Wilpattu

Wilpattu National Park is Sri Lanka's largest and oldest national park, covering 1,317 square kilometers (131,693 hectares) in the northwest dry zone lowlands, 30km west of Anuradhapura and 180km north of Colombo. Established as a sanctuary in 1905 and upgraded to national park status in 1938, Wilpattu is world-renowned for its unique landscape of 106 natural lakes called 'villus' - sand-rimmed water basins that fill with rainwater and give the park its name, meaning 'Land of Lakes.' The park holds profound historical significance as Kudrimalai Point (Horse Point), where Prince Vijaya legendarily landed in 543 BCE to establish the Sinhalese kingdom according to the Mahavamsa chronicle. Archaeological evidence includes ancient ruins and a Roman visit in 47 AD during Emperor Claudius's reign. Wilpattu supports Sri Lanka's densest leopard population with 133 individual leopards documented across 660 square kilometers, maintaining a healthy male-to-female ratio of 1:2.03. The park encompasses diverse ecosystems from coastal areas to dense monsoon forests, supporting 31 mammal species including threatened Sri Lankan elephants, sloth bears, and water buffalo. Closed during the civil war from 1988-2003, Wilpattu has recovered to become a critical conservation stronghold with annual rainfall of 1,000mm and temperatures averaging 27.2°C, offering visitors access to only 25% of the park while maintaining pristine wilderness integrity.