Lahugala Kitulana National Park
A small eastern park around three tanks, where elephants come for the beru grass, with temple ruins on the edge.
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Lahugala is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka, around fifteen square kilometres of tank and dry forest, and it exists because of a grass: beru grows thickly in the shallows of the Lahugala tank and elephants come from a wide area to eat it, gathering in numbers disproportionate to the park's size. The Magul Maha Vihara, an ancient monastery with a moonstone showing elephants with riders, stands close by.
What you actually see
- The elephants on the tank - herds feeding on beru grass in the shallow water.
- The three tanks - Lahugala, Kitulana and Sengamuwa within the small park.
- The Magul Maha Vihara - ancient monastery ruins with a carved moonstone nearby.
- The dry forest - woodland the herds come in from.
When to go
June to September is the dry window when elephants concentrate on the tank. In the wet season they disperse. Late afternoon is the best hour.
Honest expectations
The park is tiny and can be seen from the road in places. Elephant numbers vary and there are quiet days. Facilities are essentially none.
Nearby
Arugam Bay is east, and Kumana is southeast.
What to pack for Lahugala Kitulana National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
