Monday, 9 March 2020

Sinharaja Rainforest – A Voyage to Heavenly Biosphere Reserve in Sri Lanka


Sinharaja Rainforest is well known for its endemic flora and fauna in Sri Lanka. Both migratory and resident birds flock the canopy of this rainforest from December to April. As I am an avdi birdwatcher, I decided to visit Sinharaja during this time. I had chosen to visit Sri Lanka as I knew that the island is a very beautiful country to explore nature at its best. We spotted plenty of flora and fauna along with birds as well.

We planned our tour in advance to explore the rich biodiversity of the rainforest. Along with it, we also visited Colombo, Kitulgala, Udawalawa and Bundala National Park. After arriving at Sinharaja, we prepared for kayaking and biking tours around the rainforest.  Our biking, kayaking, food and accommodation, all were pre-planned well in advance to avoid any last-minute issues.



We trekked in the rainforest for four hours and our guide took us along the canopy of forest while giving us details about the amazing wildlife. When we reached the Sinharaja Falls, we found a lot of vivid bird species as well as tree vines stretched across the river.

The river gets sandy and shallow where you can find time to have snacks and a leisurely bath. The villages are scattered all around the river on the log bridges or rope. We halted at a point where we had some refreshments like firework chilies and boiled jackfruit. I had to depart soon, otherwise I would have wanted to spend some more time over there. The river also gets deep and narrow.

You have to go through swampy islands and go through the right channel to avoid back padding problems. Kayaking really becomes fun in the midst of the river somewhere in the jungle. Roads and pathways are best for biking as steep, muddy and rocky climbs and a lot of descends make it ideal for hilltop biking. You need to have good fitness in order to deal with these parts.  

One thing I must tell you that it is not easy to see the wildlife due to dense vegetation. So, expect less when you are getting there. However, the native Purple-faced Langur is commonly found here.



I found the birds flocking and feeding there, including the Orange-billed Babbler and Racket-tailed Drongos. The rainforest has around 20 resident and 26 endemic species, including Green-billed Coucal, Red-faced Malkoha and Sri Lankan Blue Magpie. 



Later on, I spotted several reptiles like Hump-nosed vipers and Green pit viper, and amphibians like tree frogs. As planned, we finally reached the roadway and these trails are admired well by both foreign and local tourists. All in all, you can definitely have an extraordinary experience. The reserve is spread around just 7 km from north towards the south and 21 km from east towards the west.


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