VILPATTU
Vilpattu National Park which has been closed for several years owing to the north-east war is now opened. Vilpattu is the biggest national park in Sri Lanka covering around 500 sq. miles. 30 or so sand-rimmed freshwater lakes surrounded by grass and high forest are where the animals and birds are best seen. About 230 kM north of Colombo and 30 kM west of Anuradhapura, Established in as a game sanctuary in 1909, it was re-designated to a national park in 1938 and for many years had been a popular wildlife safari destination.Kumbukwila and Nelunwila in particular are a bird watchers' paradise. In the middle of the lakes are painted stork, grey heron, cormorants and darters, while lapwing, plover and blue coot rummage among the reeds nearer the edge. Duck godwit and sandpipers are winter visitors from October to April. On the top-most branches of the trees in the forest are hornbills who attract a lot of attention because of their comical looks and loud metallic voices. Comical they may look but strict husbands they are, locking their mates within clay walls in their hollow tree trunk nests until the eggs are hatched and the young ready to fly.
The Ancient harbour at the foot of the Mount Kudremalai is the place where the first settlers from India (Prince Vijaya and followers) are believed to have landed. His marriage to the local princesses Kuveni as the legend says created the Sinhalese race. Stone pillars and guardstones at Kalivillu is referred to as remains of Kuveni Temple.
The Ancient harbour at the foot of the Mount Kudremalai is the place where the first settlers from India (Prince Vijaya and followers) are believed to have landed. His marriage to the local princesses Kuveni as the legend says created the Sinhalese race. Stone pillars and guardstones at Kalivillu is referred to as remains of Kuveni Temple.
