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Sinharajah is a great primeval rainforest which cloaks the peaks of several mountains in the South West of Sri Lanka. Thick mysterious woods are dominated by tall majestic Hor-Bu Hora and Kina trees, often 130 foot high and close-galleried, so it provides a shrub free forest floor beautifully dappled with sun filtering through. Just 20 miles from Galle and easily accessible from Colombo, this biodiversity hotspot is one of two last pockets of the islands’ extensive rainforest. It is home to a variety of rare birds such as Blue magpie, red-faced Malkoha and the rarest Lankan bird- Green-billed Coucal. 95% of endemic birds recorded are found here.
Reptiles, fish, amphibians, butterflies are also profuse and amongst the endemics are the Kangaroo lizard, Purple-faced leaf monkey and bear monkey so named for its shaggy hair. This biologically unique lowland forest 21 km in width and 3.7 North to South, was declared a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. Nowhere is so lush or dense with vegetation and when rains it pours! If you are energetic climb up the Sinhagala- 14 kms from the forest lodge - for a spectacular view across the southern plains all the way to Galle and the ocean.
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