Yala National Park is well recognised as one of the best parks in the world to observe and photograph leopards as it contains the highest density of leopards . The park covers an area of over 100,000 hectares. Yala West consists of scrub jungle, brackish lagoons and stunning rock monoliths scattered throughout the park, its eastern edge is bounded by the South East coast.

Yala has well over thirty leopards, probably the highest density anywhere in the world. It is also thought that Sri Lankan leopards are a distinct sub-species from their Indian neighbours, and the largest leopards in Asia.

It is possible to take full day jeep safaris or to split your day into morning and afternoon drives. Your best chance to see a leopard is generally early in the morning and then again at dusk. You can stay until just after dark inside the park, thus maximising your chances of a leopard encounter.
There is also a substantial elephant population along with spotted deer, sambar, wild buffalo, sloth bear, jackal, mongoose, pangolins and crocodiles. The bird life comprises over 120 species, and ranges from lesser flamingos to Paradise Flycatchers, Crested Hawk Eagles, and Black Bitterns. Outside of the park are several other fascinating birding locations, including the ancient hermitage of Sithulpahuwa, Debarawewa wetland and Palatupana saltpans. The coastline forms a major nesting ground for marine turtles.

Jeeps here have 'soft-tops' to provide a degree of camouflage to humans, as well as cover from the regular showers. The drier season falls between May and August and the park closes for a short time during September and October

Kataragama a popular pilgrimage destination frequented by adherents of all religions in Sri Lanka. The main shrine devoted to Skanda popularly described in eulogies as God having six faces and twelve arms whose assistance is sought for worldly gain. The history of the shrine dates back to 2 century BC. The annual procession held in July or August is the main event of the shrine with fire walkers and Kawadi dancers. Offering to the got are made at 4.30am 10.30am and 6.30pm daily.

Bundala is famous for its diversity and profusion of aquatic bird life which feed on the rich harvest provided by the numerous lagoons throughout the park. It forms the most important wetland sanctuary, outside of the Northern province, for migratory shore-birds including the Greater Flamingo. The park covers approximately 6000 hectares of brackish lagoons, salt pans, inter-tidal mudflats and thorny scrub jungle.

There is a small population of elephants which are fairly easy to spot in the open habitat, it is not unheard of to find one walking along the beach in perfect isolation. Leopards can also be found in the park preying on the numerous spotted deer, sambar and barking deer. Sightings are very rare but it is worth exploring several rocky outcrops where previous sightings have occurred. As well as leopards there are sloth bears, jackals, giant squirrels, Indian pangolin and civet cats. Marsh and estuarine crocodiles are both found in Bundala in addition to monitor lizards and a variety of other reptiles.

Of the 150 bird species listed in the park every species of water bird found in the country is said to visit here. The rare Black-necked stork and Great Thick-knee are particular birding highlights. It is easy to spot Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Spoonbill, Red Shank, Green Shank, Spot-billed Pelican, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brahminy Kite, Crested Hawk eagle and Brown Shrike, to name but a few. Migrants and vagrants make the journey from as far as Siberia, over 10,000 shore birds might be feeding at any one time between October and March.

This coastal area also attracts four out of Sri Lanka's five sea turtle species, which come ashore to lay their eggs.

The small fishing village of Kirinda is blessed with a pretty beach, spectacular views and a charming history.There is a rocky outcrop from which can be obtained some magnificent views of the desolate coast with its long stretch of sand dunes and the ocean beyond. On a clear day the lighthouse on the Great Basses Reef appears like a needle in the far distance. That's not all, for if you reverse your gaze you can see Tissamaharama in detail, especially the glistening dome of the Tissamaharama Dagoba.

With such an atmosphere, Kirinda is the appropriate setting of one of those popular legends that constitute early Sri Lankan history, the legend of Queen Viharamaha Devi A well known story handed down from the 2nd century BC tells of a tsunami that flooded Kelaniya, on what is now the outskirts of modern day Colombo near Wattala. In the legend, King Kelanitissa boiled a Buddhist monk alive in oil because he suspected him of trying to pass a love letter from his brother to the Queen. Both his ministers and subjects were horrified. Furthermore, so the legend goes, the gods were annoyed and caused the ocean to flood the land. Overcome with remorse, the King decided to atone for his sacrilegious act by making a sacrifice that would impress on his people the sincerity of his repentance as well as appease the gods.

Accordingly he built a boat of gold, provisioned it with enough supplies for one person for a month - and placed his eldest daughter in it and sent it out to sea. The young princess finally reached shore at Kirinda in the southern part of the country, then known as Ruhuna. The local ruler, King Kavantissa, married the brave princess and continued a dynasty that ruled a prosperous Ruhuna for many years.

The Queen, named Viharamaha Devi after her landing location in Kirinda, is recognised as a great heroine of Sri Lanka and she became the mother of perhaps the best known of the island's kings, Dutugemunnu. King Dutugemunnu ruled Sri Lanka from 161 to 137 BC and is seen as the liberator of the Sinhalese people, uniting the nation for the first time under one king and bringing security and prosperity to its people after defeating the Tamil king Elara.

The popularity of this romantic legend makes Kirinda a focal point for pilgrims. They come specifically to the rocky outcrop - a group of boulders piled up in bizarre fashion - to see a modern statue of Viharamaha Devi and make offerings at a dagoba built on the ruins of an ancient one erected to commemorate the safe conclusion of the princess' voyage. Kavantissa's royal coat of arms - featuring the sun and the moon - were carved on a boulder nearby to mark the landing place.

Also you can dive at Great Basses & Little Basses Reefs off Kirinda.

Sithulpawwa rock temple is historically significant and identified as one of the greatest 2nd century sites of Buddhist scholarship. With a history of over 2200 years, this is an ancient place of worship in the Hambantota district. The modern name Sithulpawwa is derived from the ancient ‘Cittalpabbata’, ‘The hill of the quiet mind’. It is said that in the 1st century AD as many as 12,000 Arahants lived here (monks that have achieved the highest mind level in Buddhism). Unlike the great monasteries in Anuradhapura and other towns, life at Sithulpawwa was hard and a monk or nun lived there only if they were interested in silence and solitude. Located opposite the Maha Sithulpawwa rock which is 400 feet (122M) in height is a cave temple. This cave temple, which is 67 feet high and 30 feet long, is part of the intricate cave-complex at Sithulpawwa.

The Dagoba of Sithulpawwa can be seen on the top of the rock. It is believed to have been built by King Kawantissa (100-140AD). A number of caves contain inscriptions in the early Brahmi script and from these inscriptions it was learned that a number of villages donated money to this temple for its upkeep. Ancient literary works give interesting information relating to this shrine. The image house at Sithulpawwa still contains some fragments of paintings. In the eastern precinct of Sithulpawwa the ruins of an ancient preaching house can be seen, where a cluster of 10 feet high pillars rises from the earth.

The reefs of Great Basses and Little Basses provide some of the best diving (or snorkelling) Sri Lanka can offer. The rocky outcrops of the Great and Little Basses are surrounded by sandstone reefs carved into strange formations by time and tide. Several shipwrecks are to be found here.

The famous Arthur C Clarke based his book ‘The Treasure of the Reef’ on his dives of the Basses reefs. On the 22nd of March 1961, together with his diving partner, filmmaker Mike Wilson, he discovered the wreck of a 24 gun ship which belonged to the Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb (1658 – 1707), which was sent to trade in the Far East but was sunk in a storm off the Great Basses. Inside they discovered thousands of silver Rupees, all dated 1702.

A particularly unique feature of the Great Basses is the light-house that was actually constructed on the reef. It was designed and built by Sir J.N. Douglass, the engineer of Trinity House. The lighthouse went into operation on March 10th 1873, and was occupied and kept in operation until the Tsunami of December 2004. Although the lighthouse still stands proud, nowadays only a small solar powered light switches on at night. The main lights, which have kept ships at bay for more than a hundred years, now lay silent.

Even with all this amazing history, it is to see the myriad fish and occasional marine mammals that most divers go to the Basses. Porpoises, harmless Gray sharks, Tuna, Angelfishes, Groupers, Giant Maori Wrasses (Napoleons), Snappers, Rays and many others denizens of the ocean can be seen here.

The Great Basses and Little Basses reefs can be reached from Kirinda by a 45 minute boat ride. Unfortunately, the ocean is often rough and the currents very strong. As a result only around 50 days per year are available for diving, from early March to mid-April.

The Kudawella Blow Hole, a site that is breathtakingly mysterious. Volumes of sea water whistle through a natural fine hole from beneath a massive rock in the sea. Located on a rock about 40 ft above sea level, this magnificent site was first discovered after a close scrutiny of photographs taken from the sea.

At the site, rough and high waves push water into the triangular based rock bottom, and force it through a hole at the bottom of the rock with very high pressure. With the sound of a blow whistle the water is blown high into the air. Approaching this place, one can find many small outlets selling local fruits, thirst quenching drinks and the all time favorite fresh fried fish. In addition to this you will also find souvenir shops with a variety of local handicrafts and ornaments made out of sea shells and other marine findings.

A boat ride on the Tissa Tank is a popular activity. This ancient reservoir was constructed in the 3rd century BC by an early Sri Lankan king. A tour of the lake today includes a trip around ‘Bird Island’, a bird watcher’s delight with its many bitterns, herons, and egrets.

Yodakandiya tank is an ancient irrigational reservoir. This bungalow is located on the bank of the Yodakandiya tank. You can walk along the banks of the tank taking in the beautiful scenery. Large number of birds nest on the banks of this reservoir. You can also take a ride on a tradional boat.

There are several important dagoba’s in Tissa, the most imposing being the Tissamaharama Wehera meaning ‘Great Temple’. The Tissamaharama Wehare is brilliant white in colour and stands a soaring 55m high with a circumference of approximately 165m. It is attributed to King Kawantissa who ruled Ruhuna in the 2nd Century BC, and was the largest dagoba in the island at that time. This temple has been fully restored and at its pinnacle stands a spike covered in gold which was rescued from the sand by local Buddhists.. Legend has it that Buddha visited Tissamaharama on his third visit to the island and that a sacred tooth relic and a forehead bone relic are enshrined in this dagoba. As such it is considered one of 16 places in Sri Lanka that are sacred to Buddhists.


Not far away is the much smaller but very interesting Sandagiri Dagoba together with the remains of a monastery complex, believed to have been built around two thousand years ago. It has altars at the four cardinal points and on the north side a remarkable piece of stone carving, perfectly cut and beautifully polished, can be found.

The oldest dagoba in Tissa, the Yatala Wehera is attributed to King Yatala Tissa. It was built some 2,300 hundred years ago and was restored to its former glory in the 1980’s. The façade is off-white, carved out in places to expose the original brickwork of the dagoba. In the courtyard around the dagoba is a statue of Avalokitesvara and an ancient toilet used in the adjacent monastery is found nearby. However, most remarkably, this dagoba is surrounded by what is probably Sri Lanka’s oldest elephant wall. Near this historic site, a small, modern museum contains a collection of some of the most important findings from Ruhuna.