The Sinharaja forest reserve is the last existing virgin rainforest in the country, with a host of exotic endangered species, flora and fauna endemic to the area and overall an adventurous experience.
It is located on the south-west lowland that falls into the Sabaragamuwa and southern provinces; it is 171.9 km away from Colombo via the southern expressway, approximately a 4 hour drive. It is a well known rainforest that’s worth the journey, and it is an unforgettable experience for many.
The forest is a special place of study in the world for hardcore environmentalists for many reasons – it’s got a rich and vibrant biodiversity that could potentially put any other area elsewhere to shame, which is saying a lot. It’s very significant internationally; hence it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988, consequently being the first site in the country. The forest was designated as a biosphere reserve in 1978.
There are quite a lot of activities to participate while exploring the forest at the same time, from bird watching to a butterfly observatory, hiking and trekking through scenic and luscious nature trails through the forest – it’s all here in this enchanting and mysterious forest you will immediately fall in love with, no doubt about that.
