Dambulla

Experience the captivating heritage of Sri Lanka through two remarkable sites. Dambulla Cave Temple, a massive isolated rock, holds a rich history dating back to the 1st century B.C. It began as a refuge for King Valagambahu and later transformed into a rock temple. Over 22 centuries, the Golden Temple of Dambulla has drawn pilgrims from both Buddhist and Hindu communities, housing a stunning collection of 157 Buddha statues, including a magnificent 15-meter reclining Buddha. The cave monastery’s ancient murals narrate the life of Lord Buddha, while vibrant frescoes adorn the walls and ceiling, creating the world’s largest antique painted surface. Climbing barefoot up the slope to the summit, 100 meters above, visitors are greeted by the awe-inspiring Dambulla rock temples, each cave filled with Buddha images that stand, lie, and sit. UNESCO recognized the caves’ remarkable frescoes and historical significance, safeguarding them as a World Heritage Site.

Hurulu Eco Park

Discover the thriving ecosystem of Hurulu Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka, designated as a biosphere reserve in 1977. This vital habitat is home to the iconic Sri Lankan elephant, known for its migratory behavior between surrounding forests during the dry season. The reserve showcases the distinctive dry-zone dry evergreen forests of Sri Lanka and is surrounded by protected areas like Ritigala strict nature reserve, Minneriya-Girithale, and Mahaweli flood plains nature reserves.

Human settlements and cultivation are intertwined with the reserve, leading to challenges like human-elephant conflicts due to habitat encroachment. Translocation is a common strategy to address these issues. The landscape experiences an annual average temperature of around 27.3°C with 1600 mm of annual rainfall, characterized by a distinct dry season from April/May to September. The elevation varies from 90 m to 150 m above sea level.

Within close proximity lie three national parks: Minneriya National Park, Kaudulla National Park, and Hurulu Eco Park. These parks are renowned globally for their vast elephant herds. During July to September, elephants gather in Minneriya National Park, moving to Kaudulla National Park from October to November due to rain and filled lakes. Finally, the elephants complete their migration at Hurulu Eco Park from December to January, making this region a must-visit for elephant enthusiasts and nature lovers.