Willpattu National Park
Overview
North of Puttalam lies Wilpattu (Vilpathai) National Park, the largest national park on the island covering just over 500 sq. miles, has a long beach as one of its boundaries to the west.
The park was out of bounds for civilians for over 30 years as it was under the control of the “Liberation Tigers of Thamil Eelam” (LTTE), a separatist armed movement. Since re-opening in 2010, the park has quickly become one of the finest wildlife watching locations on the island.
The leopards, elephants, mouse deer, sambar deer, spotted deer, and mongoose are a few to mention. The birdlife is also plentiful with the Malabar pied hornbill, Indian hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, and amphibian species like mugger crocodile, Indian python, common cobra and monitor lizard.
There are excellent tented safari camps and resort accommodations available in or near the park.
Further north of the park is a large town called Mannar where there is a bird sanctuary nearby, named Giant Tank Sanctuary (Kattukarai Kulam in Tamil). Numerous varieties of water birds are found in the sanctuary including the Eurasian wigeon, garganey, and knob-billed duck. Asian elephants are also found in the sanctuary.
Thiruketheeswarm Kovil, another one of the five ancient Eeswaram temples dedicated to Lord Siva on the island, is situated in Mannar. Thalai Mannar Island is just off the coast of Mannar and connected by road and rail. A short sea ferry service is used to operate to and from Thalai Mannar Island to Ramaeeswaram in Tamil Nadu, South India.
