Overview
Located within the Cultural Triangle in the district of Anuradhapura and 172 kilometres from Colombo, sits the quaint village of Habarana. A city renowned for its beautiful lake that is a magnet for birds and its series of relatively upmarket tourist hotels which make it an ideal departure destination for other areas of interest such as safari tours in the Minneriya and Kaudulla National parks which are famous for the elephant gathering. However since it’s situated near the majestic rock fortress of Sigiriya and the Golden Dambulla Cave temple, it attracts tourists interested in the historical and cultural significance of these UNESCO World Heritage sites. Habarana is well known for its eco retreats and nature friendly environment.
How to Get There
From Colombo: There many ways of travel from Colombo to Habarana which are by train, bus and road.
By Train – there is a Batticaloa bound express train that leaves Colombo Fort station at 06:05am and reaches Habarana at 11:16am taking a little over 5 hours of travel and also there is a Trincomalee bound night mail train that leaves Colombo Fort at 21:30pm and reaches there by 03:00am again taking about 5 and half hours.
By Bus – from Central Bus Stand in Colombo Fort you can take the intercity AC bus No.49 which leaves at 11pm which is Trincomalee bound and stops en route at Habarana by 3:17am.
By Road – if you are renting a car to drive or planning to taxi, it will be a 4 hours drive from Colombo to Habarana via the Katunayake Expressway (E03) and then proceeding along the A6 which is the Ambepussa-Kurunegala-Trincomalee Highway from Kurunegala that passes through Habarana.
By Air – if you would like to reach Habarana sooner then there are flights daily from Colombo to Sigiriya by Sri Lankan at 10am and Cinnamon Air at 3:30pm. From Sigiriya it takes 20 minutes drive to Habarana in which you can taxi to Habarana. Although it is a costly mode of travel, you would experience beautiful views of Sri Lanka from the sky.
From Trincomalee – it is a short route from Trincomalee to Habarana since it is 84km and takes an hour and half hours travel by road. You can drive by renting a car or taxi. Drive via Ambepussa-Kurunegela-Trincomalee Highway (A6). Alternatively you can travel by Intercity bus on No.49 which leaves Trincomalee at 11:00pm and reaches Habarana at 01:00am or by train on the night mail train that leaves Trincomalee at 19:00pm and reaches Habarana at 21:25pm. Vehicle or taxi arrangements can be made for you by our tour consultants at Epic Sri Lanka Holidays.
From Kandy – there are No.41 route buses that go from Good Sheds, Kandy to Kaduruwela via Habarana where you can get off. Car drive would take approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes via the A9 which is the Kandy Road/Kandy-Jaffna Road highway and then follow the A6 which is the Ambepussa-Kurunegela-Trincomalee Highway passing through Dambulla to Habarana.
Our tour consultants at Epic Sri Lanka Holidays can make arrangements for vehicles for hire, make any flight bookings or train reservations for you.
Climate
The best time to visit Habarana is from February to April since it has moderate climate. Since it is situated in the Cultural Triangle which is a dry zone, there is very little rainfall throughout the year except during the Maha monsoon season which occurs from December to February. From May to October it is the dry season.
Food and Drink
The best time to visit Habarana is from February to April since it has moderate climate. Since it is situated in the Cultural Triangle which is a dry zone, there is very little rainfall throughout the year except during the Maha monsoon season which occurs from December to February. From May to October it is the dry season.
In Habarana, there are plenty of places to eat with the main cuisine being the traditional rice and curry but there is Indian and Chinese food too. Most of the places offer vegetarian and vegan food options and many hotels have fine dining options. Popular tourist recommended places are the ‘Curry & Rice’, ‘Windy Corner Seafood Restaurant’ that gives seafood dishes that are a delicacy along with Sri Lankan and Asian cuisine; ‘Dewata Villas Village’ and ‘Lucky Restaurant’. For fine dining, the Cinnamon Lodge and Habarana Village hotels do have international cuisine on offer and there are many other resorts do have great restaurants.
Main Highlights
Habarana Lake – A beautiful lake which has a gravel footpath that surrounds it and on one side there is a lush green forest covered with trees. People take a stroll along the path and see all the beauty of nature around. Fishermen in boats dotting all over the lake adds beauty to the scenery. The lake is a magnet attracting birds of all colour which makes the place a diverse and colourful site.
Village Tour – Hiriwadunna is a quaint rural village in the centre of Habarana. The village tour is an interesting experience in learning the village life of the country which is laid back unlike the hustle bustle of city life. Encounter a bullock cart ride for a traditional experience.
Minneriya National Park – Home to one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles – the Elephant Gathering, Minneriya National Park is situated in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka and 182 kilometres from Colombo. The 90 kilometres of area was declared as a national park on 12th August 1997 after being previously declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938.
Kaudulla National Park – Located 190 kilometers away from the metropolis of Sri Lanka (Colombo), the Kaudulla National Park spreads out over an expanse of 6900 hectares. A safari around the national park of Kaudulla will give you an opportunity to witness many species of animals especially the Sri Lankan Elephants.
Hurulu Forest Reserve and Eco Park – An elephant paradise is what Hurulu Forest Reserve and Eco Park is called. Located in the North central province of Sri Lanka and is 22 kilometres from the city of Habarana. The Hurulu Forest Reserve is a flourishing eco system with incredible biodiversity of life species. It was declared as a biosphere reserve in 1977 and is an important residential area for the Sri Lankan elephant.
Ritigala Mountain – Ritigala is an extraordinary and fascinating cultural and eco-tourist site. It is home to seventy rock caves that were believed to have been inhabited from the 1st century BC. It is a mountain range of four peaks that houses an old Buddhist monastery. Ritigala is steeped in history, legend and mythology and trekking through the mountains is an experience one cannot miss.
Bird Watching In Habarana – Trek through the dense forests surrounding the Habarana Lake and observe endless species of colourful birds. This area has been known to be a hotspot for bird watching in Sri Lanka since there were records of 120 species of birds being sighted in Habarana.
Elephant Back Riding in Habarana – Since Habarana is in the centre of the Cultural Triangle, tourists grab an opportunity to experience an Elephant Back Safari. This elephant back safari is a picturesque ride along the surrounding wilderness of the reservoirs and waterways of the area and the elephants wade through or swim to the other side. The rides would also go through the main road, the pathways, villages, jungles, swamp and river.
Jungle Camping – Enjoy a real camping in the jungle experience at Habarana Jungle. The camp sites by the Habarana jungle are set up with fully equipped tents for great comfort and style with all the facilities providing the jungle living experience along with jungle food with campfires and more. It gives opportunities to entwine with nature and encounter animals and birds that live in the jungle.
