Are you a nature lover? Then, here is a place you must certainly visit if you are traveling in the hill country. Yes, it is none other than Galway’s Land National Park!
It is a beautiful land of nature spread over 29.24 hectares within the city limits of Nuwara Eliya. Hidden among the most famous tourist attractions such as Horton Plains, Moon Plain, and Victoria Park, Galway’s National Park has a serene, amusing beauty. Besides, although it is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka, it is rich in biodiversity. In fact, surrounded by mountains and inheriting a montane ecosystem, this national park is very unique. Galway’s Land National Park with breathtaking views is sure to be one of the most beautiful places you have ever visited. Indeed, it is simply like a paradise in a busy city, and this read will surely prove it to you!
History of Galway’s Land National Park
Galway’s Land National Park is one of the newly established National Parks. This area was identified by the government as a highly diverse region, a few decades back, and at that time, on May 27, 1938, it was declared a sanctuary. On 2006 May 18th, under the Fauna and Flora Economy Act, it was declared as a national park. The purpose of the sanctuary was to prevent commercial exploitation and to conserve plants and animals. This is the 19th National Park in Sri Lanka.
Why Should You Visit Galway’s Land National Park?
The park has a montane ecosystem that is found only in the mountains. And yes, it is one of the richest ecosystems in the world. Besides, this is best known as a bird-watching spot as well. In fact, Galway’s Land National Park is one of the few places in Sri Lanka where hill country bird watching is possible.
Besides, this park is populated by looming trees. Beautiful views of flowering shrubs are a common sight here. It glows green all year round. Here you will also have the opportunity to capture rare images of breathtaking views and wildlife on your camera lens during the walk on the walking trail. Also, from here you can easily reach waterfalls like Loversleep and lakes like Gregory. So, all these reasons make visiting Galway’s Land National Park a must, and the below sections will further prove it to you!
It is a Perfect Place to Relax in Nature!
Despite being located within the city limits, it has a very quiet and secluded environment. Spending time in such a serene environment will relax your mind. Not only that, your body will heal too. Those are not the only benefits you would experience by being here. This is also a great place to meditate and engage in activities such as yoga.
You can watch the sunrise and sunset from the top of the mountain. Although this can be seen in many places in Sri Lanka, the scenery here is unmatched. For those who enjoy walking, there is an opportunity to walk among the trees through the well-designed walking trail here as well. Yes, the physical and mental healing experienced by doing nature walking here is simply unique, since you can never take it by walking on urban tracks.
Also, do you like hiking? Want to experience a bath in a natural pool? Then this is the perfect place for it. In addition, you can experience cycling. The chirping of birds, the clatter of brooks, the murmur of the wind coming through the trees, the subtle sounds of various animals will fascinate your ears with music you have never heard before.
And why not? You can read a book freely from anywhere you like. Besides, if you are looking for a place to spend leisure time with family, you can have a meal while enjoying the taste of nature in this national park. Wildlife and bird watching will delight your mind. The scent of wildflowers and the shadows of the trees here will take you out of your busy life and into a separate beautiful world. So do you still feel that there is a better place to relax than this?
Ample Opportunities at the National Park to Observe the Wildlife
This is one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Sri Lanka. Although the land area is limited to a few hectares, the wildlife variety it houses is really impressive. In fact, the number of species per unit of the land area is high here.
The main reason for this diversity is the geographical location here. Due to the high forest cover and topology, it is easy for wildlife to find habitats. Therefore, almost every part of the park can be made home to wildlife.
Many endemic species of Sri Lanka live here. Because they have difficulty migrating elsewhere like birds, and there is no suitable forest for such habitat in the mountains, their concentration in this small space has severely affected this rich biodiversity.
Some of the wildlife species found here are,
- Srilankan wild boar (Sus scrofa affinis)
- Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
- Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak malabaricus)
- Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor)
- Rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus)
- Toque macaques (Macaca sinica)
- Srilankan leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya)
- Red slender loris (Loris tadigradus)
- Stripe necked mongooses (Urva vitticolla)
- Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak)
- Srilankan spotted chevrotain (Moschiola meminna)
- Grizzled giant squirrels (Ratufa macroura)
Vehicles are not allowed to enter here like in Yala. But that action has been taken for the betterment of the wildlife itself. Having only a walking trail ensures their safety while enabling you to watch wildlife. So their calm life is not threatened by people. This is also a reason to conserve biodiversity here.
Galway’s Land National Park as a Bird-Watching Spot in Sri Lanka
The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka has designated this as a Significant Bird Sanctuary. It accommodates a large number of bird species, out of which, at least 10-30 are endemic bird species. Other than that, there are innumerable species of common birds. Also, if you visit here during the seasons, you can see more than 20 species of migratory birds here. These birds make it a habit to come here every year.
Some of the most seen bird species in this park are;
- Dull blue flycatcher (Aumyias sodidus)
- Srilanka white-eye (Zosterops ceylonensis)
- Srilanka wood pigeon (Columba torringtoniae)
- Yellow eared bulbul (Pycnonotus penicillatus)
- Sri Lanka bush warbler (Elaphrornis palliseri)
- Sri Lanka blue magpie (Urocissa ornata)
- Yellow fronted barbet (Megalaima flavifrons)
- Sri Lanka spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata)
- Black throated munia (Lonchura kelaarti)
- Sri Lanka jungle fowl (Gallus LaFayette)
- Orange billed babbler (Turdoides rufescens)
- Sri Lanka whistling thrush (Myophonus blighi)
- Swiftlets (Collo callini)
- Alpine swift (Tachymaptis melba)
- Indian blue robin (Larvivora brunnia)
- Pied thrush (Geokichla wardii)
- Crested serpent eagle (Spylonis cheela)
- Mounted hawk eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis)
- Black winged kite (Elanus caeruleus)
However, birds are best seen in the mornings and evenings. So if you are planning to witness the best of bird watching at Galway’s National Park, it is best to come at those times.
Photography Opportunities at Galway’s National Park
If you visit this park, you can capture the wonder of the park, the colorful birds, and the wildlife. Fragrant, colorful blooms invite you to take a heart-touching photo. The trees and the shadows are eagerly waiting for your camera to capture. Breathtaking scenes and stunning views are no less here. So tourists can dive into this beauty and take pictures here as souvenirs. It will remain an indelible memory in your life.
Here you can take photos of the environment while enjoying adventures like hiking as well. The breathtaking views of the mountains, the rocks, and the beauty of the cascading waterfalls create unique opportunities for photography. You just click the button and you are sure to see a lot of beautiful scenes on your screen.
The sun-drenched morning environment is unbelievable. Once you get here you will realize that it is worth recording that memory on the camera. This place is also great for taking sunset photos.
You can even photograph amphibians, reptiles, and even insects endemic to the mountains. Not just for photography. This is also a good place for videography. Besides, this national park is very famous for macro nature photography. You can also easily set up cameras at night to observe the behavior of the animals and their activities. This place is also great for producing documentaries like the ones published in the media.
So, beyond a doubt, Galway’s National Park offers ample photography opportunities and it would be great if those frames could be distributed around the world!
Things to Know Before Visiting Galway’s Land National Park
There are a few things you need to know before visiting this place. The following answers to some of your frequently asked questions will let you know everything with regard. Knowing them would certainly be worthwhile, for the benefit of yours, as well as the wildlife.
What to Take When Visiting the Park?
When you visit Galway’s Land National Park to observe wildlife, it is better to carry relevant equipment such as binoculars, cameras, and tripods. We suggest (7 x 50) and (8 x 40) magnifications for binoculars. Also, it is advisable to bring notebooks, pencils, etc. if you want to get crossover observation reports. Besides, you can get food at this place. Therefore, you are allowed to carry whatever you need, including food and drink. But it is better to minimize the use of polythene, non-perishable garbage, etc. within the park premises. And yes, don’t forget your water bottle!
What to Wear when Visiting Galway’s Land National Park?
Wear comfortable clothing when traveling. Yet, do not wear bright dark colors like red, blue, white. Birds and wildlife are very sensitive to such colors and will run away from you. So, make sure to wear earth colors such as green, gray, or brown. It is beneficial to transform yourself as part of the environment when you are visiting such a national park. Then you can observe the best of wildlife, without interruption. Also, we suggest you wear shoes and boots to protect your feet. Moreover, it is better to use a backpack for ease of walking.
When is the Park Open for Visits?
You can enter Galway’s National Park from 6 am to 5 pm. However, we suggest that morning and evening hours are ideal for you to witness the best out of this park. Nevertheless, arriving in the morning to ease the crowds makes your journey easier. You can come here any day of the year!
Is there any Entrance Fee to Visit the Park?
Yes, but the entrance fees for locals and tourists are different. For tourists, the ticket fee for an adult is $10, whereas the fee for children is $5. For local visitors, this is around 50-100 LKR. You can buy tickets online. And the interesting fact is that you can get valuable discounts if you buy online, especially if you book a large number of tickets. You can also buy tickets at the entrance to the park.
What are the Other Facilities at Galway’s National Park?
There are a number of star-class hotels and lodges within easy reach that can be accessed within minutes. Eco-lodges are also easy to find nearby. Parking is also available for visitors to the park.
How do you Get to Galway’s Land National Park?
If you are traveling from Colombo you should first arrive at Karawanella. You can take the Colombo-Katunayake A3 road and enter the Katunayake-Veyangoda B208 road. Then turn to Ruwanwella Road at Veyangoda (B445). Afterward, you can reach Karawanella Junction on the Kegalle-Bulathkohupitiya-Karawanella Expressway. Turn right at the roundabout and enter the Avissawella-Nuwara Eliya A7 road. From Nuwara Eliya, take the racecourse round road and then Havelock Road to reach your destination. The total distance of this journey is 186 km and it takes approximately five to six hours for this travel.
Alternatively, you can take the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway and continue using the outer circular route to enter the Veyangoda-Ruwanwella Road. From there you can reach here by taking the same route as mentioned earlier via Karawanella. The total distance of this road is 170 km. Travel time is approximately 5 hours.
If you are traveling from Kandy you should come via A5 via Gampola. You can then reach Nuwara Eliya using the Udupussellawa B332 road. Then, as before, take the racecourse round road and Havelock Road to the National Park. This route is 74 km in distance and you can reach the park approximately in 2 hours.
The only alternative route you can use is to take the B413 via Hanguranketha. The distance is 81 km. It takes about 3 hours for this trip. If you are traveling from Southern Province like Galle, Matara, you can take the Colombo- Galle- Hambantota- Wellawaya A2 road and take the Badulla-Bandarawela A16 road in Wellawaya. Then take the Peradeniya- Badulla -Chenkaladi highway A5 via Welimada and enter Havelock Road. The total distance covered is 255 km and the journey time is approximately 5 hours.
The Bottom Line
Galway’s Land National Park, a paradise on earth, will leave you with unforgettable memories. Walking through the bushes, while feeling the cool breeze, smelling the blooming flowers, getting stuck in the clouds, and enjoying the glory of the sun penetrating through the mist will surely offer you some delightful memories. And why not? Talk to the little animals that come out in the morning. Soak in fresh spring water. This will give you a closer look at nature, full of adventurous experiences. So, if you’re stuck in an artificial concrete building, this is the perfect place to fill your lungs with fresh air from the trees. So, make sure you visit Galway’s Land National Park, while you are here in Sri Lanka. Happy and Safe Travelling!
