Minneriya National Park, Sigiriya - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 23 km from Sigiriya, 40 km from Polonnaruwa and 68 km from Anuradhapura, Minneriya National Park is a national park situated in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is one of the best places to see wildlife in Sri Lanka.

The area was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938 and was designated as a national park in the year 1997. The main reason for declaring the area as a protected reserve is to conserve the flora and fauna that surrounded the Minneriya Tank. The tank is of historical importance, having been built by King Mahasen in 3rd century AD and derives water from the Amban River, and the Elahera Canal. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population dwelling in the forests of Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee districts.

Covering an area of 89 sq. km, the park has plenty of scrubs, forests, and wetlands. Minneriya is home to 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 75 species of butterflies. Minneriya is one of the best places in the country to see wild elephants, which are often present in huge numbers. Besides elephants, one can also spot leopards, sloth bear, spotted deer, wild buffalo, wild pig, purple-faced langur and toque macaque here.

The best way to enjoy the park is through jeep safari. The park offers two safaris in a day one in the morning (6 AM) and the other in the late afternoon (3 PM). Each safari tour lasts 3 hours. Which starts from the park entrance on the Habarana-Polonnaruwa Road. A visitor center near the entrance sells tickets and has a few exhibits about the park's natural history. Early mornings are generally best for birds and late afternoon for elephants.

Minneriya National Park gives the opportunity to see herds of Elephants throughout the year. However, May to October is the best period to visit Minneriya National Park in view of the famous Gathering of wild elephants. It is the largest known meeting place of Asian Elephants in the world. During this period herds, up to 300 elephants are seen at the park within a few square kilometers of the Minneriya Reservoir.

Timings: 6 PM - 6 PM

Safari Timings: 6 AM - 9 AM & 3 PM - 6 PM

Entry: USD. 15 for Foreign Adults & USD. 8 for Foreign Child, USD. 75 for Jeep Safari for Person (approximately)