Sinharaja Forest Reserve Entrances

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is the largest surviving stretch of lowland rainforest in Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. It is a long, narrow block of hills running east to west across the border of the Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces, and no road crosses it. That has a practical consequence for visitors: there is no single gate. You enter from the north or from the south, and the two sides are several hours apart by road, so the entrance you pick decides where you stay, how you travel and what kind of forest you walk into.

The Two Sides of the Forest

The northern side lies in Ratnapura District and is reached through Kalawana and Rakwana. Its two entrances are Kudawa in the north-west and Morningside in the north-east. This is the side most serious birdwatchers head for.

The southern side is reached through Deniyaya and Neluwa, in the tea country of Matara and Galle districts. Three entrances open here within a short drive of one another: Pitadeniya, Kurulugala and Lankagama. This side is known for its waterfalls and is the easiest to combine with a trip along the south coast from Galle or Matara.

Deniyaya works as a reference point. By road, Kurulugala is roughly 13 km from the town, Pitadeniya about 15 km and Lankagama about 19 km. Morningside is around 40 km away, and Kudawa, on the far side of the forest, close to 95 km.

Kudawa (North-West)

Kudawa, near Weddagala on the road beyond Kalawana, is the entrance with the longest history of research and birding in Sinharaja. The Forest Department runs its office and conservation centre here, and the trails lead from the edge of the village into tall lowland forest along the streams that feed the Kalu Ganga. Mixed-species bird flocks, in which a dozen or more kinds of bird move through the canopy together, are the thing to see, and the Sri Lanka blue magpie is often found near the trails. Although it is the best-known entrance, Kudawa is usually quieter than the southern gates, which draw more day visitors. It is the natural choice if you are coming from Colombo or Ratnapura.

Morningside (North-East)

Morningside lies above Rakwana at the eastern end of the reserve, where the forest climbs to around 1,000 metres and becomes cooler, mistier and closer in character to montane forest. Some birds and plants found here are hard to see at the lower gates, which is why birders often add a morning at Morningside to a stay at Kudawa. The final stretch of road is steep and rough, and after rain a four-wheel-drive vehicle is the safer choice. Facilities are basic, so bring water and food with you.

Pitadeniya (South-East)

Pitadeniya, reached from Deniyaya by way of the Mederipitiya bridge, is the southern entrance most visitors use and the one many drivers and tour operators simply call the Deniyaya entrance. It has a Forest Department conservation centre, with a hanging bridge close by. Vehicles are left at the car park and a four-wheel-drive shuttle takes walkers on to the start of the trails. From here guides lead walks to Kekuna Ella and Pathan Oya Ella, longer jeep days that link several more falls such as Duwili Ella, and a full-day trek to Lion Rock, an outcrop with an open view over the canopy.

Kurulugala (South-East)

Kurulugala is the newest of the entrances and the closest to Deniyaya, reached through Viharahena on the south-eastern edge of the forest. It takes its name, which means "bird rock", from Kurulugala peak, which rises about 10 km to the north towards the Rakwana hills. The entrance area lies at roughly 1,000 metres, with views south over the lowlands. The emphasis here is on birdwatching and butterflies, and because it is less developed and less visited than Pitadeniya, the trails tend to be quiet.

Lankagama (South)

Lankagama is a village on the southern boundary of the forest, reached by a mountain road from the Deniyaya and Neluwa side. It is especially popular with Sri Lankan visitors because several waterfalls lie within easy walking distance, among them Kekuna Ella, about 2.5 km from the village, with Pathan Oya Ella a little further upstream. The streams here feed the Gin Ganga, and the pools below the falls are a favourite place to cool off after a humid walk. The road towards Lion Rock has also been improved on this side in recent years.

Which Entrance Should You Choose?

• For endemic birds and mixed flocks: Kudawa, ideally with a morning at Morningside as well.
• For waterfalls and bathing pools: Pitadeniya or Lankagama.
• For a quiet walk away from the crowds: Kurulugala, or Kudawa on a weekday.
• Coming from Colombo: Kudawa is the most direct. Coming from Galle, Mirissa or the south coast: use one of the southern entrances.
• For a first visit with the simplest logistics: Pitadeniya, where the shuttle, the conservation centre and the best-trodden trails are all in one place.

Before You Go

• A licensed guide is required. Visitors are not allowed into the reserve on their own. Guides are available at the entrances, and it is worth arranging one in advance at busy times.
• Tickets are bought at the Forest Department office at the entrance you use. Fees and opening times change, so check them before you set out.
• Start early. Birds are most active in the first hours after dawn, and afternoon showers are common all year.
• Expect leeches, especially after rain. Leech socks, long trousers and closed shoes make a real difference.
• It rains in every season. Sinharaja catches both monsoons, and the drier spells, usually from January to early April and again around August and September, are the most comfortable time to walk.
• Do not plan to cross the forest. Moving from a northern entrance to a southern one means driving all the way around the reserve, which takes most of a day.

For more on the birds you can hope to see, read birdwatching at Sinharaja Rainforest. Lakpura runs guided walks, birdwatching treks and waterfall tours from the Deniyaya side of the reserve, with guide, entrance fee and leech socks arranged for you.