Yala, the country's most visited national park, is famed for its wildlife, and with Sri Lankan elephants and leopards on display, the national park is a treat to visit. Yala, located in the country's far south, offers a diverse ecology to appreciate as the terrain changes before your eyes from sandy beaches and thorn trees to grasslands and monsoon forests.

With a large number of elephants and one of the greatest densities of leopards in the world, travelers should be able to view these beautiful creatures when visiting the park. In Sri Lanka, history is never far away, and a variety of ancient civilizations formerly flourished in the Yala region. Today, the pilgrim sites of Sithulpahuwa and Magul Vihara in the park continue to draw a large number of pilgrims each year.

Location: Southern and Uva Provinces, Sri Lanka

Horton Plains is well worth a visit, with a variety of spectacular vantage points that gaze out over beautiful views of the park. The national park, located in the country's central highlands, offers wonderful thick woodland that tumbles away before the plateaus and peaks that sit amid the clouds. The World's End precipice, which gives spectacular views of the surrounding surroundings, is one of the most popular viewing locations. The park's moist environment guarantees that animals, vegetation, and fauna all thrive in Horton Plains since it is the source of three of Sri Lanka's key rivers.

Baker's Falls, a lovely cascade that emerges from the deep foliage, is another tourist attraction. It is not without cause that it is one of Sri Lanka's most popular national parks.

Location: Central Province, Sri Lanka

Udawalawe National Park is a national park in Sri Lanka that borders the provinces of Sabaragamuwa and Uva. The park was established to offer a safe haven for wild creatures displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River, as well as to safeguard the reservoir's catchment area. The reserve, which includes 30,821 hectares of land, was created on June 30, 1972.

Although there are a few rocky places that provide a lovely background to the breathtaking beauty on display, Udawalawe National Park is dominated by lowlands and marshes. While the park's untamed appearance is appealing, travelers primarily visit to witness the Sri Lankan elephants that wander the flatlands. Udawalawe is a sight to behold, with birds hovering overhead, massive elephants throwing up reddish-brown dust, and mountains in the distance framing the panorama.

Location: Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, Sri Lanka

Wilpattu National Park is a Sri Lankan national park. The presence of "Willus" — natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rains – distinguishes this park. The park is located 30 kilometers west of Anuradhapura and 26 kilometers north of Puttalam in Sri Lanka's northwest coast lowland dry zone. The park covers 1,317 km2 and has elevations ranging from 0 to 152 meters above sea level. Wilpattu is home to almost a hundred and sixty lakes and tanks.

Wilpattu National Park, which translates as "Land of Lakes", definitely lives up to its name, since it has approximately sixty of them. Because of these life-giving water sources, fauna and flora thrive in the moist climate, and as a result, a vast array of creatures call the region home. Elephants, leopards, water buffalo, and the endearing sloth bear all meander through the deep woodland and scrubland.

The virgin nature is gorgeous and untamed because it is untouchable and wild. Visitors will surely want to return to this beautifully tranquil park as the sun sets over the colours of greens, yellows, and browns that characterize Wilpattu National Park.

Location: North Western and North Central Provinces, Sri Lanka

Minneriya National Park, like the previously mentioned Kaudulla National Park, owes its existence to King Mahasen's acts centuries ago! Minneriya's reservoir and wetlands, formerly the location of a former irrigation tank, are now a biodiversity hotspot, home to a diverse assortment of animals and birds. The spectacular terrain changes before your eyes as you make your journey through the park, with a number of distinct habitats such as forests and shrublands on display.

Although the park's spectacular environment and fauna are breathtaking, one event stands out as the crown gem of everything the area has to offer: The Gathering. During the dry season, the park's grasslands provide an appealing and plentiful food supply for the Sri Lankan elephants who reside in the surrounding areas, and droves of them gather at the reservoir's edge to frolic in its waters. While the average number is approximately 200, some stories claim that up to 700 have been recorded in Minneriya! Seeing them assemble in such numbers is a once-in-a-lifetime event that will leave any lucky visitor with happy recollections of all the elephants they have seen up close and in their natural habitat.

Location: North Central Province, Sri Lanka

Bundala National Park in Sri Lanka is a globally significant wintering site for migratory waterbirds. Bundala is home to 197 bird species, the most notable of which is the greater flamingo, which migrates in vast numbers. Bundala was declared a wildlife refuge in 1969 and a national park on January 4, 1993. Bundala was the first wetland in Sri Lanka to be designated as a Ramsar site in 1991.

Bundala National Park's marshes, sand dunes, and woods are home to an incredible variety of habitats and a staggering variety of animals. Bundala will surprise and astound any nature enthusiast, with around 200 different varieties of birds nesting inside the park and a real zoo of amphibians and animals on show. Located in southern Sri Lanka, the park is fantastic to explore; sneaking through the deep foliage, lucky visitors may come across the stealthy Indian muntjac or the easily startled mouse deer, which would escape to safety through the wildlife if seen.

Location: Southern Province, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Kumana National Park is famous for its avifauna, notably vast groups of migrating waterfowl and wading species. The park is located on Sri Lanka's southeast coast, 391 kilometers southeast of Colombo. Kumana National Park borders Yala National Park. Kumana was previously known as Yala East National Park, but it was renamed Kumana on September 5, 2006.

This park, located on Sri Lanka's southeast coast, is a shelter for migrating birds who pause in Kumana each year to recuperate. Huge flocks of wading birds and ducks, endless in number, dominate the skyline as they swarm to the park's lagoons and marshes.

Over 250 bird species have been identified in the region, and the wetlands and woodlands that dot the park provide ideal nesting habitats for tired birds. When resting or eating, the birds must be cautious since jackals and fisher cats hide in the shadows, waiting to feast on unwary victims.

Location: Eastern Province, Sri Lanka

Gal Oya National Park in Sri Lanka was formed in 1954 and is the primary catchment region for Senanayake Samudraya, Sri Lanka's biggest reservoir. Senanayake Samudraya was constructed in 1950 as part of the Gal Oya development project by damming the Gal Oya near Inginiyagala. The elephant herd, which may be viewed all year, is an important element of the Gal Oya National Park.

The adjacent Senanayake Samudraya reservoir is really responsible for the creation of this wet and wild park since Gal Oya National Park serves as a catchment region for excess water that the reservoir does not contain. As a result, the national park contains a variety of wetlands and lush woods that eagerly soak up the water, transforming it into emerald leaves and thick fauna.

Visitors to the park may catch a glimpse of some of the spectacular species that make the area home, including elephants, buffaloes, and leopards. The hallowed temple of Dighavapi, which is just close to the park, attracts hundreds of pilgrims each year.

Location: Uva and Eastern provinces, Sri Lanka

This national park is evidently highly famous with birdwatchers who rush to its limits to look in astonishment at the multicolored spectacle before their eyes. It is one of the most significant sites in Sri Lanka for birds. Although most tourists come to see the birds that whirl over their heads in the beautiful blue sky, Kaudulla is also home to a variety of huge creatures. Elephants, sloth bears, Sri Lankan leopards, deer, and wild boar may be spotted wandering the woodlands, while lovely lorises dangle from the trees on each side.

The variety of wildlife and vegetation that draws birds to the region is owing to King Mahasen, who set aside the park's territory as a water supply for his people back in the 3rd Century AD! When the irrigation tanks were ultimately removed sixty years ago, wildlife soon sprang up around the water source, and the area was gratefully designated as a national park in 2002. As you can see, history abounds across this lovely nation.

Location: North Central province, Sri Lanka

Adam's Bridge Marine National Park, located near a tiny peninsula extending out into the Indian Ocean, features a stunning mix of habitats for tourists to explore. The marine park is built around Adam's Bridge, which is made up of a chain of low-lying shoals; evidence suggests that this chain formerly connected Sri Lanka to the Indian mainland. It has always been a famous location, and it is even referenced in the Ramayana, one of India's oldest and most renowned classics. Because of its proximity to India, birds migrate north and south along the chain of shoals, making it a significant resting spot for them.

The national park provides a sanctuary for a variety of animals, including reefs right off the coast, fine silky beaches, and low-lying scrubland. While there are many birds in the region, it is the dolphins, turtles, and dugong that pass by the coast that provide the most unforgettable sight.

Location: Northern Province, Sri Lanka