Warana Cave Temple - ඓතිහාසික වාරණ රඡමහා විහාරය

In 18th century King Walagamba built this temple enriches with ancient architecture. This ancient temple Situated in Warana, Aththanagalla in Gampaha district.

Elephants at Pinnawala

Who am i ?????

Honestly not an expert of identifying these pests... If somebody can identify this it’s greatly appreciated.

Hotel Elephant Corridor, Sigiriya - A Paradaise for Nature Lovers Blessed with Breath taking Nature settings

Elephant Corridor, the luxury boutique hotel carefully designed with utmost respect to the nature within the territory of the world famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress which is regarded as the 8th wonder of the world provides an unparalleled holiday experience with its unique theme concept, luxury of relaxation in absolute privacy. With its all-suite concept of accommodation, Deluxe, Super Deluxe, Romantic Suite, Royal Suite and the super luxury President Suite are tasteful designs especially for the couples who seek a romantic place considering the privacy is most important for the honeymoon. Being more personalized, Elephant Corridor introduces no fixed meal times and meals are served in preferred style of the guest, en-suite, at special restaurants or even outdoors under the trees.



Picturesque swimming pool inspired with its own nature settings in a very tranquil location provides an invigorating swim to soothe your body from the mid day heat. Well equipped gymnasium, Ayurvedic Health Spa, Jungle bar ensures luxury boutique experience while leaves your worldly cares behind.



Apart from all these luxury, the untamed forest of the Elephant Corridor with some indigenous plants and shrubs spreads over 200 acres the Elephant Corridor is a paradise for nature lovers. Irrespective of you are a soft birder or a keen birder or a wildlife enthusiast who like to observe some mammals including elephants or perhaps you like to watch butterflies and dragonflies, this park provide excellent opportunities. As a keen bird watcher this is the only property which belongs to a hotel I have recorded most number of bird species.



During my two hours birding session I was able to observe Orange breasted green pigeon, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Spotted dove, Brahmin kite, Tawny bellied babblers, Little Green bee eater, Stork billed Kingfisher, White throated kingfisher, Common Iora, Malabar pied hornbill, Red rumped swallow, Scarlet minivets, Jungle prinia, White browed fantail, White browed bulbul, Red vented bulbul, Little cormorant, Lesser whistling duck, Asian paradise flycatcher, Coppersmith barbet, brown headed barbet, Common myna, Red wattled lapwing, barred button quail, Paddy field pipit, Black hooded oriole, Rose ringed parakeet, Indian peafowl, Indian robin, Oriental magpie robin, Long billed sunbird, Purple rumped sunbird, Indian pond heron, Cattle egret, Intermediate egret, Little egret, Common tailorbird, White rumped shama etc.



Common sailor, Banded peacock, Tamil yeoman, Common jezebel, Crimson rose, Glassy tiger, Blue glassy tiger, Common tiger, Common Indian crow, Common evening brown, Peacock pansy, Lemon emigrant are some of the butterfly species identified. Sri Lanka toque monkey, Grey langur, Grey Mongoose, Ruddy mongoose, Black naped hare, Otter, Palm cat, Ring tailed civet, Asian elephant, Wild boar, Giant squirrel, Palm squirrel are some of mammals can be spotted in this nature park

Conclusively the Elephant Corridor is a paradise for anyone who likes his or her stay to be memorable considering the privacy is most important blessed with breath taking nature settings.

Web site: www.elephantcorridor.com

Telephone: 0094-(0)66-2231950/5

Fax: 0094-(0)66-2231952

Celebrating Avurudu with Whales

Being a naturalist I have a firm believe that new opportunities will boost your knowledge and experience in this field. Having an opportunity to play the role of a naturalist for the Sri Lanka’s latest aquatic adventure tours organized by the Walkers Tours in collaboration with Ceylon fishery harbours corporation, was privileged to gain this new experience of observing the giant whales and the dolphins roaming in our tropical waters. Surely, this allowed me to read a lot about whales, their migration patterns, and surface characteristics on how to identify them and lot more.



On 11th of April another tour of whales watching with 12 guests came under my purview, which we started sailing around 07.20, am from Mirissa harhour with gloomy weather conditions. Continued roaming around Matara in search of whales till 09.30, am but no sign of a whale other than the few bottlenose dolphins we observed. Everybody seemed disappointed but I had a strong feeling that we will be successful before we end the journey. In fact Mr. Phil Sheldrake, a Project Manager from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds of United Kingdom with his two daughters seemed to be very anxious of seeing a whale. Suddenly our sailor, Thuduwage saw a blow of a blue whale and we were able observe our first blue whale with a distance of about 100 meters before it raised the fluke and take a deep dive. Quenching the thirst of seeing whales eight blue whales came in our presence allowing us to observe all the surface characteristics including few exhales, dorsal fin before raised their flukes and take a deep dive. Everybody of the boat was thrilled with this lifetime aquatic adventure experience they cumulated before we end our journey around 11.15 am to the Mirissa harbour.




The same journey but with different set of clients on 12th April almost on the same time but with better sunny weather conditions. Almost the repeated story of the previous day, roamed till 10.00 am in search of whales up to Dondra point but no sign of a whale other than a herd of bottlenose dolphins and some spinner dolphins. Repeating the previous day’s story a blue whale came in our presence but with quite a distance without leaving much space for us to observe. Without satisfying the observation of the first whale we were looking forward to see another one or two whales before we start proceeding to the destination again a blue whale came in our presence to observe all the surface characteristics with a safe distance before it raise the fluke and take the deep dive as usual. Before we end up the journey around 11.45 we spotted another blue whale and a humpback whale. To mention, the return journey to the harbour was not smooth as previous day due to the rough sea conditions. Everybody were compelled to have a nice bath with sea water because of the sea spray blowing through the boat due to heavy waves kissing in front of the boat.

Wish all my blog viewers a Very Happy & Prosperous Sinhala & Hindu New Year……!

Kosgoda Beach Resort - A Tranquil Location for a Charm Holiday

With its own beauty of the property surrounded by the picturesque Kosgoda River and the Indian Ocean, Kosgoda Beach Resort provides incomparable holiday experience boasting with 29 villas, 12 duplex villas and one suite scattered under the lush vegetation on the southern coast of Sri Lanka.



Every villa ensures its luxury provided with air conditioning, open air spacious bath room with shower Jacuzzi, Television, Safety locker, Mini bar, hair dryer, tea & coffee making facilities. Pool lounge with billiard facilities, Volleyball courts, table tennis facilities, GYM, Internet facilities are some of the main facilities that this resort offers.



Picturesque swimming pool with kiddie’s area spreads almost over one third of the property provides an invigorating swim while two restaurants offers an array of eastern and western dishes with fine dine options.

Richmond, a local fisherman from the area is now ready to take you around the Kosgoda lake by his traditional hand driven boat to explore the natural beauty of the area including some bird watching where you could observe White Bellied Fish Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Stork billed kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Pompadour Green pigeon, green imperial pigeon, Purple heron, Little egret etc.

If you are in the mood you could try number of holistic therapies to nourish the soul by using leaves, herbs, flowers and greenery at the Spa and Ayurvedic Center.

Some of the other attractive features the resort offers are

• Bird watching with boat rides at Hiyare sanctuary
• Birding tours to Sinharaja Rain Forest


Reservations: kosgodab@sltnet.lk

Web site: www.kosgodabeachresort.lk

Telephone: 0094912264848, 0094912264849

Picturesque Kosgoda River

Bird Portraits - Little Egret