Wasgamuwa National Park was originally declared as strict nature
reserve in 1938 and then change to a national park in 1984. The park
lies within central and north- central provinces. The total park area
is 39,322 ha.
Rainfall is mainly by northeast monsoon (December – February) and
inter-monsoonal rains. Mean annual rainfall varies from 1750mm in dry
zone area to 2250 in intermediate zone. Mean annual temperature is
around 27°C.
Park consists of riverine forest, dry mixed evergreen forest,
grasslands and wetlands. As park is almost surrounded by Mahaweli &
Amban Rivers, riverine forest area is fairly large.
Flora of the park consists of Palu (Manilkara hexandra), Weera (Drypetes
sepiaria), Satin (Chloroxylon swietenia), Wa (Cassia roxburghii), Gal
Siyambala (Dialium ovoideum) and Ebony (Diospyros ebenum). The
riverine forest dominated by Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna), Mee (Madhuca
longifoloa) and Thimbiri (Diospyros malabarica). Grasslands mainly
consist of (Imperata cylindrica).
Wasgamuwa is famous as an elephant habitat. These elephants are
known to be less habituated to people and are more wildish. Other than
elephant, leopard, sloth bear, sambhur, spotted and barking deer, wild
boar and wild buffalo are also found here. Torque Macaque, Purple face
leaf monkey and nocturnal slender Loris is also found in the park.
Lesser Adjutant, Wooly necked stork, open bill, painted stork, Racket
tailed Drongo, Yellow fronted barbet, Sri Lanka Junglefowl & Spurfowl
are among the over 100 species of birds found within the park.
How to get there
Wasgomuwa can be reached through Matale and Hettipola or from
Dehiattakandiya coming from Polonnaruwa or from Mahiyangana.
