Sri Lanka Experience: Trip 2 Sinharaja World Heritage Rain Forest, Sri Lanka

Trip 2 Sinharaja World Heritage Rain Forest, Sri Lanka

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.

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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