Yala, located in the southeastern region of Sri Lanka, is renowned for its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Area of Yala is home to six national parks, three wildlife sanctuaries and significant cultural heritage sites, such as Sithulpawwa, an ancient Buddhist rock monastery, and Magul Maha Viharaya in Kirinda.
It is most known for Yala National Park, the second-largest and most visited national park in Sri Lanka renowned for its diverse wildlife, including elusive leopard population, elephants, and a wide array of bird species.
Lunugamvehera National Park, located in southeastern Sri Lanka, spans 23,498 hectares of protected land, with the Lunugamvehera Reservoir serving as its central water source.
Established in 1995, the park serves as a vital wildlife corridor for elephants and other species connecting Yala National Park and Udawalawe National Park.
The park features a diverse range of ecosystems, including dry monsoon forests, grasslands, and wetlands, which support a variety of flora and fauna.
The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including elephants, leopards, sloth bears, and spotted deer, along with numerous bird species both resident and migratory.
Magul Maha Viharaya, located in Sithulpawwa near Yala in southeastern Sri Lanka, dates back to the 2nd century BCE and is associated with the marriage of King Kavantissa and Queen Viharamahadevi.
According to legend, their marriage ceremony is believed to have taken place at Magul Maha Viharaya in Lahugala, while the Magul Maha Viharaya in Sithulpawwa is said to be the location where they spent their first night as a royal couple.
Yala National Park, the second-largest and most visited national park in Sri Lanka, is located in the southeastern region of the island.
Designated as a national park in 1938, it spans 978.8 square kilometers and is divided into five blocks.
The park is renowned for its large population of leopards, dense jungles, and open grasslands. It also hosts a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and numerous bird species.
Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist rock monastery complex located near Yala in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.
Believed to have been established by King Kavantissa in the 2nd century BC, the complex once served as a Buddhist education center for monks.
Today, it features the ruins of cave temples, stupas, Buddha statues, Image Houses, Relic Houses, and stone inscriptions.
The main stupa, situated at the top of the rock, offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Kebiliththa Devalaya, also known as Maha Siyambalawa Devalaya, is a sacred site located in Block IV of Yala National Park in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.
The site is believed to be the spiritual retreat of the deity Kataragama, who is said to spend most of his days meditating at Kebiliththa.
Visitors to the site are required to observe a period of spiritual preparation, which includes staying away from alcohol, meat, fish, and eggs for at least a week before making offerings or participating in the worship process.
Wirawila Tissa Sanctuary, located in Weerawila near Tissamaharama in southeastern Sri Lanka, is a protected wildlife reserve renowned for its diverse birdlife, wetlands, and dry-zone vegetation.
Declared a sanctuary in 1938, it covers an area of approximately 4,000 hectares and is centered around the Weerawila, Tissa, and Debarawewa tanks. These water bodies serve as critical habitats for more than 150 bird species both resident and migratory.