Sinharaja Rain Forest Reserve-UNESCO World Heritage Center

sinharaja rain forest reserve-UNESCO World Heritage site

Located between Sabaragamuwa and Western Province in southwestern Sri Lanka, the ecosystem of the Sinharaja Reserve is best described as a low-elevation and semi-montane evergreen rainforest. The distance from Colombo to the Kudawa entrance gate of Sinharaja is 128 km via the Southern Expressway and it takes about 3 hours to reach Sinharaja from Colombo. The distance from Colombo to Madiripitiya entrance gate in Sinharaja is 142 kilometers and the journey takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Sinharaja Rainforest is a must visit destination for nature lovers in Sri Lanka. Sinharaja Rainforest is a strict nature reserve due to its ecological importance and Sinharaja has been protected under the UNESCO World Heritage Site logo. This blog post is mainly about some of the trails that can be used for a Sinharaja Rainforest tour and other essential information you need to know before embarking on your Sinharaja Rainforest Packages.

Sinharajaya has survived destructive human activities till date. Sinharajaya is one of the top 10 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Sinharajaya is one of the 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the island since 1988.

According to legends, it was called Sinharajaya because it was inhabited by a lion (inhabited by a lion). The first historical account of Sinharajaya was written by one of the world's earliest explorers, "Ibn Batuta" (1304-1369 AD). Sinharajaya is spread over 8864 hectares (21903 acres).

IUCN World Heritage Conservation Outlook Assessment of Sinharajaya 2020

The “IUCN World Heritage Conservation Outlook”, released almost two years ago (on December 09, 2020), suggests  the immediate attention of stakeholders and additional conservation efforts to maintain and/or restore medium and long-term values. According to the report, the ecological value of the forest has deteriorated significantly over the past few centuries. Therefore, the Sinharaja Rainforest is classified under the category of "critical concern", natural vegetation facing various obstacles, unmistakable conservation value is threatened and, or shows signs of deterioration.

However, according to the report, the Sinharaja Rainforest is still an important ecological resource for the people of Sri Lanka, as it has an irreplaceable ecosystem and provides critical habitat for the survival of globally endangered species.  More information on the report.

Why choose Sinharajaya for Sri Lanka Rainforest Tour?

If you are looking for a place to do a rainforest tour in Sri Lanka, there is no better place than Sinharaja Rainforest. Sinharaja Rainforest is not only the largest rainforest in the island but it is also well developed to provide services to the visitors. The traveler can find accommodation very close to the rainforest if they want and the accommodation available ranges from cheap hostels to luxury villas. If you join our company, we will choose the best of all these things.

Sinharaja Sri lanka Rainforest Trek

Sinharajaya journey is a journey that surprises tourists due to its many different landscapes. This rainforest is not far from the southern coast of Sri Lanka.

Sinharajaya is one of the best places for trekking and offers dozens of trekking routes with different trekking conditions. Therefore, Sinharaja rainforest tour is very popular among tourists.

The Sinharaja forest is warm and often subject to heavy rainfall, but it offers a magnificent walk in a magical rainforest mixed with isolated mountains, waterfalls, rivers, streams and an assortment of fauna and flora. Sinharaja's evergreen rainforest is teeming with hundreds of bird species, dozens of which are endemic to Sri Lanka. Sinharaja's terrain may make for mild trekking, but it still offers plenty of challenges and rewards.

Rocks glistening with moss create a sense of a kingdom hidden from the outside world, while lush trees and creepers line the grounds. Sinharajaya is one of the last remaining primeval rainforests in the world, and a visit to Sinharajaya is the best way to experience the beauty of nature.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's important biodiversity hotspots, the Sinharaja Rainforest supports an array of endemic flora and fauna, among the richest rainforests on the planet. Spread over an area of ​​over 1800 hectares and located between the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces of Sri Lanka, Sinharajaya is home to elephants, leopards, elusive black panthers and Sri Lanka's largest bird fauna. But these are only some of the most famous values. A Sinharaja Rainforest tour will give you another unforgettable experience.

When is the best time to visit Sinharaja sri lanka?

The annual rainfall in Sinharaja forest exceeds 5000 ml. Rainy season in Sinharaja begins in April and ends in November and is the main rainy season of the forest. Despite the leeches, slippery slopes and incessant rain, the rainy season is considered the best time of the year to visit the forest. During this time the waterfalls bloom like flowers and make for a spectacular sight. This is the best time of the year to witness the unparalleled beauty of Sinharaja. The incessant rains bring the lush and rocky landscape alive with greenery. Almost every inch is covered with fresh grass. It is a unique sight. Such a sight for a nature-loving tourist?

Sinharaja rain forest spreads over varied geographical conditions such as mountains, grasslands, valleys etc. Sinharaja forest has a unique Eco-system and the rain forest has the highest density of Fauna and Flora species compared to all other rainforests in the country. Sinharaja forest harbors a huge variety of fauna and flora that are not to be seen elsewhere.

Importance of Sinharaja rain forest

Their uniqueness and importance are highly adorned by ecologists. More than 60% of the trees and plants of the Sinharaja forest are endemic to Sri Lanka and many of them are rare and exist only in the Sinharaja forest. A large number of fauna species are also endemic to the Sinharaja forest.

There are many reptiles, amphibians, insects, bird species, butterfly species and mammals in this collection. Due to the high concentration of fauna and flora, Sinharaja is the most valuable rainforest on the island and is included in many tour plan of Sri Lanka.

Sinharaja forest reserve spreads well above 8000 hectares and fluctuates between 300 meters above sea level to 1170 meters above sea level. The forest is demarcated into 2 sections, 6092 hectares under the Forest Reserve and 2772 hectares under the Proposed Forest patch.

A large network of perennial waterways (rivers, waterfalls and streams) crisscrosses in the ridges and valleys of Sinharaja forest. Sinharaja forest is acting as an important catchment area on the island and records a very high rainfall throughout the year. The main tributaries of the Kalu river and Gin river start in the Sinharaja forest reserve.

Bio-diversity of Sinharaja rain forest

Sinharaja rain forest tour gives you a valuable opportunity to see some of the very rare species of flora of Sri Lanka such as carnivore plants, because, out of 217 species of endemic trees and woody climber found in Sri Lanka’s lowland, 139 species (64%) have been discovered in Sinharaja forest reserve. 16 species of these trees and plants are described as very rare species. The number of endemic trees and plants on the sri lanka is 830.

Sinharaja forest reserve tour is another great opportunity to explore the rich wildlife of the island. But you see many different species of creatures that you see in other places on the island. Unlike in most other national parks in Sri Lanka such as Yala national park, Udawalawe, Minneriya, during the Sinharaja forest reserve tour, the travellers encounter many different species of birds, butterflies, amphibians, insects, and reptiles. The chance of spotting leopards, Elephant and bear are extremely rare.

Sinharaja forest tour and Bird and Butterflies watching

Sinharaja forest reserve tours are included in most bird watching tours of Sri Lanka, and it is one of the very essential parts of every bird watching tour in Sri Lanka because bird watchers can spot a large number of avian fauna species in the forest. 19 of 25 endemic bird species have made Sinharaja their home, therefore, taking one of the Sinharaja forest reserve tours is the best way to encounter Sri Lanka’s endemic bird species. Most of these species are occurring very rarely outside of Sinharaja, therefore, undertaking Sinharaja forest reserve tours is the best in order to see those endemic bird species.

Sinharaja forest reserve tours also enable the visitors to see a large number of butterfly species on the island. Most Butterflies in the country are listed in the red list of IUCN, habitat loss has been identified as the main reason for the slowly diminishing butterfly population in the country. During the Sinharaja forest reserve tours, the travellers are able to spot many species of endemic butterfly species as well as mammal species. The endemism among the butterfly and mammals of the Sinharaja forest reserve is estimated to be more than 50%.

Some of the best starting points to choose from for Sinharaja Rainforest tours

1. Kudawala-Moulawella trail

This is a 3 kilometres trek, covers the north-western part of the forest. Here you have the opportunity to explore a part of thick forest cover and managed land.

2. Kudawa-Sinhagala trail

This trail is an exhilarating trek that needs good physical and mental fitness. The trek is around 8 kilometres and is one of the most scenic treks in the forest. The destination of the trek is one of the peaks in the forest known as Sinhagala, the pinnacle of the mountain lies around 740 meters above sea level.

3. Pitadeniya-Pathan-Oya

If you use the trek of Pitadeniya-Pathan-Oya, during your Sinharaja forest reserve tour, you will be able to explore hakna Ella (hathan waterfall) and pathan Oya (Pathan river), you will encounter primary forest cover on this route. The trek is 10 kilometres long.

4. Neluwa-Kosmulla trail

The trail of Neluwa-Kosmulla is also a 10 kilometres long trail similar to the Pitadeniya-Pathanoya trail. Duvili Ella (dust waterfall), which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island and several caves are the important highlights of the trek. There is a high possibility of spotting a large number of sambhar deer and water buffaloes at Deniya, that you encounter on this trek.

5. Pitadeniya-Kekuna Ella Trail

The destination of the trail is a waterfall. This is a comparatively easy trek and you will above able to experience rich diverse flora and fauna in the forest.

6. Morningside -Duvili Ella trails

This trek leads to Duvili Ella (dust waterfall), the main forest type that you encounter on this trail is the sub-montane grasslands forest type.

What time should I start my tour in the Sinharaja rain forest?

It is recommended to start the Sinharaja rainforest tours in the early hours (at least by 7.30 am). The ticket counter opens daily at 6.00 am. The frequent rain is expected during the southwest monsoon (from April to November) and the rainfall is less frequent during the rest of the year. A large number of tour operators in Sri Lanka offer Sinharaja safari tours but you should be careful to choose an experienced and reliable agency. We also organize trips to many other destinations including Sinharajaya. You can contact Blue Elephant Tours and they will assist you in doing so.