Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park (මිනේරිය) lies in the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, between Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. At its centre is the Minneriya Tank, an ancient reservoir built under King Mahasena in the third century, whose grassy shores attract one of the largest gatherings of Asian elephants anywhere.

During the dry season, as the water recedes, fresh grass grows on the exposed lake bed and elephants come from the surrounding forests to feed and drink. On some afternoons, herds of a hundred or more animals, including many calves, gather on the plains, a spectacle known simply as The Gathering. Spotted and sambar deer, toque macaques, crocodiles and a wealth of water birds, including painted storks and pelicans, complete the picture. Show more

The park shows how closely nature and Sri Lanka's ancient irrigation works are linked, as the reservoirs built by early kings still sustain both farms and wildlife. When the elephants move, guides often switch to neighbouring Kaudulla National Park or the Hurulu Eco Park, depending on where the herds are. The nearby village of Habarana, the lake at Giritale and the ancient sites of Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla make the area a natural base.

Minneriya is reached from Habarana or Sigiriya, and afternoon jeep safaris are usual. The Gathering is best from about July to October, at the height of the dry season. Herd movements vary, so flexible plans help.