Travel
Bundala displays life’s wonders
Text and pictures Ganga Pradeepa in Bundala
Parent parrots feeding the little ones |
Bundala is a wetland sanctuary, declared a Ramsar site, famous for
bird watching. It is a park harbouring 149 bird species and a small
population of elephants within an area of 6,216 hectares .
The park was initially established as a Sanctuary in 1969 and due to
its significant role as a wintering site for migratory birds it was
declared as a RAMSAR wetland in 1990.
Visiting the wild in the jeep |
As Bundala National Park is located in the semi arid zone, rainfall
is highly seasonal. Bundala National Park mainly consists of 4 brackish
lagoons, salt pans, marshes, thorny scrub lands, sand dunes, dry mixed
ever green forests and dry grass lands.
Some of the bird species such as Flamingoes have chosen this park as
their winter home. In addition to elephants, this park provides shelter
and habitats for giant squirrels, civets and crocodiles.
The especial feature is that during October to January the beaches
get crowded at nights with guests because 5 different species of turtles
come ashore to lay eggs and you might get a chance to witness the
phenomenon if you stay overnight in Bundala. Beside the bird life this
national park provides shelter for elephants, spotted deer, wild boar,
black hare, grey and ruddy mongoose, toque macaque, grey langur and
porcupine, jackal and fishing and rusty spotted cats. This park is also
well known for sightings of estuarine crocodile and mugger crocodile.
The main attraction at Bundala is the bird life, especially waders.
There are both resident and migratory species.
Greater Flamingo, Spot-billed Pelican, Lesser Adjutant and
Black-necked Stork are among the large birds.
In the habitat - a monkey |
Large flocks of terns, gulls, sand-pipers, snipes, teals, cormorants,
egrets and many more water birds are commonly seen.
Bundala National Park is extremely popular with both local and
migratory birds.
About 167 bird species have been recorded in this National Park. The
lagoons, enclosed within the Bundala National Park support, during some
part of the year, very important populations of every species of water
bird resident in the country.
The lagoons
The lagoons also constitute one of the most important wintering areas
for migratory shorebirds in the country, accommodating over 20,000
shorebirds at any time, including rare species such as the Black Necked
Stork.
The Park is the last refuge of the Grater Flamingo in this part of
the island. Up to 2,000 of these birds having been recorded during
November to January.
Beside the bird life, the lagoons support a large number of fish and
prawns. The reptile fauna of Bundala National Park includes many IUCN
Red List species such as estuarine crocodile (mugger). At least three
species of endangered marine turtles, Olive Ridley, Green Turtle,
Leatherback and one vulnerable species, the Loggerhead, nest on the
beach. An endemic frog (Bufo atukoralei) has also been recorded form the
Park.
How to get there
The park is 162 miles from Colombo, and is located off the main
Colombo-Kataragama highway. Roads inside the park are for
four-wheel-drive vehicles only.
Salt pans (lunu lewayas)
Wading free in the park |
The area of open scrub around the coastal lewaya offers great
opportunities for bird-watching with the added bonus of being able to
spot the odd elephant and basking crocodile. The salt pans attract vast
numbers of migratory shore birds, accommodating tens of thousands at any
time, making it the most important wetlands in Sri Lanka outside the
Northern Province.
Flamingoes
The most famous visitors are the huge flocks of flamingoes. The
Bundala area is the flamingos’ last refuge in the southern Sri Lanka,
and you can see them here in variable numbers throughout the year. Their
exact breeding habits remain a mystery, though it’s thought they migrate
from the Rann of Kutch in northern India.
It’s a winter home to the greater flamingoes and up to 2000 have been
recorded here. Many other birds journey from Siberia and Rann of Kutch
in India to winter here, arriving between August and April. About 350
flamingoes have made Bundala their year-round home.
Non-aquatic birds
Non-aquatic birds commonly seen here include delicate green bee
eaters, one of the south’s prettiest residents, blue-tailed bee eaters
along with spotted doves, common babblers, parakeets and bulbuls.
Peacocks
The peacocks with pea hens in the upper parts of the park can be a
memorable site for visitors.
Elephants
The scrub jungle is home to herds of elephants. There are permanent
resident elephants and larger seasonal migratory herds comprising
animals that roam the Ruhuna Yala National Park and Uda Walawe National
Park.
Mammals
Bundala is also home to mammals, including leopards, sloth bears,
civets, mongooses and giant squirrels, as well as rabbits though the
most commonly seen mammals are the excitable troupes of grey languor
monkeys.
Marsh and estuarine crocodiles
Depending on how wet it is your tracker might let you get within a
couple of meters of their log-like forms, a memorable experience, though
not one for the faint-hearted.
Marine Turtles
Between October and January four of Sri Lanka’s marine turtles (olive
ridley, green, leatherback and loggerhead) lay their eggs on the coast
of the park.
Fact Box
Main source of rainfall
- Northeast monsoons (December — February).
Mean Annual Rainfall - 900 — 1300 mm.
Area is experiencing prolong drought
- May to October.
Mean annual Temperature - 27o C.
Daily temperature - above 30oC is not uncommon
Fishing village at Galle Face Hotel
Text and Pic. Beverley Jansz
The Sea Spray Restaurant of the Galle Face Hotel, will create a
gastronomical landmark by presenting the ‘Vishing Village’ from May
21-331 specially for sea food lovers .
Saviour the catch of the day at the Sea Spray Restaurant which
overlooks the gorgeous Indian Ocean at this unique festival.
The ‘Fishing Village’ will offer guests a selection of many varieties
of fish and other sea food.
Array is prawns, cuttlefish and crabs too will be alone to individual
tastes by the hotel’s expect seafood chefs.
Mentioning a few dishes to be offered to guests during the festival
Public Relations Manager Galle Face Hotel, Onita Gurugalla said Prawn
Thermidor Tempura Fish in soya, backed crabs, seafood kebabs, kingfish
steak and seafood brochette. Live entertainment, for every table of
eight guests on complimentary bottle of red or white wine, and many more
surprises are on the carbs driving the fishing village’ festival from 7
pm. to 11 p.m. from May 21 - 31, at the Galle Face Hotel.
Hotel Dalmanuta
Offering many ways of relaxation :
The place was pleasant but the name was somewhat outlandish. The
Hotel Dalmanuta which is located at Alutgama Darga Town is a calm place
to spend a holiday near the Bentota river. The name Dalmanuta is said to
have been borrowed from the Bible and was the place where Jesus went to
rest.
The knowledge of life Ayurveda helps us enjoy life; it enhances our
health and sustains our well-being. Ayurveda is an ancient science that
offers ways to good health that partly has been forgotten by the western
healthcare system. At Dalmanuta, they offer Ayurvedic treatments in a
beautiful and luxurious environment with first-class service. The hotel
has a well qualified doctor and therapists who search the own history of
the guests, present situation and as well as give an individual
treatment plans.
The guests treatment also includes a basic course in the philosophy
and the life and dietary recommendations of Ayurveda.
Beside the Pancha Karma treatment Dalmanuta also offers the whole
spectrum of traditional Ayurvedic treatments as well as acupuncture,
reflexology and healing.
This hotel was opened in 2003 and today has 9 suites.
“When I visited Sri Lanka in 2002, I saw this beautiful piece of
land. At that time this was a jungle. When I saw this land I wanted to
build a hotel on this place and I bought it. We use our own plants for
our treatments and we have 250 herbals in our 4 acres land”, said
Managing Director Peer Franzen. (GP)
Ceviche Trio Night at the Mount Lavinia Hotel
The Ceviche Trio Night is on at the Seafood Cove on Thursday nights
at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, the latest in its chain of food promotion
from the world of cuisine.
Ceviche, citrus marinated seafood is an appetizer, popularized mainly
in Latin American countries.
Traditional style Ceviche is served using finfish or white shellfish
marinated to add a succulent flavour. While every Latin American country
has given Ceviche its own touch of individuality by adding its own
particular garnishes, Peru is often noted as the birthplace of Ceviche
which relates to the pre-columbian period. Latin American Chef Leonel
uses traditional and authentic methods in the preparation of Ceviche and
his touch of innovation can spring an exotic surprise worth a visit to
the Seafood Cove at Mount Lavinia Hotel.
Elephant Reach
A special promotion has been organised by Hotel Elephant Reach which
includes Dolphin watching, a new form of entertainment for tourists
visiting the ‘Deep South’.
“The package also includes a trip to the Great Base Light house apart
from the one to Kirinda to watch the dolphins,” says Assistant Manager
Operations Dilum Ratnayake.
Hotel Elephant Reach has also organised a special beverage promotion
till end of May for guests on full board.
Travelon Tours
With the foreign in-bound tourism still at a low ebb, M/s Travelon
Ltd has ventured into yet another domestic tour which covered Thalawila,
Kalpitiya, Anuradhapura, Minneriya & Pidurangala over the Vesak long
week-end.
Due to the prevailing “dry season” in NWP & CP Minneriya Park was
teeming with wild elephants & the Travelon group could view more than
200 majestic animals in one safari.
The next domestic tour will take place during 4th - 6th July long
weekend covering Anuradhpura & Minneriya (due to heavy demand),
Polonnaruwa, Mahiyangana & Haputale.
“For the out-bound tours it will be Laos for July (Luang Prabang &
Vientiene ) , Kenya Safari (Abadares, Nakuru, Masai Mara & Nairobi) &
Myanmar for August. Egypt tour is for ( Luxor , Aswan , Abu Simbel,
Cairo & Alexandria ) September”, added Bandula de Silva Director
Operations.
Party at the Beira Lounge today
Trans Asia hotel management team invites their patrons to come and
enjoy live music of two bands playing through the night today. Inner
Sounds and BEST will be giving off their best with non-stop music for
non-stop dancing.
During the night, watch live performances by El Latino Dance Club who
will demonstrate their expertise in Latin American Dancing.
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