8 Top Tourist 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 .....

...read more

...read more

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 .....

...read more

...read more

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 .....

...read more

...read more

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 .....

...read more

...read more

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 .....

...read more

...read more

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 .....

...read more

...read more

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
.....

...read more

...read more

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
.....

...read more

...read more