DestinationsTravel Stories

16 x Things To Do in Yala

Last Updated On June 18, 2023

Yala, located in the Hambantota District, has a lot to offer. Yala is well-known for its famed Yala National Park and is a must-see location for anybody visiting Sri Lanka. Yala is a friendly tourist destination located 195 kilometers from Colombo and 138 kilometers from Kandy. Some examples are Yala National Park, Situlpawwa, Lunugamvehera National Park, Kataragama Kiri vehera, Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalya, and others. The city does not shy away from displaying its natural variety of wildlife while also honoring the country's old Buddhist culture. Yala is undoubtedly one of the top spots in Sri Lanka for wildlife observation. It is located in a dry semi-arid climate and receives most of its rainfall during the northeastern monsoon from October to December.

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka, Leopard, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Photo by Geoff Brooks on Unsplash

Although Yala is today recognized for its national park, it was once a center of an ancient civilization. Yala, Sri Lanka's second-largest national park, is divided into five blocks. However, only two are accessible to the public. Although Yala was initially designated as a wildlife sanctuary, it was later appointed as a national park and is home to 44 species of mammals and 215 species of birds. Exotic animals include royal peacocks, sleek and magnificent leopards, beautiful elephants, sloth bears, jackals, buffaloes, monkeys, sambars, spotted dear, and crocodiles. At the same time, Yala possesses one of the world's greatest leopard densities. The 2004 Tsunami inflicted extensive damage and ruin to this park. Surprisingly, no animals were injured as a result of this calamity.

  1. Yala National Park
  2. Situlpawwa
  3. Lunugamvehera National Park
  4. Kataragama Kiri Vehera
  5. Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya
  6. Sella Kataragama Lord Ganesh Temple
  7. Tissamaharama Raja Maha Viharaya
  8. Akurugoda stone inscription
  9. Nivan Maha Prakaraya
  10. Bundala National Park
  11. Kirinda Beach
  12. Kirinda Vihara Maha Devi Temple
  13. Nidangala Beach
  14. Telulla Archeological Site
  15. Ranminitenna Tele Cinema Village
  16. Golf at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Country Club