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Kaudulla National Park

The Ancient Cities

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Like Minneriya, Kaudulla offers a good chance of getting up close and personal with elephants. In October, there are up to 250 elephants in the park, including herds of juvenile males. There are also leopards, fishing cats, sambar deer, endangered rusty spotted cats and sloth bears. The best time to visit is from January to March and, less reliably, May to June.

This park stands on the fringe of the ancient Kaudulla Wewa, 6km off the Habarana–Trincomalee Rd at Gal Oya junction. It is part of a 66.6-sq-km elephant corridor between Somawathiya National Park and Minneriya National Park.

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±'s must-see attractions

  • Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa, Gal Vihara temple

    Gal Vihara

    13.92 MILES

    Part of Parakramabahu I’s northern monastery, Gal Vihara is a group of beautiful Buddha images that probably marks the high point of Sinhalese rock…

  • Vatadage, Quadrangle, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

    Quadrangle

    14.86 MILES

    A short stroll north of the Royal Palace ruins, the area known as the Quadrangle is literally that – a compact group of ruins in a raised-up area bounded…

  • Interior of Royal Rock Temple, Dambulla, Sri Lanka

    Cave Temples

    26.28 MILES

    The beautiful Royal Rock Temple complex sits about 160m above the road in the southern part of Dambulla. Five separate caves contain about 150 absolutely…

  • Visitors on the summit of Sigiriya Rock.

    Summit

    16.11 MILES

    The spectacular terraced summit of the rock covers 1.6 hectares. This is thought to be the site chosen by King Kasyapa for his fortified capital after he…

  • Lankatilaka Temple near Kandy, Sri Lanka

    Lankatilaka

    14.14 MILES

    One of the most evocative structures in Polonnaruwa, the Lankatilaka temple was built by Parakramabahu I and later restored by Vijayabahu IV. This massive…

  • Frescoes

    Frescoes

    16.11 MILES

    Halfway up the Sigiriya rock an open-air spiral stairway leads to a long, sheltered gallery in the sheer rock face. The paintings of the buxom, wasp…

  • Rankot Vihara

    Rankot Vihara

    14.33 MILES

    The 54m Rankot Vihara dagoba, the largest in Polonnaruwa and the fourth largest on the island, has been ascribed to the reign of King Nissanka Malla. Like…

  • Pidurangula

    Pidurangula

    15.48 MILES

    This prominent rock about 1km north of the Sigiriya site, offers amazing views of Sigiriya from its wide summit. It's a 20-minute hike up to the top, past…

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Nearby The Ancient Cities attractions

1. Mandalagiri Vihara

6.38 MILES

This vatadage (circular relic house) is virtually identical to the one at Polonnaruwa, but while Polonnaruwa's is ringed by many other structures, this…

2. Minneriya National Park

9.32 MILES

This national park is one of the best places in the country to see wild elephants, which are often present in huge numbers. Dominated by the ancient…

3. Tivanka Image House

13.21 MILES

Polonnaruwa's northern road ends at Tivanka Image House. Tivanka means ‘thrice bent’, and refers to the fact that the Buddha image within is in a three…

4. Nelum Pokuna

13.37 MILES

A track to the left from the northern stretch of road leads to unusual Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond), nearly 8m in diameter, which has five concentric,…

5. Damila Thupa

13.74 MILES

King Parakramabahu I planned this 12th-century stupa to be the world's largest Buddhist monument, but even with the enforced assistance of Tamil prisoners…

6. Exit

13.76 MILES

Most visitors exit the archaeological site here.

7. Gal Vihara

13.92 MILES

Part of Parakramabahu I’s northern monastery, Gal Vihara is a group of beautiful Buddha images that probably marks the high point of Sinhalese rock…

8. Vishnu Devale No 4

13.95 MILES

This minor Hindu site is outside the main archaeological area and can easily be skipped.