Founded in 1963 by British tea planter and dendrologist Sam Popham, this is the only dry-zone arboretum in Sri Lanka located in Dambulla. When Popham bought this abandoned piece of land, it was covered with scrub. After clearing the vegetation, he noticed that the indigenous trees, which were unable to grow previously due to the dense scrub cover, were starting to thrive. Following this observation, he developed the “Popham Method”, an experiment in reforesting that involved selectively clearing a scrub jungle so that native trees could seed and grow.

Spread over an area of 14 ha (35 acres), the arboretum has around 200 species of trees and shrubs, including many endemic ones. Among the topical trees here are satinwood, ebony, tamarind and ironwood, which in turn provide habitat for a variety of birds such as the endemic Sri Lankan jungle fowl, the grey hornbill and blue-tailed bee eater, in addition to small mammals.

Designed by Geoffrey Bawa, the visitor centre of the arboretum used to be Popham’s home before he left Sri Lanka in the 1980s and headed back to the UK. An album containing photographs of what the arboretum looked like in its early years, and of the mud hut that was Popham’s first home, is available on request.

There are three color-coded trails that meander through the arboretum grounds. Visitors can explore these trails independently, or arrange for a guided walk; all trails begin from the visitors centre. It is also possible to come for an evening walk when there is a chance of sighting a slender loris, a spotted deer or a pangolin.

Stretching beyond the Temple of the Tooth north of Kandy Lake, this forest was once reserved for the royal family. After the fall of the Kandyan kingdom in 1815, the British took over the forest area and began felling trees for their own use. However, when the condition of the forest began to deteriorate, they declared it a protected area in the mid-19th century.

Covering an area of 104 ha, Udawattekele is home to a great variety of flora and fauna. Endemic plants can also be seen here. Including a number of orchid species and other epiphytes such as ferns. Birdwatchers should be able to catch sight of golden-fronted leafbirds, yellow-fronted barbets and the yellow-browed bulbul among other species. There are also butterflies, squirrels, monkeys and reptiles to keep an eye out for.

It is possible to explore Udawattekele by following one of other numerous paths or trails, most of which are named after British governor’s wives. The 5-km Lady Horton’s Drive, which begins from inside the sanctuary, is one such path that takes in a good portion of the forest, including the pond where royalty once bathed. According to legend, gold coins lie beneath the surface of the pond, guarded by a red-eyed serpent. Alternatively, visitors can head for the hills from here. The forest also has rock-cut caves that are still used by Buddhist monks for meditation.

It is advisable to be cautious if visiting the forest independently and avoid a trip here after dark.

Considered the largest undisturbed rain forest in Sri Lanka, this reserved stretches over an area of 89 sq km and is bounded by the Gin Ganga river to the south and the Kalu Ganga river to the north. Sinharaja, meaning “Lion King”, is believed by some to be the home of the mythological Sri Lankan lion from whom the Sinhalese trace their descent. Others think it was once a royal reserve, when it covered an even larger expanse of the island’s lowlands. The forest became property of the British Crown in 1840. The area suffered damage from logging in the early 1970s, until it was recognized as a reserve in 1977 and as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1989. The surrounding villages are still allowed to access the forest reserve to collect wood and tap kitul palms for making jiggery and palm wine.

Sinharaja receives up to 599 cm of rainfall annually and the climate inside the rainforest is hot and humid. The forest is a treasure trove of unique flora and fauna. Of the 211 trees found here, over 60 per cent are endemic. The reserve supports a thriving bird population, with as many as 21 endemic species. These include the crested goshawk, Sri Lankan spurfowl, yellow- fronted barbet and the Ceylon blue magpie. A wide variety of rare butterflies, amphibians and reptiles, such as the rough- nose horned lizard, can also be glimpsed in this forest. However, mammals such as the purple- faced leaf monkey or the giant squirrel may be harder to spot because of the thick foliage. Leopards can be rarely sighted.

The best time to visit to Sinharaja is during the dry months, which extend from January to early April and August to September. It is compulsory for visitors to hire a guide to get around the forest. There are trails of varying lengths in the reserve, ranging from 5 km to 14 km. most tourists follow the 8 km Moulawella Trail, which begins at Kudawa Conservation Centre and winds through the rain forest to the Moulawella Peak. There are number of observation points along the trail, which offer great opportunities for wildlife- watching. Leeches abound because of the abundant rainfall so be sure to wear appropriate footwear.

Sri Lankan Rainforests

Known as the wet zone, the southwestern lowlands of Sri Lanka are home to the last remaining rain forests in the country. The largest tract of rainforest is Kanneliya- Dediyagala- Nakiyadeniya, but human activities such as logging have had a serious impact on it. As a result, Sinharaja, albeit smaller, is considered the primary remnant of rainf orest on the island. There is a high degree of endemism in the Sri Lankan rain forest, particularly with regard to the flora. The forests are made up of three distinct layers- ground, sub-canopy and canopy- and each of these has unique environmental conditions and organisms. Most of the primary canopy trees are members of the Dipterocarps family, which have winged seeds and large, straight trunks, and grow up to a height of 45 m. Rain forest trees usually have shallow roots, which enable them to reach the nutrients found on the surface level.