Kumana National Park in Sri Lanka

Unquestionably, the Kumana National Park is an ornithologist's paradise. It is one of the best bird sanctuaries in the nation and is located on the southeast coast of the country, 391 kilometres from Colombo. Kumana and Yala National Park are adjacent. Yala East National Park was once known as Kumana until it adopted its current name on September 5, 2006. The largest bird refuge in Sri Lanka is the reputed Kumana Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kudumbigala sanctuary serves as the park's entry, and it is reachable through Beragala and Koslanda as well as the Uduwalawe - Tanamalvilla road.

The park's vegetation, primarily tropical dry zone forest, covers an area of 35,665 hectares. The Kumbukkan Oya forms the park's western boundary, while to the south is a stretch of coastline that extends to Panama. The national park's abundant wildlife is supported by about 20 lagoons and tanks. Less than two meters of water can be found in the shallow lagoons (6.6 ft). The "Kumana Villu," a vast 200-hectare natural mangrove swamp, together with several tanks and lagoons located throughout the park are the primary breeding and nesting grounds for the park's abundant bird population. The Kumana National Park is believed to have documented 255 kinds of birds out of the 400 bird species in the nation. It is well known that from April to July each year, hundreds of birds migrate to the wetland. The region is 90 meters above sea level in elevation (300 ft). The region experiences 1,300 millimeters (51.18 in) of annual rainfall, with a mean annual temperature of 27.30 °C (81.14 °F).

History

A prehistoric civilisation that dates back to the third century BC is present in the Kumana region. Additionally, the area has been home to the discovery of 2nd and 1st century BC rock inscriptions. The traditional yearly foot pilgrimage to the Hindu shrine at Kataragama passes through the Kumana National Park. This pilgrimage is attended by both the Tamil and Sinhalese people.

In 1969, Kumana National Park separated from the larger wildlife refuge, leaving little to no trace of its earlier existence. Before it was designated as a sanctuary, Kumana was a favorite hunting site for elephant poachers and Dehiwala zoo keepers who sought to exhibit the elephants there. The Tamil Kovil, which sponsors the pada yatra, a pilgrimage foot trek, is the sole physical representation of what is still there in terms of cultural components (pronounced Pardha Yarthra). The historic cave drawings, said to have been created by the Veddas, are, nevertheless, what draws the most attention in the park. These prehistoric drawings showed a pack of hunters and a herd of wild elephants. Some claim that the park was originally inhabited by the race of dwarfs known as Nittaewo from the Lankan myth, who long ago dwelt in the nation. The park formerly known as "Yala-East Park" was renamed "Kumana" in 2006. Because of assaults by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam), the park was shut down from 1985 until March 2003.

Time to Visit

Even though Kumana National Park may be visited throughout the year, you should be mindful of the rainy season in some months because it can have a considerable impact on your trip. The greatest time to visit Kumana is between February and July, during the dry season, when the animals are much easier to see in the less thick forest.

Travel can be more challenging, but it's still not impossible, the rest of the year since the park suffers rain and monsoons, and the existing marshy terrain can cause roads to flood. Peak season is often during the dry season, although Kumana receives a tiny fraction of the tourists of the park to the west, so you may still have a tranquil vacation even during the busiest times. For bird lovers, Kumana is one of the greatest national parks to visit, and the ideal time to visit is between April and July to witness the great migrations. Due to the centuries-old pilgrimage that travels through the national park on foot, July and August are not acceptable months to go on a safari in Kumana.

Flora

Tropical thorn woodland in the dry zone surrounds the wetland parts of the park. The inland forest's flora is dominated by Manilkara hexandra (Sinhalese "palu"), Hemicyclea sepieria, Bauhinia racemosa, Cassia fistula ("ehela"), Chloroxylon swietenia ("burutha"), and Salvadora persica species. The dominant tree of the Kumana villu is Sonneratia caseolaris, while Typha angustifolia is the dominant reed. Terminalia arjuna trees dominate the riverine forests along the Kumbukkan Oya. The common aquatic plants of the swamp are colourful Ludwigia spp., Nelumbo nucifera, Nymphaea pubescens, Aponogeton spp. and Neptunia oleracea.

Fauna

The 1938-established Kumana Bird Sanctuary is a part of Kumana National Park. One of the most significant bird breeding and nesting areas in Sri Lanka is Kumana. The national park has 255 species of birds that have been identified. Tens of thousands of birds travel to the Kumana marsh region from April to July. Rare species such as black-necked stork, lesser adjutant, Eurasian spoonbill, and great thick-knee are breeding inhabitants. Waders belonging to families Scolopacidae and Charadriidae are among the visitors to the area along with waterfowl. Pintail snipes migrate here flying 9,000 kilometers (5,600 mi) to 11,000 kilometers (6,800 mi) from Siberia. Asian openbill, glossy ibis, purple heron, great egret, Indian pond heron, black-crowned night heron, intermediate egret, little egret, spot-billed pelican, Indian cormorant, little cormorant, common moorhen, watercock, purple swamphen, white-breasted waterhen, pheasant-tailed jacana, black-winged stilt, lesser whistling duck and little grebe are the bird species migrate here in large flocks. Among the rare birds that migrate to the swap are the yellow-footed green pigeon, greater racket-tailed drongo, Malabar trogon, red-faced malkoha, and sirkeer malkoha, Pacific golden plover, greater sand plover, lesser sand plover, grey plover, ruddy turnstone, little ringed plover, wood sandpiper, marsh sandpiper, common redshank, common sandpiper, curlew sandpiper, little stint, common snipe, and pintail snipe are the common wading birds of the park.

Tilapia and mullet are the commonly fished varieties in the area while Channa spp. are also caught occasionally. Mugger crocodile, Indian flap-shelled turtle and Indian black turtle are the common reptiles inhabiting the park. Mammals such as golden jackal, wild boar, Sri Lankan elephant, European otter, and fishing cat also visit the swamp to feed. The number of elephants roaming in the Kumana is estimated at 30–40.

Going on Safari

Although it is theoretically legal to go on a safari without a guide in Kumana National Park, as in the rest of Yala National Park, it is not recommended due to the extensive swampland and challenging roads. Even at the best of times, it may be challenging to see animals and birds, let alone if this is your first time visiting the park.

Joining an organized safari with experienced, local guides who are familiar with the national park through and out is considerably simpler. In addition to being skilled off-roaders, they will also, presumably, know just where to seek to discover even the most elusive of species. The bigger animals, especially the elephants that frequently roam along the major roads in Kumana, are likely to be easy to detect, but other, more uncommon creatures could require more perseverance to discover.

You might see various species at different times of day on safaris, so you might want to visit the park several times, especially if there is a specific animal you are hoping to see in the wild. Safaris are often offered in the mornings and afternoons. You may simply organize a trip in Arugam Bay, Panama, or Pottuvil, or you can book a safari in advance through one of the many firms that provide them online these days.

When going on safari at Kumana National Park, you'll normally be fairly safe as long as you abide by the authorities' laws and regulations. As was already said, it is advisable to take part in a planned safari since the skilled and experienced local guides reduce your danger while traveling.

Of course, because they are wild, the creatures are unpredictable. Keep your distance from any wildlife you see, especially bigger creatures like elephants, who can suddenly change their behavior if startled. When visiting the park, it is advised to avoid the water's edge because there are many of crocodiles living there. Swimming is not even an option because these dangerous monsters are frequently concealed from view but may strike suddenly and without warning. Though assaults on people are exceedingly rare, Kumana is a beautiful and wild environment that must be explored, so try not to think about the risks too much.

How to Get

The expansive Yala region, a large area containing hundreds of square kilometres of stunning wilderness, is bordered on the east by Kumana National Park. It is more simpler to station oneself on Sri Lanka's east coast for much easier access, even though you can get to the park entrance from the western side from cities like Hambantota that also serve as bases for the remainder of Yala.

The closest town is Okanda, which is also where Kumana's main entrance is located. However, there are a number of choices to the north that serve as efficient transportation hubs into the park.

You may take a bus from Colombo to the town of Pottuvil; the trip will likely take more than seven hours. You may continue traveling south from this point to Arugam Bay or Panama, both of which serve as entry points to Kumana.

Places Near

• Kudumbigala Monastery

The Kudumbigala Monastery is located seventeen miles from Kumana Village and eleven miles from Panama. During the reign of King Devanampiyatissa in 246 BC, the monastery complex at Kudumbigala was constructed. It was once built as a haven for Buddhist monks who wished to escape the bustling Cities. More than 200 rock caves that belonged to this long-forgotten monastery have been found by archaeologists.

Kudumbigala was formed as an Aranya Senansanaya in the pre-Christian era, according to Brahmi script inscriptions and other evidence found in the recently excavated cave, Maha Sudharshana Lena. According to a stone inscription, the Giant Warrior Nandimitra, one of King Dutugemunu's "Dasa Maha Yodayas," the 10 giant soldiers, built the Maha Sudharshana Lena and gave it to the Arahats.

• Yala National Park

The second-largest and most popular national park in Sri Lanka, Yala National Park is located along the Indian Ocean. The park is made up of five blocks, two of which are now accessible to the general public, as well as adjacent parks. The blocks are identified by their unique designations, such as Block 1 for Ruhuna National Park and Block 2 for Kumana National Park, or "Yala East" for the nearby area. It is located in Southern Province and Uva Province in the southeast of the nation. The park is roughly 300 kilometers (190 miles) from Colombo and has a total area of 979 square kilometers (378 sq mi). Yala was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and it was one of Sri Lanka's first two national parks, along with Wilpattu, when it was established in 1938. The variety of wild creatures in the park is its best-known feature. It is crucial for the preservation of aquatic birds, leopards, and elephants in Sri Lanka.

Read : https://zeloan.blogspot.com/2022/07/yala-national-park-in-sri-lanka.html

• Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay, sometimes referred to as "Arugam Kudah" locally, is a historic hamlet of the former Batticaloa Territory and is located on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's southeast coast (Mattakallappu Desam). The bay is around 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) south of the market town of Pottuvil and 117 kilometers (73 km) south of Batticaloa. It is also 320 kilometers (200 mi) due east of Colombo. The area's primary community, Ullae, is primarily Muslim, but to the south of the village, there are sizable Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala populations as well as a handful of foreign expats, mainly from Europe and Australia.Although historically fishing has been the main industry in the region, tourism has developed significantly in recent years. Bay of Cynodon dactylon is the exact Tamil translation of Arugam Kudah. Several good surf breaks make Arugam Bay a popular destination for surfers, but the area's beaches, lagoons, historic temples, and adjacent Kumana National Park all draw visitors.

Read : https://zeloan.blogspot.com/2022/07/arugam-bay-in-sri-lanka.html

• Pigeon Island

Two tiny islands north of Trincomalee off the east coast make up Pigeon Island National Park. The Blue Rock Pigeon, a local, threatened species that inhabits the rocks of these islands, gave the island its name. In order to safeguard these birds, the islands were designated as a sanctuary in 1963. The region was given national park status in 2003, and the coral reefs surrounding it were added to the park's limits. The Eastern Province seaside town of Nilaveli is located 1 km from the shore of the national park, which has a total land size of 471.429 hectares.

Read : https://zeloan.blogspot.com/2022/08/pigeon-island-in-sri-lanka.html

• Udawalawe National Park

Sri Lanka's Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces' borders are shared by Udawalawe National Park. The park was established to safeguard the catchment of the reservoir and to offer a sanctuary for wild creatures driven from their natural habitat by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River. The reserve was formed on June 30, 1972, and it has a total land size of 30,821 hectares (119,00 sq mi).

Read : https://zeloan.blogspot.com/2022/10/udawalawe-national-park-in-sri-lanka.html

• Pasikuda Beach

About 35 kilometers from Batticaloa Town, Pasikuda, which means "green-algae-bay," is located on the eastern shore of Sri Lanka between Kalkuda and the Indian Ocean. Local and foreign visitors are drawn to this expansive sandy area by the bay's turquoise blue seas to surf, swim, or simply enjoy the water's warmth. There are other additional activities available, including kite- and boogie-boarding, surfing, and canoeing.

Read : https://zeloan.blogspot.com/2022/10/pasikuda-beach-in-sri-lanka.html

• Hambantota Dry Zone Botanic Gardens

The first Dry Zone Botanical Gardens in Sri Lanka were unveiled to the public in 2013 at Mirijjawila, Hambanthota, on a plot of land that measured 300 acres (121.4 hectares). There are six botanical gardens in Sri Lanka, although the biggest and busiest three were created by the British while they were there. These three are the Gampaha Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens, Hakgala Botanical Gardens, and Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, all of which debuted in 1861. (1876). The others are the Seetawaka Wet Zone Botanical Gardens (opened in 2015), Mirijjawila Dry Zone Botanical Gardens (established in the 1950s), and Ganewatta Medicinal Plants Gardens (opened in 2016).

Google Map:

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