Minneriya National Park

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