Sinharaja Rain Forest Sri Lanka | How to go to | Places to visit

Sinharajaya is well known famous rain forest in Sri lanka and it is a national park.The Sinharaja rain forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and was selected a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978. Sinharajaya is located within Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces of the south-west lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka. The whole area of the Sinharajay Forest preserve is 18,900 acres. Sinharaja Forest reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of trees,flowers insects, amphibians, reptiles and birds.

The Three Entrance Ways

Pitadeniya Entrance – Matara/Galle –> Deniyaya –> Pitadeniya
Morning Side Entrance — Matara/Galle –> Deniyaya -> Morning Side Estate
Kudawa entrance – Colombo –> Kalawana –> Kudawa

Google Map

Climate Of Sinharaja Rain Forest

The annual rainfall of Sinharaja Forest has ranged between 3614mm to 5006mm and temperatures from 19°C to 34°C. The high rainfall is owing to two monsoons(north-east monsoons during November-January and the south-west monsoons during May-July)

Rivers Of Sinharaja Rain Forest

The waterways flow into the Gin River on the southern boundary of the property and Kalu Ganga via the Napola Dola,Kudawa Ganga and Koskulana Ganga on its northern boundary.

Water Sources Of Sinharaja Forest

Animals Of Sinharaja Forest

Sinharajaya provides a territory for animals. Among them threatened, endangered and rare species are Indian elephant (Elephas maxiumus),endemic purple faced Langur (Presbytis senex),leopard(Panthera pardus).The wild pig ,the sambur ,the mouse deer, the rusty spotted cat and fishing cat and the barking deer are same that you find in the Sinharajaya.

Birds Of Sinharaja Forest

Studies have evidenced 147 species and some threatened species birds are found in the Sinharajaya.Among them are Sri Lanka wood pigeon(Columba torringtoni), Sri Lanka blue magpie (Cissa ornate), ashy headed babbler(Garrulax cinereifrons),green-billed Coucal(Centropus chlororrhynchus),Sri Lanka white-headed starling (Sturnus senex), and Sri Lanka broad-billed roller (Eurystomus orientalis irisi).

Plants Of Sinharaja Forest

Varieties of plants have seen in the Sinharaja Forest.Trees are main part of Sinharajaya and its find 4 major parts of trees.

A Canopy (30-45 m height trees)

B Sub Canopy (25-30 m height trees)

C Under store trees (20-25 m height trees)

D Ground flora (fern and grass)

Examples of trees

Beraliya(Dipterocarpus hispidus),Badhulla (Semecarpus coriacea),Dhorana (Dipterocarpus glandulosus),Kiri hembiliya (Palaquium grande), Hora (Dipterocarpus zeylanicus) ,Hedawaka (Chaetocarpus castanocarpus) ,Thawwenna (Palaquium petioilare),Katuobdda (Cullenia rosayroana),Godapara (Dillenia triquelra),Gal demata (Impatiens repens),Ginihiriya (Exacum trinerva),Hedawaka (Chaetocarpus castanocarpus) ,Thawwenna (Palaquium petioilare),Katuobdda (Cullenia rosayroana).

Reptiles Of Sinharaja Forest

You can study have varieties of reptiles. These include snakes, tortoises, viper, cobra and lizards.

Flowers Of Sinharaja Forest

Many flowers have seen in the Sinharajaya and there specially Udawediya are famous flowers Udawediyas are endemic for the Srilanka. There are Dendrobium diodon , Arundina minor, Podochilus saxatilis, Podochilus falcatus.