rainforests, exotic gardens, wildlife sanctuaries and ideal
trekking areas provide an enriching insight of how rich Sri Lanka is with her natural resources.
With the emphasis on preservation of the environment, Sri Lanka ensures that its natural assets are maintained in their original state. These assets, combined with the island's tourist attractions, make a winning combination.
Eco-tourism has been in existence in Sri Lanka for ages. For instance, the people respect the na and nuga trees and worship the bo tree. They believe deities live in certain towering old trees and no one is permitted to cut those trees down - an ancient form of conservation which led to the protection of valuable trees.
There are other parallels today. For instance, certain rites are observed when a well is dug as water is respected. This works as villagers have learnt to use the ecosystem without exploiting it.
The island's natural beauty is, like-wise, preserved. The Sinharaja Forest, a tropical rainforest on the hills and valleys of Rakwana in the southwestern lowlands, was made a National Wilderness Area and included in the list of World Heritage Sites in 1989. It is of considerable interest to local and foreign naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts.
Another place of interest for ornithologists is the Kitulgala Rainforest near Kitulgala Rest House (made famous during filming of "The Bridge on the River Kwai"). Kitulgala village has the highest rainfall - over 5,000 mm per year.
Udawattakele in Kandy, the Tan-gamale Sanctuary in Haputale, Yala and the Bundala Bird Sanctuary are of interest for bird-watchers.
The Bundala sanctuary in the southeast gets a variety of winged visitors between October and April, including 10,000 to 20,000 colorful flamingos from East Africa.
Special safaris are conducted in areas such as Wasgamuwa, Uda-Walawe and Habarana for those interested in viewing wild elephants in their natural habitat. For those who like staying in the wilds, a visit to the TASK Camp at Kuda Oya in Moner-agala district is a essential. The camp is on one acre while the total site covers 15 acres. Programmes include a safari to the Lunugamvehera - Strict Natural Reserve or Debara Aara where groups are taken to observe the pachyderms in their natural habitat. Accommodation is in tents with attached toilets having running water and showers. Meals are served in a mess tent with a bar. Lunch comprises a Lankan meal cooked in clay pots and dinner is at the open-air barbecue.
Conservationists would enjoy a visit to the Turtle Research Station at Rekawa beach of Tangalle where turtles come to nest. Of the eight species of turtles in the world Sri Lanka has five. There are cottages for visitors on scientific expeditions.
Of the three botanical gardens in Sri Lanka, two of them are in the hills and the third in the lowlands. Each is a rare storehouse of the world's finest collection of exotic tropical plants. The Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya is the oldest its origins going back to the 14th century. Only 7 km from Kandy and 110 km from Colombo, the gardens, with over 400 species, have gained worldwide fame. The not-so-famous and not- as-large Hakgala Gardens are set in the cool climes upcountry, 10 km from Nuwara Eliya.
Henaratgoda Gardens, in the low country, are 28 km from Colombo and within easy reach from Gampaha railway station. Spread across 14,16 hectares, these beautifully laid out gardens have a unique collection of exotic indigenous flora.
Trekking is popular among visitors. These are categorized as being either "hard treks" and "soft treks," depending on the age and physical capabilities of the trekker. Treks can be built around themes reflecting interests as varied as ornithology, ecology, history, patterns of human settlement and economic activity. Avoid the monsoon rains which make roads muddy roads and do not walk under the hot afternoon sun.
The old path from Minneriya to Sigiriya (27 km covered in nine hours), through a remarkable diversity of dry zone environments, gives the trekker a first-hand view of tank irrigation and uninhabited jungles.
Another interesting trek could focus on the temples in the Kandyan Country side north of Gampola. The 15-km trek begins at Geli-Oya, winding through shaded woody areas to the Nigyordawatta rock temple at Telambugoda. Walk to Embekke Devale where the drum hall is said to have been the royal audience hall, later converted and dedicated to God Kataragama. This trek also covers Lanka-
tilaka Vihare, built in the 14th century. Different aspects of Sri Lanka can be seen on a walk around kalpitiya Lagoon where the trekker can wade in ponds with an edible, salty sea-grass (a gourmet delicacy in western EEurope), walk on sand bars an through mangroves. A variety of birds can be viewed here, a few being the gray plover, pied kingfisher and red wattled lapwing.
A typical trail for the hard trekker 'could start at the base of Knuckles Range, looming 1,863 meters above Dumbara Valley. Beautiful land scapes await the adventurous, with camping under canvas at night. The trail goes through Wasgamuwa National Park and on to Mahiyangana with an overnight stop at Veddah Village in Dambana.
The options are wide. From mountain trails to mangroves, rainforests to golden beaches. It takes a stout heart and a pair of tough boots to discover the 'heart" of Sri Lanka.
Terms like "stress-related maladies" and "burn-outs" are virtually unheard of in rural Sri Lanka where people take pride in their ancient methods of conservation which have been handed down through the ages.
With the trend moving towards the promotion of Eco-tourism, one should keep in mind that visitors would not like to be packed into "concrete jungles." Instead, they look for space, scenic beauty, tranquillity and peace, all these waiting to be discovered in Sri Lanka.
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