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Bundala displays life’s wonders


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

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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