About Yala National Park

Country: India | State: Sri Lanka

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Yala National Park: Colombo (304 Kms), Galle (172 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Yala National Park: February to July

Peak Season: March to May

At a distance of 21 km from Tissamaharama, 111 km from Ella, 164 km from Nuwara Eliya, 172 km from Galle, 225 km from Bentota, 247 km from Kandy, 283 km from Sigiriya, 304 km from Colombo, 336 km from Anuradhapura, and 373 km from Trincomalee, Yala is a national park located in the southeastern region of Sri Lanka. It is the most popular national park in Sri Lanka and among the must include places in Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Extends over the Hambantota district of southern province and Monaragala district in Uva province, Yala is the second largest national park as well as the most visited national park in Sri Lanka due to its high density of leopards. Ironically, the park was initially used as a hunting ground for the elite under British rule. Situated in Sri Lanka's south-east hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean, Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and was designated a national park in 1938. Yala combines a strict nature reserve with a national park.

Divided into 5 blocks, the park has a protected area of nearly 130,000 hectares of land consisting of light forests, scrubs, grasslands, tanks, and lagoons. Though Yala spreads over a vast area, only two of its designated blocks are open to the visitors while the remaining area is a strictly designated Natural Reserve. The rocky outcrops scattered over the park provide vantage points to enjoy the sprawling areas with Sri Lanka's dry zone landscape. Still more, the southern border of the park being the south-eastern coast, the brackish lagoons and dunes enhances the distinctive charm of the Yala National Park.

The 2004 tsunami caused severe but localized damage to the park. Some 250 people in and around the park were consumed by the rampaging waves, also forever changing the land features of Yala's coastal belt. A Tsunami memorial is constructed at Patanangala, reminding visitors of the devastation it caused and the lives it took. Visitors are allowed to get off at this point by the beach.

Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. Among its more famous residents are the world's biggest concentration of leopards, majestic elephants, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, spotted dear, peacocks, and crocodiles. Yala National Park is rich in birdlife and around 130 species have been recorded here. Besides, Situlpahuwa, Kataragama, Kebiliththa, and Buduruwagala are the other places to visit in and around Yala.

Yala National Park has four entry gates. Gates at Palatupana and Katagamuwa leading to Blocks 1 & 2 remain the most visited. However, the two Gates at Galge on Buttala-Kataragama Road, covering Blocks 3 & 5 are becoming known among visitors who do not want to contribute to congestion. There are reports of frequent sightings of leopards on these routes, too.

The Yala wildlife adventure seems to be incomplete without taking the awe-inspiring wildlife safari. The park authorities offered two types of jeeps to its visitors - half-day safari and full-day safari. There are two half-day jeep safari slots that you can choose from, the morning slot or the afternoon slot. The morning slot starts at 5:30 AM while the afternoon slot starts at 2:30 PM. Each safari lasts about 3 hours. The permits for day visits to the park are available online on Park's website or one can book at the park's ticket window.

Palatupana & Katagamuwa are closed from 1st September to 1st October every year while the Galge & Yala West Gates on Buttala-Kataragama Road which remain open 365 days. For the most reliable wildlife sightings, the best time to visit Yala is between February and July when the water levels of the park are quite low, bringing animals into the open.

A series of wildlife bungalows operated by the park afford nature enthusiasts to spend a night in the park. These bungalows are very basic, promote open space but give you an unforgettable experience as you experience a night in the animal kingdom. Besides, Tissamaharama and Kataragama are good bases from which to do a safari to Yala and any hotel or guesthouse would be able to arrange this for you.

Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo is the nearest international airport which is about 308 km from Yala. It has well flight connectivity with India and other parts of Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the United States. Haputale Railway Station is the nearest railway station, which is about 132 km from Yala. It has regular trains from Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, Elle, Kandy, and Badulla. From Haputale, it's about an hour and a half drive to Yala National Park. Tissamaharama Bus station, about 21 km from Yala, is well connected by bus with Colombo, and Kataragama.

Safari Timings: 5.30 AM & 2.30 PM, closed from September - October

Entry: USD. 15 for Foreign Adults, USD. 8 for Foreign Child, USD. 35 per Jeep for Half Day Safari & USD. 60 per Jeep for Full Day Safari

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Poor
STD Code: 0094-47
Languages Spoken: Sinhalese, Tamil, & English
Major Festivals: Details Not Available
Notes/Tips:
Palatupana & Katagamuwa are closed from 1st September to 1st October every year while the Galge & Yala West Gates on Buttala-Kataragama Road which remain open 365 days.

How to Reach Yala National Park

By Air

Nearest Airport: Colombo - Bandaranaike Airport (308 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Haputale Railway Station (132 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Tissamaharama (21 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Yala National Park

#1 of 8 Places to Visit in Yala National Park

At a distance of 7 km from Palatupana and 20 km from Tissamaharama, Jeep Safari is one of the most exciting things to do in Yala National Park as part of Sri Lanka Packages.

Divided into 5 blocks, the park has a protected area of nearly 130,000 hectares of land consisting of light forests, scrubs, grasslands, tanks, and lagoons. Though Yala spreads over a vast area, only two of its designated blocks are open to the visitors while the remaining area is a strictly designated Natural Reserve. Adjoining the eastern border of the park is Kumana. The rocky outcrops scattered over the park provide vantage points to enjoy the sprawling areas with Sri Lanka's dry zone landscape. Still more, the southern border of the park being the south-eastern coast, the brackish lagoons and dunes enhances the distinctive charm of the Yala National Park.

Yala National Park has four entry gates. Gates at Palatupana and Katagamuwa leading to Blocks .....

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#2 of 8 Places to Visit in Yala National Park

At a distance of 17 km from Kataragama, 22 km from Yala and 28 km from Tissamaharama, Sithulpawwa is an ancient Buddhist monastery located deep within the natural habitats of the Yala National Park, Sri Lanka. Located on Tissamaharama-Yodhakandiya road, it is one of the popular pilgrimage places to visit near Yala.

Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya is believed to have been built in the 2nd century BC by King Kavantissa. With a history of over 2200 years, this rock temple is considered to be one of the supreme 2nd-century sites of Buddhist scholarship. Sithulpawwa is known as a location where thousands of Arhaths lived at one time.

The monastery straddles a collection of rocky outcrops and caves deep in the heart of Yala National Park. There are said to be hundreds of caves and shelters within and around the complex that have housed monks (for centuries) who came to the site to further their education as well as to meditate. Surrounded by only the sounds of the wilderness and .....

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#3 of 8 Places to Visit in Yala National Park

At a distance of 11 km from Yala National Park and 12 km from Sithulpawwa, Magul Maha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist monastery situated on Kirinda - Situlpawwa Road, Sri Lanka. It is one of the popular places to visit in Yala National Park.

The ancient Buddhist temple of Magul Maha Viharaya is situated within the Yala National Park and known for its captivating architecture, making it a 'must-see' attraction. This temple is said to be built by King Kavanthissa in the 2nd Century BC on the location where the King married the princess Vihara Maha Devi. They were the parents of rebel King, Dutugemunu who wrote a significant chapter in Sri Lankan history. The foundations of the 'Magul Maduwa' where the wedding ceremony took place can still be seen in the vihara premises.

The entire Vihara complex had covered an extent of around 10,000 acres where ruins of a palace, moonstone, monastery, Bo tree, stupas, ponds, etc. are found scattered all over. The moonstone here is said to be .....

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#4 of 8 Places to Visit in Yala National Park

At a distance of 37 km from Ella, 68 km from Tissamaharama, 74 km from Kataragama and 88 km from Yala, Buduruwagala is an ancient Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. Known for its magnificent rock carvings, it is one of Yala's best attractions.

The complex consists of seven statues and belongs to the Mahayana school of thought. The stunning rock-cut Buddha figures are nearly a 1000-year old. Buduruwagala means 'the rock of Buddhist Sculptures' and is derived from the words for Buddha (Budu), images (ruva) and stone (gala). Authorities generally date them to the 9th or 10th century but Buduruwagala does not have many historical records. It is thought to be a hermitage for monks. The sculptures of Buduruwagala also include many sculptures of Bodhisattva images including Mahayana tradition.

The enormous Buddha stands at 15m, becoming the highest on the island. One can still trace its unusual adhesive robe, along with an elongated splash of orange color, indicating it was once painted .....

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#5 of 8 Places to Visit in Yala National Park

At a distance of 20 km from Tissamaharama and 38 km from Yala, Kataragama is a sacred town in Sri Lanka. It is one of the most significant pilgrimages in Sri Lanka and is regarded as one of the best places to visit in Yala.

This small town is famous for Kataragama temple, a temple complex dedicated to Buddhist guardian deity Kataragama deviyo and Hindu War God Murugan. It is one of the few religious sites in Sri Lanka that is venerated by the Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and the Vedda people. For most of the past millennia, it was a jungle shrine very difficult to access but today it is accessible by an all-weather road. The shrines and the nearby Kiri Vehera are managed by Buddhists while the shrines dedicated to Teyvanai and Shiva are managed by Hindus and the mosque by Muslims.

According to Hindus and some Buddhist texts, the main shrine is dedicated to Kartikeya. Kartikeya, also known as Kumara, Skanda, Saravanabhava, Murugan, Visakha or Mahasena, is the chief of warriors .....

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#6 of 8 Places to Visit in Yala National Park

At a distance of 30 km from Galge, 32 km from Kotiyagala, 56 km from Kumana and 87 km from Yala, Maha Siyambalawa Devalaya in Kebiliththa also popularly known as Maha Kebiliththa Devalaya is a small shrine deep inside the block IV of the Yala National Park. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage places in Sri Lanka.

Kebiliththa is said to be the spiritual residence of God Skanda, believed to be a site of great divine power. Kebiliththa or Kabiliththa is considered a very sacred place among both Buddhists and Hindus. Although the historic shrine of Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya and the Kiri Vehera attract thousands of devotees, the belief that the divinity prefers to spend his time at the more tranquil environs of Kebiliththa attracts die-hard devotees to this jungle tree shrine.

This devalaya has no fixed buildings but few statues around a small Tamarind (Siyambala) tree. This Tamarind Tree is about 9 feet high but quite old. This tree is said to be an offshoot of the original .....

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#7 of 8 Places to Visit in Yala National Park

At a distance of 53 km from Ella, 72 km from Kandy, 182 km from Sigiriya, 150 km from Dambulla, 168 km from Colombo, 188 km from Polonnaruwa, 227 km from Anuradhapura, 230 km from Mirissa, 267 km from Galle, 274 km from Trincomalee, and 412 km from Jaffna, Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful hill town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya district and among the must-include places in Sri Lanka Packages.

Often called the mini London, Nuwara Eliya is known for its picturesque landscape and temperate climate. The literal meaning of Nuwara Eliya is the 'city on the plain (table land)' or 'city of lights'. It is a perfect place to relax and escape the oppressive heat and humidity that surrounds the rest of the country as this is the highest town in Sri Lanka situated at an altitude of 1868 m. Overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya is considered to be .....

Distance (From Yala National Park): 164 Kms
Trip Duration (From Yala National Park - Including Travel): Full Day
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#8 of 8 Places to Visit in Yala National Park

At a distance of 42 km from Matara, 55 km from Bentota, 126 km from Colombo, 190 km from Yala, 222 km from Kandy, 251 km from Nuwara Eliya, 304 km from Anuradhapura, and 365 km from Trincomalee, Galle is an ancient port city located on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions to visit in the region as part of Sri Lanka Tour Packages and among the must include places to visit in honeymoon trip.

Synonymous with the country's fascinating history and rich culture, no Sri Lanka Tour is complete without visiting Galle as this historic city is blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques, and churches, grand mansions, and museums. Galle was known as Gimhathitha in ancient times and is believed to be derived from the classical Sinhalese term meaning 'port near the river Gin'. Another theory is that the word Galle is derived .....

Distance (From Yala National Park): 172 Kms
Trip Duration (From Yala National Park - Including Travel): Full Day
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