South & West Coast Sri Lanka - Galle, Colombo, Sinharaja

South & West Coast
Colombo
The original Sinhalese name, Kalantotta was corrupted to Kolambu by Arab traders and then changed to Colombo by the Portuguese. Known to Arab, and Chinese traders more than 2,000 years ago, Muslims settled there in the 8th century. The Portuguese arrived in Colombo in 1505 and gained a monopoly in the spice and cinnamon trade. By the mid 17th century, the Dutch had taken control of the costal areas of the Island. The British made it the capital of their crown colony of Ceylon in 1802 and in 1948 Colombo became the capital of independent Ceylon. Colombo remains the largest city and commercial capital. There are, of course, many restaurants, bars, shops and places to see including the Pettah bazaar district, the wealthy residential area of Cinnamon Gardens, the National Museum and Wolvendaal Church, both dating from the Dutch colonial period, and numerous temples and mosques.

		Galle
		Galle rose to prominence under Portuguese rule (1507-1640), when it became Sri Lanka's chief port. It was the capital of Sri Lanka under the Dutch (1640-56) and reached the height of its development in the 18th century. Its commercial importance continued until the construction in 1885, by the British, of a modern harbour at Colombo. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia. The old town of Galle and its fortifications are a world heritage site. With its narrow bustling streets and its eclectic mix of Dutch and British colonial buildings, Galle is a fascinating town full of atmosphere.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Sinharaja, a world heritage site, is the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. The reserve is only 21km from east to west, and a maximum of 7km from north to south but more than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Because of the dense vegetation, wildlife is not easily seen. There are no elephants, and the 15 or so leopards are rarely seen. Of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds, the 20 rainforest species can all be seen here.

Yala National Park

Yala National Park, also known as Ruhuna, covers an area of 979 km², although only 141 km² are open to the public. Much of the reserve is parkland, but it also contains jungle, beaches, freshwater lakes, rivers and scrubland. This varying habitat gives rise to a wide range of wildlife. Yala is a particularly good place to see elephants and probably has the world's highest concentration of leopards, although seeing this largely nocturnal carnivore requires some luck. Sloth bears, jackals, mongoose, pangolin (scaly anteater), crocodile, wild boar, deer, water buffalo, gray langur and wild peacocks can also be seen. Yala National Park is closed in September and October.

Bundala

The park covers approximately 60 km2 of brackish lagoons, salt pans, inter-tidal mudflats and thorny scrub jungle. Bundala is famous for its diversity and profusion of aquatic bird life - of the 150 bird species listed in the park every species of water bird found in the country is said to visit here. There is a small population of elephants as well as leopards, sloth bears, jackals, giant squirrels, Indian pangolin and civet cats. Marsh and estuary crocodiles are both found in Bundala. This coastal area also attracts four out of Sri Lanka's five sea turtle species, which come ashore to lay their eggs.

Uda Walawe National Park

Uda Walawe National Park covers an area of 306 km2. The habitat is open parkland, with some mature teak trees along the river. This popular reserve has more than 400 wild elephants, which are relatively easy to see in this open habitat and also leopards, crocodiles, golden jackals, water buffalo and gray langurs. The open parkland attracts birds of prey such as white-bellied sea eagle and changeable hawk eagle.


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