Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
PARK
(adult/child Rs 644/325, compulsory guide per person from Rs 1000, video camera Rs 560;
6.30am-6pm, ticket office to 4.30pm)
The last major undisturbed area of rainforest in Sri Lanka, this forest reserve occupies a
broad ridge at the heart of the island's wet zone. On most days the forest is shrouded by
copious rainclouds that replenish its deep soils and balance water resources for much of
southwestern Sri Lanka. Recognising its importance to the island's ecosystem, Unesco de-
clared the Sinharaja Forest Reserve a World Heritage Site in 1989.
The only way to get about the reserve is by foot, and excellent park guides, or freelance
guides available through many hotels, can lead you along slippery trails pointing out the
wealth of stunning plant, bird and animal-life.
Landscape & History
Sinharaja (Lion King) is bordered by rivers: the Koskulana Ganga in the north and the
Gin Ganga in the south. An old foot track that goes past the Beverley Estate marks the
eastern border, close to the highest peak in the forest, Hinipitigala (1171m). Towards the
west the land decreases in elevation.
The reserve comprises 189 sq km of natural and modified forest, measuring about 21km
east to west and 3.7km north to south. It was once a royal reserve, and some colonial re-
cords refer to it as Rajasinghe Forest. It may have been the last redoubt of the Sri Lankan
lion.
In 1840 the forest became British crown land, and from that time some efforts were
made towards its preservation. However, in 1971 loggers moved in and began selective
logging. The logged native hardwoods were replaced with mahogany (which does not oc-
cur naturally here), logging roads and trails snaked into the forest and a wood-chip mill
was built. Following intense lobbying by conservationists, the government called a halt to
all logging in 1977. Machinery was dismantled and removed, the roads gradually grew
over and Sinharaja was saved. Much of the rest of Sri Lanka's rainforest stands on moun-
tain ridges within a 20km radius of the forest.
