Somawathiya National Park, National park in North Central Province, Sri Lanka
Somawathiya National Park is a protected area in eastern Sri Lanka, where the Mahaweli River splits into two branches and forms a mix of wetlands, grasslands, and forests. Shallow flooded basins called villus dot the landscape, filling with water during rainy periods and attracting large numbers of animals throughout the year.
The area was first protected as a wildlife sanctuary in 1966, then raised to national park status in 1986. The upgrade gave the land stronger legal protection at a time when surrounding forests were facing growing pressure from land clearance.
The Somawathiya Chaitya, a Buddhist stupa said to house a relic of the Buddha, stands inside the park and draws pilgrims from across Sri Lanka. Visitors often witness religious processions and offerings near the stupa, giving the park a character unlike most wildlife areas.
Visitors generally explore the park by jeep with a local guide, as some areas become hard to reach when the villus fill with water. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times for watching animals, since many species move around more during those hours.
Somawathiya is one of the very few national parks in the world where a functioning religious site sits inside a wildlife reserve, meaning pilgrims and wildlife watchers share the same entry point. On full moon days, the number of people visiting the stupa can temporarily shift animal movement patterns in the areas closest to the temple.
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