Lahugala Kitulana National Park

Small park in comparison to other National Parks. Visited in Jan 2022 and understand it was Off season. Was not lucky to see any herds. A family of 3 (Mum and 2 Babies) plus a few loners. Tracker provided (Shantha Kumar) was useless as he was not aware of the names and habitats of even the common birds in the park. He sheepishly admitted he was a political appointee and marking time to get his monthly salary and perks.not recommended.

Lahugala Kitulana National Park (Sinhala: ලාහුගල-කිතුලාන ජාතික වනෝද්‍යානය) is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka. Despite its land area, the park is an important habitat for Sri Lankan elephant and endemic birds of Sri Lanka. The national park contains the reservoirs of Lahugala, Kitulana and Sengamuwa and they are ultimately empties to Heda Oya river. Originally it was designated as a wildlife sanctuary on July 1 of 1966. Then the protected area was upgraded to a national park on October 31 of 1980. Lahugala Kitulana is situated 318 km east of Colombo.
Mean annual rainfall of the area is about 1,650 millimetres. North east monsoon persist during the months November to December. Two dry periods last from May to October and January to March. The terrain of the park is flat with occasional rocky outcrops. This national park is traditionally used by elephants as a feeding ground. A herd of 150 individuals is attracted by Sacciolepis interrupta grass which is common around the Lahugala tank. Endemic toque macaque, tufted gray langur, sloth bear, golden jackal, rusty-spotted cat, fishing cat, Sri Lanka leopard, wild boar, Indian muntjac, Sri Lankan axis deer, Sri Lankan sambar deer, Indian pangolin and Indian hare are the other mammals found in the park. Many wetland birds found in Lahugala Kitulana include great white pelican, purple heron, painted stork, lesser adjutant, Anas spp, white-bellied sea eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, common kingfisher, stork-billed kingfisher, white-throated kingfisher. Spot-billed pelican, Asian openbill and woolly-necked stork are also recorded visiting the wetland. The last recorded sighting of knob-billed duck, now thought be extinct in Sri Lanka, occurred in here. Red-faced malkoha and Sri Lanka spurfowl are two endemic birds that reside in the park. Endemic Bufo atukoralei, Fejervarya limnocharis, Polypedates maculatus, Banded bull frog, and Microhyla rubra are among the amphibians of the national park. Python molurus, Rat snake, Chrysopelea spp. Boiga spp, Dryophis spp, and Russell's viper are among the notable reptiles. Melanochelys trijuga and Lissemys punctata are two freshwater turtles that inhabit in the tank of Lahugala. Endemic fish species Clarias brachysoma is also dwell in the tank.

Inheriting a unique ecosystem, Lahugala National Park is an ideal place for reptiles, mammals and birds.

Popular for elephant sightings during dry season. Difficult to see much elephants during rainy season from Nov to Feb. Monaragala Pottuvil road crosses the national park. Elephants can be watched even from the main road during evening. Only one DWC circuit bunglow is available inside the park.

Nice park with lots of animals, but not many tourists. Plenty of buffalos, wild pigs, deer, we also saw foxes, mongoose and an elephant. Myriad of birds, any bird lover will

You will be able to experience the authentic wilderness and true beauty of nature in this park.
Not many safari routes inside the park when comparing to other national park. But it has it's own beauty and wild elephants can be seen mostly nearby area of Mahawewa tank.

Good archeological site, you can go around alone and read the plates fixed in front of the ruins