Size / Area
The entire extent of the park is 25,900 hectares.
The Senanayake Samudra has a depth of 33.5 metres (100 feet) at some points.
Boundaries
North - Mullegama
South - Keselkumbura, Nagolla and Dickoya
West - Nilgala, Pitakumbura
North-East - Namaloua
History
Gal Oya was dammed at Inginiyagala in 1948. Senanayaka samudraya scheme was begun in 1952.From 1954 to 1965 the park was administrated by the Gal Oya Development Board until the Department of Wildlife Conservation took over administration.This National Park had been isolated for the past two decades due to terrorist activities. The early surveys done by Mr.H.C.P. Bell and Mr.R.L.Brohier and recent the writings of Mr. Mahanama Rajapaksha and Mr.Piyasena Kahandagamage are of great importance. The sinhala books "Digamadulle Ashcharya"," Pitisara Minissu", "Mage Rajya" gives enormours information of the area.
Past History
Gal Oya is the only valley in the country where several Sinhala Kings built their kingdoms.The role of King Kavantissa, King Deegabhaya and the King Saddhatissa was remarkable in this antient authority of "Digamadulla". The ruins of palaces built by King Tissa, King Buvanekabahu and King Dore Swamy still adorn the park. To the north-east of the park “Digavapi Dagoba” can be seen. It was built in the 2nd Century BC, by the King Saddhatissa, to mark the spot where Lord Buddha is supposed to have meditated during his last visit to Sri Lanka. Also the antient temples of Wadinagala, Nellikele and Buddhangala are located nearby. These places attracts thousands of pilgrims.
The hilly country to the west of this was one of the last strongholds of the Veddahs. Henebedde cave near Vadinagala has a drip ledge and contains Brahmi inscriptions. Near the cave is a moonstone, guard stones and balustrades of stone. Ruins of an ancient structure are close by.
to the south of Inginiyagala is a massive rock, known as Westminster Abbey, locally named “Go- inda- hela”. In the days of the Sinhala kings it had sometimes been used as a fortress. On the summit are the remains of an old civilization. The ruins of a dagoba, two artificially cut rock pits, an old well cut in the rock and plastered round with ancient brick and mortar; a pond built in a natural depression and further off 152 stone pillars.
A legend says that the road the King Dutugemunu took on his way to Vijithapura went through the area. The Mahawamsa records that he had gathered an army whose strength mystified those who saw it pass.
The Nilgala and Ratugala villages inhabited by the indigenous people of ancient Lanka, are also in close proximity.
Physical features
There is very little mainland and the terrain is tough. The Wildlife Department recommends that the best way to see the park is to go by boat on the samudra which has many islands. The mainland areas could be seen by a four-wheel drive vehicle.
There's a point of interest called "Makara Kata" (Dragon Mouth) at the village Nilgala in the Gal Oya National Park that the river (Gal oya) falls into the reservoir Senanayaka samudra. A natural tunnel located at this place where water goes into the tunnel. Getting to the "Makara Kata" is by no means easy. The road, however, lay across picturesque jungle and grassy plains. But now as the erosion has washed away all the sand, all we can see are huge rocks, between 20 and 50 feet tall at place where the Makara Kata used to be.
Bio-diversity
The islands are covered in greenery, trees and rocky outcrops and elephants swim from island to island for feeding purposes.Rich in bio-diversity, half of the Park comprises evergreen forest and the rest includes savana, grassland and chena. The dense closed canopy layer is dominated by halmilla, etamba, kalumediriya and ebony. Dominant species of tree are aralu, bulu and gammalu, which have medicinal values.
A total of 32 species of terrestrial mammals including elephant, common langur, the endemic toque macaque monkeys, leopard, sloth bear, water buffalo, three species of deer, wild boar and Of more than 334 species of birds in Sri Lanka nearly 150 varieties of birds have been sighted at Gal Oya.Worthy of mention are the rare Red faced Malkoha, Spur fowl, Painted Partridge and Brown capped babbler. Among the fishing birds are pelicans, cormorants, herons, Grey-headed fishing eagles, White-bellied sea eagles, Brahmini Kites and other varieties of parrots and barbets.
Climate
The Park lying within the dry zone is influenced by the North-East monsoon and has an annual rainfall of about 1,700 mm. Its average temperature is 27 c.
Threats
Illegal timber-felling goes on unabated with timber-sawing structures being put up within the jungle area in Nilgala, while the Namal Oya area has also been thus threatened. In Nilgala alone around 30 acres of jungle land had been cleared by this activity. Pirating of medicinal herbs in the Ratugala and Nilgala areas have been reported. Wildlife rangers have pointed out that the lack of staff to oversee the 65,000 acres of the National Park is a prime concern.
Location & Access
Located nearly 300 kilometres away from Colombo, the easiest route is via Ratnapura, Pelmadulla, Uda Walawe, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Monaragala and then north from Siyambalanduwe to Inginiyagala.
....
There are no bungalows to stay inside the park but there is a circuit bungalow at Ekgal Aru, about 23 km from the park office. There are rest houses outside the park at Inginiyagala and Ampara. The boat can be hired from the park to tour it, subject to weather conditions.
....
References
- http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050821/plus/7.html
- http://www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/travel/10.htm
- http://archives.dailynews.lk/2002/08/08/fea10.html
- (Sinhala) Senarathna, P.M. (2005). Sri Lankawe wananthara (1st ed.). Sarasavi publishers. ISBN 955-573-401-1.
No comments:
Post a Comment