Horagalla National Park is located in Western Province / Gampaha District close to Nittambuwa city of Sri Lanka with an extent of 13 Hectares (33 acres). This is one of the low country wet zone evergreen National Parks of Sri Lanka offering a blend of nature with tranquility for a picturesque escape from the busy lives led enclosed in concrete structures. Horagolla National Park is the smallest National Park in Sri Lanka.
Introduction
The entrance to the park is about four feet wide. A little further along that road we come across Hora Kele Wewa. This was made in 1992. You have to enter the park over this lake bund. The ticket counter of the Wildlife Conservation Department is at the entrance to the Horagolla Forest Park. There is also a small museum. There is a building nearby that can be used to treat sick animals and keep them in captivity until they are released into the wild.
Animals at Horagalla National Park
According to the records of the park, there are 10 species of Mammals, 64 species of Birds, 7 species of Fish and 28 species of Butterflies. (It is indicated in the signboard in the first image.) But sadly I couldn’t spot many. I couldn’t cover the whole park and also it seems to be off season for birds. But I definitely experienced the extensive ‘floral diversity’ of the park.
The mostly found tree is ‘Hora’ (Dipterocarpus zeylanicus). The generous presence of Hora trees might be the reason for the area to called as Horagolla.
Footpaths have been created to walk around the park. Walking along them is a nice experience. The surround is really calm.
History
Horagolla National Park was established on September 5, 1970 as an animal sanctuary. That was when the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike handed over an estate in the Horagolla area of the Bandaranaike family, a well-known political family in Sri Lanka, to the Forest Department. However, due to the rich biodiversity of Horagolla, the Horagolla Wildlife Sanctuary was later upgraded to a National Park in 2004.
How to reach there
Come to Nittambuwa town on Colombo Kandy road and come to Pinnagolla junction on Veyangoda road in Nittambuwa. You can use public transport until you reach Pinnagolla Junction, but you will have to walk one kilometer from Pinnagolla Junction to Horagolla National Park or use a three-wheeler.
