The most amazing place I have ever visited Sri Lanka
Frequently I’m counting holidays in the calendar & planning outings because traveling is my favorite. During these outings, the most amazing place I have ever visited is The Sinharaja Rain forest. It is unique with the biodiversity as well as with a vast variety of flora and fauna.
This is Sri Lanka’s largest remaining tropical rain forest & a well known UNESCO World Heritage.
Camping in the woods for two-three days is really awesome. I have no words to express my love for this place.
How to enter the forest?
There are four main ways to enter the forest. One way is via Neluwa Kosmulla road. Another is via Deniyaya Pitadeniya road. also can enter via Weddagala Kudawa road. & Finally, the Rakwana Morning side which is known as the hardest way to enter. At the entrance have to buy the entrance tickets.
I have been to Sinharaja twice & my next trips will be entering the forest via Rakwana Morning side & Weddagala Kudawa roads.
We have to discover the forest on foot with the supervision of a guide. There are so many villas & beautiful cottages established near the forest border for accommodation & food.
This journey is ideal for a better hideaway & relaxation because no phone signals no wifi working there. In addition the roads are solid & rude so the root of getting there is so harder. Only tractors & four weel cabs could go in this way.
what to see in the forest?
There are a variety of birds, bigger size squirrels, dusky-stripped jungle squirrels, badger mongooses and variety of monkeys & many more endemic spices & mammals can be seen.
Furthermore, many reptiles, butterflies, amphibians & endemic fish can be found. [
Waterfalls
What I love most are the fascinating waterfalls. Waterfall Hiking is superb through the narrow paths with roots & crossing river rocks.
I used every chance given to have a great swim in this freezing water.
However through our journey we have to be more cautious about leeches.
There are about 27 nos of waterfalls & I got to know some names of those such as,
Neluwa Dooli Falls, Beraliya Dola falls, Lankagama Brahamana falls, Lankagama Duvili falls, Lankagama Uran Wetuna Falls, Nelugolla falls, Gal Oruwa Falls, Hathbinna falls, Bambaraweldola Doowili falls, Lankagama Kekuna falls, Malmora falls, Watugala falls, Aelibodadola Ihala falls, Aelibodadola Pahala falls, Thambalagama Doovili falls, Beraliya Galendaenda falls, Ratawal Dola falls, Hathmale falls, Suduwelikotha falls, Pitakele Doowili Ella & Ilumbukanda Duvili falls.
On the way of my visit to Neluwa Duli Ella, I have visited a Buddhist monastery called “Sinhalena Thapowanaya”, a place inspired peacefulness & simplicity.
Villages in Sinharaja,
There are two villages situated in the forest which are known as Warukandeniya & Kolonthotuwa.
Including these two there are about 40 villages around the forest border. These villagers are amazing with their qualities & they are the guardians of the forest. They take care of the wood as worshiping to a god. Their lifestyle & the economy was build up with the forest. Most of them attached to industries like trickle honey, tea, cane products, making Ayurveda medicine, etc.
I have visited Lankagama one of the most serenity villages in the border. Tasted & purchased the most delicious honey & jaggery made out of trickle (Kithul).
These villagers are so friendly & their hospitality is really high. I love these people & will re visit there again.
