Highlights
National Park | Wild Life | The Gathering | Great Elephant Migration
Insights
Located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, nearly 180 km away from the capital, Minneriya National Park is one of the greatest tourist attractions due to the world-famous "The Gathering." The national park, extending to 8900 hectares, acts as the catchment area of one of the biggest man-made tanks, "Minneriya," built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD.
Minneriya is located in the elephant corridor connecting Kaudulla and Wasgamuwa parks. During the dry season, typically from May to October, herds of elephants from those parks and other surrounding areas gather, creating a fascinating view of more than 300 elephants. This makes it the largest gathering of Asian elephants in the world.
The park is well worth a visit during other months as well, as small numbers of elephant herds remain a major attraction throughout the year. Additionally, the park boasts 24 other species of mammals, including leopards, Sri Lankan sloth bears, Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar, Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys, and more