Category: Natural resources

The Riverston Peak in Sri Lanka can be reached by travelling, about 30km away from the Matale town, down the Matale – Girandurukotte Road. It is called the Mini World’s End.

• Mini World’s End

 

Riverston is a tower situated at the edge of Knuckles Mountain Riservaton which is on the way of Matale – Ilukkumbura road. It is about 28 kilometres from the Matale town. The turn to Reverstan Tower is right at the 28km post.There is a gap on the way to the tower, which is so windy. Riverston gap was located in the middle of Rattota – Pallegama road and it was the summit of the same.The area is covered by mist in most of the times. There is a distance of two and half kilometers from the entrance to the tower, where vehicles are not allowed in.

 

 

Though it is very popular among locals, the area is comparatively unknown amongst mainstream tourists. Therefore the area offers up the natural beauty of Sri Lanka. As well as Riverston is one of the most beautiful hill tops of the knuckles mountain range.It is located nearly 30km from Matale town. At Riverston you can experience a heaven like feeling when the clouds cover up the area. The climate of Riverston is cold and breezy.

 

Being located in a windy gap on a range of scenic mountains with frequently changing climate, Riverston was highly popular with local travelers. The climate was changed in every minute. Sometimes it brought little sun rays. Sometime a tiny rain with cool wind. But most of the time we were wrapped with a thick mist. Really that was an amazing experience. as well as some time there is a thick mist. The mist was as thick as to not to see even any things in two meters. The surrounding was freezing & wet but comfortable. Knuckles, is a world heritage rain forest. And Riverston is very rich in bio diversity. You can find fauna and flora which are endemic to Riverston.

 

And also located approximately 30 km from the Matale town, when travelling on Matale – Girandurukotte road, rather windy with quite a few hairpins turns but in good condition, offers great views all around with a mini worlds end, lot less travelled by main stream tourists. Climatic conditions here are very similar to Horton plains with the addition of having two great waterfalls “Sera Ella, Bambarakiri Ella and there are some waterfalls.

• Sera ella

Sera Ella   is one of the  widest waterfalls in Knuckles range. It’s about 35m width. A Bird species called “Seru” are here to give the name ‘Sera Ella’, This beautiful Sera waterfall fall is situated in the Dumbara Jungle that is split into two sections, both 10m in height.. Sera Ella can be called  the queen out of all the beautiful falls in the area . Furthermore there is a nice foot pathway to the waterfall.

• Bambarakiriella

This fall height is around 3m and set amidst  the enchanting green forest of the Knuckles mountain range. A suspension bridge crossing the falls adds more beauty to already scenic view. This waterfall can be found at Bambarakiri turn of Matale. It is fairly popular place. It has two waterfalls as Maha-Bambarakiri Ella and Punchi Bambarakiri Ella.

 

• Raththinda ella

 

This waterfall is situated at Pitawala village in Riverston. It is a water fall  of three parts and clearly visible to surrounding areas like Pitawala Pathana, Maningala. There is a foot pathway towards the middle part of the cascade from Pitawala village. Once you come to the middle part you can go to upper and lower parts of the fall. There is a nice foot pathway which goes along a private land to connect with other side of the waterfall.

 

• Pathana ella

This 75m tall waterfall is situated at Pitawala Pathana village. Origin is Pathana Dola.. After making Pathana Ella/Fall and Kandi Ella/Fall it joins with Puwakpitiya Ganga. Anyone can observe the full flow  of this waterfall flowing down from Pitawala Pathana to Puwakpitiya village.

 

 

 

Pigeon Island National Park is one of the two Marine National Parks of Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal town in Eastern Province, encompassing a total area of 471.429 hectares. Pigeon Island, a kilometre’s boat ride away from Nilaveli Beach, Trincomalee, is made up of two charming islands, one small and the other slightly larger. It is believed to have got its name from the endemic blue rock pigeons that inhabit the island. The island’s name derives from the Rock pigeon which has colonized it. The national park contains some of the best remaining Coral reefs of Sri Lanka.

It was designated as a sanctuary in 1963. In 2003 it was redesigned as National Park. This national park is the 17th in Sri Lanka. The island was used as a Shooting range during the Colonial area Pigeon Island is one of the several protected areas affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.

It is consists of two islands; large pigeon island and small pigeon island. The large pigeon island is fringed by a Coral reef and is about 200 m long and 100 m wide. Its highest point is 44.8 m above mean sea level. The small pigeon island is surrounded by rocky islets. The national park is situated within the Dry zone of Sri Lanka. The mean annual temperature is around 27.0 °C (80.6 °F). The annual rainfall ranges between 1,000–1,700 millimeters (39–67 in) while most of the rain is received during the North-Eastern monsoon season from October to March.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minneriya National Park is situated in North Central Province   of Sri Lanka. The area was designated as a national park on 12 August 1997, having been originally declared as a Wildlife sanctuary in 1938. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the Elephant population dwelling in forests of Matale, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts.

Large numbers of Sri Lankan Elephants are attracted to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. The Minneriya tank contributes to sustain a large herd. Elephants gathered here is numbering around 150-200. Some reports account number of elephants to as high as 700. They migrate here from Wasgamuwa National Park and benefit from food and shelter of the park’s forest. Tourists visit Minneriya largely because of elephants, especially in dry season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramboda Falls is 109 m (358 ft.) highest and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world. It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda Pass. It formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of Kothmale oya. Altitude of the falls is 945 m (3,100 ft.) above sea level.

This waterfall is known by many names; Puna Ella (Puna Falls) and Poonawa Ella (Poonawa Falls) are the most popular. Since the two falls are originated out of Puna Oya and Pundalu Oya, The two are separately called Pundalu Oya Ella and Puna Ella. But in general the waterfall referred to as Pundalu Oya Falls is the Dunsinane fall in Nuwara Eliya District. This waterfall is also seems to be called Ramboda Ella Falls by same.

 

 

 

 

 

Ravana Falls is another must visit in Ella. Hill country of Sri Lanka is quite popular for beautiful waterfalls and Ravana Falls is right at the top. This waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft.) in high and cascade from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. The falls are quite impressive, and you can climb over some of the rocks to get a closer look and also the falls form part of the Ravana Wildlife Sanctuary and are located 6 km (3.7 mi) away from the local railway station at Ella.

The famous Ravana Ella Cave lies 1,370 m (4,490 ft.) above sea level on the foundation of a cliff. The cave is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, located 11 km (7 mi) away from Bandarawela Excavations undertaken in the cave uncovered evidence of human habitation dating back to 25,000 years.

The falls have been named after the legendary king Ravana, which is connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayanaya.  According to legend, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sitha and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Ravana Ella Cave. The reason for the kidnapping is said to be a revenge for slicing off the nose of his sister by Rama (husband of Sitha) and his brother Laxman. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of wilderness. It is also believed that Rama’s queen bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall. They believed that Ravana has played the Rawanahatha over here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Yaala is a wild life sanctuary. This is located in Hambanthota and Monaragala districts. It is the first wild life sanctuary and the second largest reserved forest. This place is very attractive and large number of birds and animals live in this natural habitat. Some of them are the Elephants, Leopards, Bears, Stags, Spotted deers and the Birds paradise is at “Kumana”. Most of the birds are endemic to Sri Lanka and during the winter season, large number of birds migrates to this place from the cold countries. So the local and foreign visitors come to this place to watch them. The people who love to nature this place gives wonderful experiences.

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Wilpaththuwa is the largest wild life sanctuary in Sri Lanka. The land rate of this sanctuary is 131693 hectare yard. This is location in Puttalam district. Large number of birds and animals love this natural habitat. Some of them are Elephants, Leopards, Wild boars, Bears, spotted deer and various kinds of birds live in this forest. Therefore local and foreign visitors visit this place enjoy the beautiful.

This place is famous as “Eth Athura Sevana” and the Wild Elephant and tuskers can be seen in this place. This is reserved for Elephant. In the forest most of the baby elephant are lost their parents due to various reasons so these helpless Elephant, wounded Elephant are captured and put in to this place. They look after in this place until they grow, later they put into their natural habitat again. As the upper part of the Walawe River is situated in this area, this name is given.