Galvesland

This small yet beautiful national park is situated close to Nuwara Eliya town center, within the city limits. Park is ideal for birds watching and to enjoy the amazing mountainous forests while spending your vacation in this famous tourist destination known as Little England.

Location: Nuwara Eliya city, Nuwara Eliya District, Central Province

Getting there:
Alone Nuwara Eliya – Udupussellawa road, about 1km from town center is the Galvesland road adjoining Nuwara Eliya economic center

Facilities:
Since this is a very small park, no camp sites or lodging facilities inside the park. It’s open during day time for holiday spenders at Nuwara Eliya where there are ample facilities for tourists.

A well designed forest trail covers whole the park which allows a walking tourist to experience the biodiversity and climate conditions of the forest.While enjoying various bird songs, the thick vegetation of the forest and the high forest canopy presents truly nice scenery. Alone this trail which stretches about a kilometer, there are patches of open grass lands and a fern forest section too.

Galwaysland may be small in size, but it’s rich in biodiversity. Its isolated nature in the middle of busy Nuwara Eliya has prevented it from inhabiting by large mammals. But there are small mammals like wild boar, Chevrotain, Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Rusty-spotted Cat, Purple-faced Langur and hares.

Reptile species found here includes, Black-cheek Lizard, Rhino-horn Lizard and rare Pygmy Lizard which are endemic to Sri Lanka.

Birds and butterflies make Galwaysland a true paradise. Butterfly species includes Lemon Emigrant, Common Bluebottle, Great Eggfly, Common Birdwing, Red Pierrot, Common Rose and Common Leopard in great numbers.

There are 35 species of birds in this park where 7 of them are endemic. Among them Sri Lanka Yellow-eared Bulbul can be seen in pairs or as small groups. Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush and Sri Lanka Dull Blue Flycatcher are also among endemic birds found here.

Sri Lanka White-eye is also a common resident of the park, always flying around gathering nectar from various wild flowers. Small Minivet, Black-hooded Oriole, and Emerald Dove are common breeding residents.
Winter visitors like Forest Wagtail and Brown Shrike can also be found in the park.

Galwaysland is famous as a breeding ground for Kestrels. These birds make their nests on forest canopy and their loud calls echoes all over the park.

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