A World Heritage Site

Sinharaja Forest Reserve : 

The famous Sinharaja Forest Reserve is known as a living heritage in Sri Lanka. This unique tropical rain forest is also recognised as a haven for wild life enthusiasts. Many visitors as well as wildlife photographers flock to Sinharaja in hope of witnessing the best of this natural land of wilderness. 
                           
Positioned close to Ratnapura, a city synonymous to being a sanctuary of gems, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve is spread across an area of about 19,000 hectares. Sinharaja, which means “Lion King” or “Kingdom of the Lion”, is a lowland rainforest.  In 1978, it was selected as a World Biosphere Reserve and in 1988 UNESCO declared the rainforest a World Heritage Site.

Although, Sinharaja may not be among the largest forest reserve in the world, its importance lies in the very fact that it is home to many endemic species.  Most trees that are found here are uncommon, and 60% of them are endemic.  This amazing forest is also famous for its birds and is one of the best places to catch a glimpse of some of the most beautiful birds in the region. There are 26 types of endemic birds found in Sri Lanka and 22 can be observed at Sinharaja Forest Reserve. The Red-Faced Malkoha, Spot-Winged Thrush, Pompadour Green-Pigeon and Malabar Pied-Hornbill are just to name a few.

The trees and birds are not the only factors that attract locals as well as international travellers to this stupendous forest reserve, it is also the extensive variety of butterflies, insects, endemic mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

The dense vegetation makes it quite difficult to spot larger mammals.  However, there is a good probability of seeing a wild boar, mongoose and barking deer. The most commonly seen large mammal is the purple-faced langur, which is a species of monkeys endemic to Sri Lanka. Among the animals that can be spotted rarely, are the fishing cats, leopards and porcupines. It is said that there is a black leopard or Panther at the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

Those who decide to go trekking at the forest will have to be on the lookout for the uncountable number of leeches! Due to the enormous amount of leeches found here, visitors are provided with leech-proof socks.

It will take an approximate drive time of four hours to reach Sinharaja from Colombo. Travellers will find that the drive to this remarkable rainforest is truly worth it because of the breathtaking hill country that can be witnessed on the way and the astonishing wildlife that can be viewed and explored at the forest.