Flood Plain National Park

Flood Plain National Park

A majestic river, beautiful swamps, wild elephants and big crocodiles, these are only few attractions of the scenic flood plain national park in Sri Lanka.

Location – Polonnaruwa District close to Manampitiya, North Central Province.


Getting there;
Colombo->Kurunegala->Dambulla->Habarana->Minneriya->Polonnaruwa->Mananpitiya (233km)

By Train;
Trincomalee Train - Should get down from Mananpitiya or Gallalla stations as the park is situated between these two.

Facilities:
There are no facilities yet within the park since this has been considered a threatened area due to terrorist activities in the past. But it is easy to find accommodations and other facilities in the surrounding towns like Polonnaruwa.

Flood Plain National Park (FPN) is the 9th national park in Sri Lanka, declared on 7th august 1984. This covers an area of 17,350 hectares and it connects to the “Somawathiya” national park from the north, and “Wasgomuwa” national park from the south.
FPN has one of the most important ecological systems in the country known as “Mahaweli swamps” within its borders. These hold the overflowing water of river “Mahaweli” specially during monsoon season giving the park its name.
FPN is based centering the river “Mahaweli” the longest river in Sri Lanka. In this area the average width of the river is about 200-300 meters and there are also several small islands made out of river sand. Dense riverbank forests can be seen in these islands and alone the riverbanks. During the monsoon, the whole park becomes a massive lake and later on a big swamp with the lowering water level.
“Thunmodara” the place where “Amban ganga” a small river meets Mahaweli is a very attractive place in the park.

Close by “Dimbulagala” rock temple is also a famous tourist attraction.

Biodiversity of the park:

Large mammals – Elephant, Sri Lankan axis deer, Samba deer, leopard, Sloth Bear, wild buffalo,

Small mammals - Chevrotain, wild boar, Porcupine, Mongoose , Civet, Golden Jackal, wild Hare, Indian Pangolin

Reptiles – Crocodile, Pythons, Cobras, Vipers

Birds - Brahminy Kite, Little Cormorant , Indian Cormorant, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, White-breasted Waterhen, Red-wattled Lapwing, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Purple Swamphen