Moist and muggy, murky and mysterious, the wet evergreen forest of Sinharaja is an experience like nothing else in Sri Lanka. Trekking through this magnificent jungle the last surviving stretch of virgin rainforest on the island is a rare treat and a truly enriching experience.
The forest teems with life, colour and sound; home to a remarkable array of endemic species, is a haven of rare trees, bird life, insects and bat-filled caves. Sinharaja is a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site and a UNESCO International Man and Biosphere Reserve.
The forest teems with life, colour and sound; home to a remarkable array of endemic species, is a haven of rare trees, bird life, insects and bat-filled caves. Sinharaja is a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site and a UNESCO International Man and Biosphere Reserve.
Details
Located in the southwest corner of Sri Lanka, forty kilometres inland from the historic city of Galle, the Sinharaja rainforest straddles a series of mountains and ridges with streams, waterfalls and fresh-water springs which flow into the Gin Ganga (‘Ganga’ means ‘River’) on the southern boundary and Kalu Ganga to the north. For folklorists, the name of the forest, which literally means ‘lion king’, suggests its significance as the primary home of the legendary lion of Sri Lanka.
1 Koskulana Ganga 2 Kudawa Ganga 3 Pitakele Ganga 4 Kalukandawa Ela 5 Napala Dola 6 Maha Ganga 7 Maha Dola 8 Gin Ganga 9 Gin Ganga 10 Aranuwa Dola
Other less romantic historians believe that the name refers to Sinharaja’s role as the ‘kingsized’ or ‘royal’ forest of the Sinhalese people, at a time when over 100,000 hectares of wet evergreen jungle covered the Southwestern hills and lowlands of Sri Lanka. Since that time, with much of the land having been cultivated by both colonial settlers and local inhabitants for tea estates and other forms of enterprise, the thin sliver of forest (21km long and 3.7km wide) that remains, is but a glimpse of its former glory.
This precious segment of land was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1976. In 1989 UNESCO seconded this move and made it a World Heritage Site. The forest not only offers a window into Sri Lanka’s distant past but also houses an incredible array of flora and fauna (including a total of 73 endemic species of birds, butterflies, fish, mammals, reptiles and amphibians) making it a world famous hotspot for biodiversity.
Fauna & Flora of Sinharaja
The vegetation of Sinharaja may be described as a tropical lowland rain forest or tropical wet evergreen forest. Some striking characteristics of the forest are the loftiness of the dominant trees, the straightness of their bole, the abundance of regeneration and the diversity of species. The average height of the trees varies between 35 to 40 metres. Some individual trees have even grown up to 50 metres tall.
Out of the 211 woody trees and lianas so far identified within the reserve 139 (66%) are endemic. This is also true for the lower plants like ferns and epiphyts and out of the 25 endemic to Sri Lanka, 13 are represented in Sinharaja.
The most common deer species is the Sambar. The Monk deer and Barking deer are also found within the reserve. Leopards are very seldom sighted, but their frequent presence has been confirmed by tracks and other signs. Badger mongoose and the Golden Palm Civet have occasionally been sighted. The most commonly seen primate is the Purple -faced Leaf Monkey. Although, elephants were common in the past, there have not been sightings during the last 15 years.
One of the most interesting and colourful spectacles to be found in Sinharaja is the presence of mixed species of foraging bird flocks, some flocks containing up to 48 different species. The rare endemic birds to be seen in Sinharaja are the Red-faced Malkoha (flower cuckoo), the Sri Lankan Blue Magpie, the Ashy-headed Babbler, the White-headed Starling and the Green-billed Coucal, the rarest of Sri Lankan birds. The Agamids are the best represented group of reptiles, the most common being the Green Garden Lizard. The only Tortoise recorded in the reserve is the Hard-shelled Terrapin, while of the species of skinks, the Spotted skink can be seen often. Among the snakes, the Green Pit Viper and Hump-nosed Viper are commonly found in this forest and are endemic to Sri Lanka.
The amphibians are fairly well represented in the reserve and nine endemic species including the Torrent toad and the common house toad have been identified. In most streams and marshes, the Wrinkled Frog and the Sri Lankan Reed Frog is also found in Sinharaja.
Activities
Out of the 211 woody trees and lianas so far identified within the reserve 139 (66%) are endemic. This is also true for the lower plants like ferns and epiphyts and out of the 25 endemic to Sri Lanka, 13 are represented in Sinharaja.
The most common deer species is the Sambar. The Monk deer and Barking deer are also found within the reserve. Leopards are very seldom sighted, but their frequent presence has been confirmed by tracks and other signs. Badger mongoose and the Golden Palm Civet have occasionally been sighted. The most commonly seen primate is the Purple -faced Leaf Monkey. Although, elephants were common in the past, there have not been sightings during the last 15 years.
One of the most interesting and colourful spectacles to be found in Sinharaja is the presence of mixed species of foraging bird flocks, some flocks containing up to 48 different species. The rare endemic birds to be seen in Sinharaja are the Red-faced Malkoha (flower cuckoo), the Sri Lankan Blue Magpie, the Ashy-headed Babbler, the White-headed Starling and the Green-billed Coucal, the rarest of Sri Lankan birds. The Agamids are the best represented group of reptiles, the most common being the Green Garden Lizard. The only Tortoise recorded in the reserve is the Hard-shelled Terrapin, while of the species of skinks, the Spotted skink can be seen often. Among the snakes, the Green Pit Viper and Hump-nosed Viper are commonly found in this forest and are endemic to Sri Lanka.
The amphibians are fairly well represented in the reserve and nine endemic species including the Torrent toad and the common house toad have been identified. In most streams and marshes, the Wrinkled Frog and the Sri Lankan Reed Frog is also found in Sinharaja.
Activities
This huge virgin forest reserve, home to a remarkable array of endemic species, it is a haven of rare trees, bird life, insects and bat-filled caves. The trekking, biking, forest photography, camping and bird watching activities are best enjoyed between December and April as well as in August and September.
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