Sri Lanka
Destinations
From ancient cities and sacred temples to tea-covered mountains, national parks and tropical beaches, Sri Lanka offers a remarkable variety of experiences within one island. Explore the places our guests ask for most and where every great itinerary begins.
Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National Park is known for its landscape and opportunities to observe wildlife in a protected setting. Explore the destination and check the relevant seasonal conditions when planning a visit or comparing safari options.
Between roughly July and October the receding waters of the Minneriya tank expose lush grass, and elephants arrive from across the region in one of Asia's great wildlife spectacles – The Gathering. Herds of a hundred or more graze, bathe and socialise within sight of the jeeps.
Outside the season, neighbouring Kaudulla and Hurulu Eco Park pick up the elephants, and your driver chooses the park with the best current sightings.
Why VisitMinneriya
- The Gathering (Jul–Oct)
- Large elephant herds in open view
- Twenty minutes from Sigiriya
- Kaudulla as an alternative park
Best time to visit
July to October for The Gathering; elephants are present in smaller numbers year-round.
Suggested length of stay
Half-day from Sigiriya or Dambulla
Getting there
About 30 minutes from Sigiriya; 45 minutes from Dambulla.
ExploreNearby
Sigiriya
The 5th-century Lion Rock – a sheer 200-metre fortress rising from the plains, crowned by the ruins of a royal citadel and ringed by ancient gardens.
Read more
Polonnaruwa
The island's medieval capital – a compact, beautifully preserved royal city of palaces, temples and the serene rock-cut Buddhas of Gal Vihara.
Read more
Dambulla
The Golden Cave Temple – five caves of Buddha statues and vivid ceiling murals beneath a single granite overhang, a place of worship for over two thousand years.
Read more
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