Wilpaththu revisited through Eluwankulama

This was my second visit to Wilpaththu National Park. Here I first selected the accommodation option and then arranged the safari through Eluwankulama (එළුවන්කුලම) as my hotel is situated closer to Eluwankulama gate (8.292146, 79.885594).
My last visit to this largest national park of Sri Lanka happened in 2017 mainly as an archeological and religious point of view. We have visited most of the religious places situated at Wilpaththu NP and drove till Kudiramale point. In that full day safari we were not able to watch either a leopard or bear.
This is almost after five years of my first experience of Wilpaththu NP. Here I selected a half day safari mainly to enjoy wildlife.
Early morning we left Colombo and reached Eluwankulama entrance by 5.45am. Road condition from Puttalama to Eluwankulama entrance is good except last 1-2km, but can be managed by a low ground vehicle. Kala Oya bridge at Eluwankulama is still not renovated might be due to the court case for Old Mannar road between Wild life department and RDA. Jeeps were parked at the park entrance and Army point was situated at the other end.

Wilpaththu NP (විල්පත්තු ජාතික වන උද‍යානය) is the largest (131, 693ha) and oldest national park in Sri Lanka. It is famous for visiting Leopards and wild bears. Special feature of Wilpaththu NP is having water filled natural lakes-Willus. There are nearly sixty Willus and tanks found through the park.

New looking of Wilpaththu-Eluwankulama entrance

How to reach the entrance. New bridge over Kala Oya. Only for pedestrians.

.	I have noted this in 2017 as well.

No other jeeps selected Eluwankulama to enter Wilpaththu National Park on that day. We were able to watch Deers, number of bird species (mainly aquatic birds and Eagles) and wild buffalos. It is happy to mention some of bird species I have seen for the first time.

Sightings of Wilpaththu Safari

Out of Jeep

A gravel road through Wilpaththu

An open area of Wilpaththu NP

Stork-billed Kingfisher. So called largest Kingfisher of Sri Lanka.

A herd

Last moment of a Jumbo….

Compared to Yala, most of roads of Wilpaththu are situated under tree canopy.

Drops of a Leopard.

Road under the tree canopy

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Crested Hawk Eagle

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Couple

Red-wattled Lapwing

A peacock

A herd

Green imperial pigeon

Painted stork (front) with Purple Heron

Black-headed Ibis (White Ibis)

Porcupine

.	Indian Darter with cormorant

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Wild pigs

.	Crested Serpent Eagle

Common King Fisher

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?? Little Cormorant

Purple Heron

In action

Brahmin Kite

Brahmin Kite

The jeep has stopped at Kumbukvila (කුඹුක්විල) for the breakfast. This place is equipped with water and toilet facilities.

At Kumbukvila

Direction

Pomparippu Junction

A bridge at Old Mannar road

There is a nice bathing place at Kala Oya situated closer to Eluwankulama entrance. (It is mentioned as Eluwankulama bathing point in map). We have noted locals were enjoying bathing under Kumbuk shade at Kala Oya. Government is going to establish a proper bathing place here

On the way to bathing place at Kala Oya.

On the way to bathing place at Kala Oya.

Kala Oya bathing place under Kumbuk shades. Eluwankulama Bathing Point

Backwaters Lodge-Eluwankulama (8.268920, 79.865446)

Though Hunuwilagama (හුණුවිලගම) is the main Wilpaththu entrance, a lot of beautiful hotels are situated around Eluwankulama entrance. We have selected Backwaters lodge as our choice of accommodation in this time.
Backwaters Lodge is situated at bank of Uppu Aru (උප්පු ආරු) (i.e. Salt River). Uppu Aru is a small tributary of Kala Oya and it connects with Gange Wadiya (ගගේ වාඩිය) (Kala Oya estuary).
Backwaters lodge is an eco-friendly hotel and their accommodation compartments are built in container boxes. (Previously also I stayed at container boxes adjacent to Rainforest Eco Lodge and Amesbury Cottage-Nuweraeliya, but this is kind of different environment-dry zone).
They have used Uppu Aru for the enjoyment of visitors. The bank of Uppu Aru is sheltered by number of Kumbuk trees and they have set different seats for visitors. We have enjoyed a lot at this place including a dip at Uppu Aru.

Container boxes are used. It is quite hot inside these boxes as it is the dry zone.

Our accommodation had a veranda.

Restaurant of Backwaters lodge

Hopscotch Grid

Hammock under Kumbuk trees

A ladder….

At bank of Uppu Aru

Hotel has used their opening to Uppu Aru very well

Another bench under Kumbuk trees.

Baralles are converted into garden benches.

.	Photo locations

Place for relax

Elephants are roaming….

There are different activities carried out by Backwaters lodge including boating at Uppu Aru. We had a boat ride at Uppu Aru in view of sun set.

Boating at Uppu Aru in view of sun set
Uppu Aru is a calm river which is bordered by bare lands and paddy fields. When you look at the map, one can go up to Gange Wadiya along Uppu Aru but practically it is not possible due to heavy Mangroves. The sun set boat ride takes about two hours and you can view set of aquatic birds at bank of the river.

Boating at Uppu Aru in view of Sun set

Uppu Aru / Salt River. Seems this is a rapidly developing area in tourism. Numbers of hotels are being developed.

Along Uppu Aru

Sailing to get sun set at Uppu Aru

Sun set at Uppu Aru

Sun set at Uppu Aru. Different colors.

Golden sky…

Sun set

While we were coming back, we have landed to other side of the bank. There were empty paddy fields.

Empty paddy fields

Aerial photographs of Uppu Aru and Backwaters Lodge

Aerial view of Uppu Aru. Backwaters Lodge makes camping trips to the island shown in the photo.

Close up…

Close up of the Island….

Dry Paddies

Uppu Aru and Backwaters lodge

We are at one of the deck built at bank of Uppu Aru.

It’s me….

Though we planned for another half day Safari through Hunuwilagama entrance of Wilpaththu on next day we were unable to make it as I had some personal commitments at home. So our return journey from Backwaters Lodge to Colombo was uneventful.

Thanks for reading