• Wilpattu National Park

Wilpattu means ‘natural lakes’ in Sinhala and ’10 lakes’ in Tamil and lakes are
exactly what you’ll find at Wilpattu National Park. Visitor numbers remain low, even in high season, which gives Wilpattu a genuine sense of wilderness. On the
flip side, however, the dense forest and general skittishness of the animals means
that actually sighting wildlife is less of a sure thing than in the country’s more- visited parks. This is a place for the more dedicated safari-goer. At 1317 sq km, Wilpattu is Sri Lanka’s largest national park. Hidden in the dense, dry woodland, you’ll (hopefully) find an array of wildlife that includes leopards
(this is the second-best park after Yala for leopards, with 16 leopards per 100 sq
km), sloth bears, spotted deer, wild pigs and crocodiles. Birders in particular will
love Wilpattu with its abundance of dry forest, water and even coastal birds. Wilpattu National Park is located 25km north of Puttalam or 30km west of
Anurdhapura. The park that lies on the northwest coast spans the border
between North Central Province and North Western Province of Sri Lanka. To the
south of Wilpattu National Park is River Modergam Aru; to the north is River
Kalay oya. Reaching Wilpattu National Park Colombo-Puttalam A3 highway leads to the city
of Puttalama. 42 km along the A12 Puttalama- Anuradhapura highway is a large
sign board that reads Willpattu National Park. 7km along the road that turns to
the left at the sign board takes you to the entrance of the park at Hunuwilagama. Wilpattu was declared a wildlife sanctuary on the year 1905. On
25th February 1938, the sanctuary was elevated to the status of National Wildlife
Park. On 7th November 1947, the northern area of Wilpattu was declared as
Wilpattu North Sanctuary.

Climate and topography
Wilpattu National Park, the largest wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka span an area of
no less than 131,693 hectares with altitude ranging between the sea-level and
152 meters. Wilpattu National Park is situated in the dry zone, and is unlike any other
wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka. A unique complex of over 50 wetlands called
“Villu” is the most prominent topographical feature of the national park. ‘Villu’ are shallow natural lakes filled with rainwater surrounded by open grassy plains
amidst the dense scrub jungle. The presence of these Villus with an abundance of
water can best be explained in the weather patterns that prevail over the park:
while the period of drought is only during the months of May to early September, the main rainy season is during September to December with the heavy
downpours of north eastern monsoon; inter monsoon season visits the
park March and April. Annual temperature in the Park is around 27.2 Celsius and
its annual rainfall is approximately 1000 mm. The best time to visit Wilpattu National Park is during the months
of February and October. Wilpattu National Park has a good network of gravel
roads, particularly between the water holes.

Vegetation
Wilpattu National Park consists of three types of vegetation: littoral vegetation
including salt grass and low scrub immediately adjacent to the beach; a 5-10 km
coastal belt of monsoon scrub of very low stature; and further inland, the
wooded forest with tall emergents, such as Palu (Manilkara hexandra) and Satin
(Chloroxylon swietenia), Milla (Vitex altissima), Weera (Drypetes sepiaria), Ebony (Disopyros ebenum) and Wewarna (Alseodaphne semecapriflolia). Some
73% of the park is dense forest or scrub and the rest is more open habitat.

Wildlife
Wilpattu National Park’s varying natural habitats; coastal belt, natural lakes
(villus), rocky outcrops, scrublands, open grasslands and dense forest provide
for numerous species of animals. Among the species are 31 mammals. The
biggest draws in Wilpattu are Leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) and Sloth bears
(Melursus ursinus). Apart from those two mammals are Asian Elephants
(Elephas maximus), Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, jackals, sambhur, barking deer, mouse deer Wild Pig, Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and Mugger Crocodiles. Butterflies recorded include the Great Eggfly, Blue Mormon, Common Mormon, Common Rose Great Orange Tip, Glad-eye Bushbrown, Blue Mormon, Common
Mormon, Common Rose and Crimson Rose. Countless species of birds can be found and the park plays host to numerous
winter migrants from November to March, while menacing crocodiles top the list
of reptiles. Butterflies recorded include the Great Eggfly, Blue Mormon, Common Mormon, Common Rose Great Orange Tip, Glad-eye Bushbrown, Blue Mormon, Common
Mormon, Common Rose and Crimson Rose. Also roaming on the grasslands are Star tortoises (Geochelone elegans) at
Wilpattu. In the large Villus are Pond turtle (Melanonchelys trijuga) and the Soft
shelled turtle (Lissemys punctata)
Accommodation
Wilpattu National Park has no accommodation options within the park as at
present. The blueprints are being drawn to rebuild seven dilapidated circuit
bungalows at the Wilpattu national park situated in Maradanmaduwa, Pannikar
Villu, Kalli Villu, Mena Villu, Thala Villu, Manikkapola Uttu and Kokmottai. Except
for the bungalow at Kokmottai, all other bungalows are built overlooking the
lovely Villus. Campsites too are planned to be demarcated and equipped for the benefit of
wildlife lovers. Though for the time being Anuradhapura located 30km away from the park
provides the regular accommodation options.

Cultural Heritage
Wilpattu National Park and its surroundings are of history that runs as far as
back to the arrival of Prince Vijaya in Lanka from East India in 543 BC. The
landing beach of prince Vijaya is believed to be the area today known as
Kudriamali. Kali Villu is said to be location of the palace of Kuveni, a princess of a
native tribe in the island. Wirandagoda and Galbendi Niyara located north-east of Maradanmaduwa at
Wilpattu are believed to be two of the locations where prince Saliya, who
forfeited his right to the crown of Lanka, lived with his low caste wife called
Asoka Mala a couple of millenniums ago. At Pomparippu of Wilpattu, several urns containing human remains have been
found. The urns are believed to belong to period prior to the recorded history of
Sri Lanka, i. e. prior to the arrival of Prince Vijaya in Lanka. In the eastern part of Wilpattu are remnants of breached tanks left over from
agricultural systems of ancient Sinhalese civilizations. Also between Palangaturai
and Kollankanatte are the remains of an old harbour.

Jeep Safaris
Jeep Safari is the regular norm in exploring the Wilpattu National Park. While
Leopards, Elephants, Sloth bear, Deer, endemic birds can be sighted easily during
a half day safari, of course, the full day safari at National Park affords greater joys
with wildlife. During the safari, the tourists aren’t supposed to get off the jeep at
the tracks of the wild animals and expose themselves to the possible encounters
in the wilderness. With the rangers at the Wilpattu National Park guiding the
wildlife safaris, the visitors are always safe though in the thick of wilderness. There are 2 park gates to entering the Wilpattu National Park. (A) Hunuwilagama Entrance
(B) Eluwankulama Entrance