Trip 2 Sinharaja World Heritage Rain Forest, Sri Lanka

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Singharaja World Heritage Rain forest is largely undisturbed most famous rainforest in Sri Lanka. This important forest is also a Man and Biosphere Forest reserve. It is home to a large number of endemic species.

The Sinharaja region has long featured in the legends and lore of the people of Sri Lanka. Its name, literally meaning lion (sinha) king (raja), perhaps refers to the original ‘king-sized or royal forest of the Sinhalese’, a people of the legendary ‘lion-race’ of Sri Lanka (Hoffmann, 1979), or to the home of a legendary lion of Sri Lanka.

How to get there:

There are three access points to Sinharaja forest. Easiest route from Colombo is to go to Horana, Matugama, Kalawana, Weddagala and enter the forest through Kudawa entrance at northwestern edge of the forest. You can stay at Forest department managed Kudawa camp. You can also stay at Martin’s Lodge or Blue Magpie lodge situated close the forest.

Second entrance is from Gall or Matara you can go to Deniyaya and then enter the forest through Pitadeiniya Entrance  at Southern edge of the forest. You can stay at Pitadeniya conservation Resource center. You can also enter the forest by going to Deniyaya, then turn off main road just south of Suriyakanda and enter the forest through Morning Side Entrance at eastern side of the forest.

Trails into the forest:

Sinharaja rain forest of sri lanka - trekking through mulawella trail

There are three nature trails from Kudawa. Mulawella Trail, Wathurawa Trail and Sinhagala Trail.

Map showing how to reach sinharaja rain forest from Colombo, through Kudawa entrance:
Colombo, Galle Road, Kaluthara, Turn Left at Katukurunda Junction, Nagoda, Agalawatta, Kalawana, Weddagala, Sinharaja, Kudawa Forest Department Camp

View Larger Map

13 Comments

1. 

   Victoria Pezzali

   November 28, 2011 at 7:45 am

   I wanna gooo!

   Reply
   • 

     Tiger

     December 16, 2011 at 12:39 pm

     Your answer lifts the inetlilgence of the debate.

     Reply
2. 

   Sandra Cheng

   November 28, 2011 at 7:47 am

   Visited the forest. One of my favorite places.

   Reply

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5. 

   Brian

   August 24, 2012 at 9:42 am

   Nice Post on a Natural wonder of world.

   Reply

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7. 

   Balachandran

   August 28, 2012 at 5:49 am

   Can you go to Sinharaja from Colombo in one day as a day trip.

   Reply
   • 

     admin

     August 28, 2012 at 5:52 am

     @Balachandran – Yes If you leave early you can reach Sinharaja within 3-4 hours (before Lunch). Through kudawa entrance climb up to Navanda tree or to research station or to Mulawella and then you can leave the forest by 5.30 pm, after taking a bath at the river close to Kuwdawa camp if you like.

     Reply
8. 

   murshid

   January 31, 2013 at 8:41 am

   can we go to singharaja by one day

   Reply
   • 

     admin

     January 31, 2013 at 4:10 pm

     murshid – Yes if you leave colombo early you can reach Sinharaja after 3.5 to 4 hours @ 12.
     You can go to sinhagala or Nvanda Tree and return from the forest by 5 pm.

     Reply