| |
|
|
A flapping sea of black invades the emerald Minneriya Tank, as a flock of two thousand cormorants nosedive for fish. Later, elephants trudge by, drinking from the same reservoir.
You want to be present to witness it, and you can, a jeep safari from Deer Park Hotel takes you there in a jiffy.
Not nearly the largest tank in Sri Lanka, Minneriya Tank - with the woods that surround it forming the Minneriya-Giritale National Park - is nevertheless home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. If numbers interest you, there are nine species of amphibians, 24 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish (three of which are endangered), 75 species of butterflies and 160 species of birds.
Making your way through the park, you will see elephants, Spotted Deer and also the Sambar, which is a deer with no spots and an apt scientific name, cerves unicolor. If you're lucky (or for some, unlucky), a leopard looking for food might cross your path. Other creatures you may not care to meet include the Sloth Bear, Indian Python and the Mugger Crocodile, also known as Tank Crocodile.
Less menacing but equally intriguing are the frogs and lizards with their tongues at the ready. Among the reptiles, the Red-lipped Lizard and skink are both endemic to Sri Lanka as well as endangered. The frogs, on the other hand, are more abundantly present and have a tendency to jump over your feet or across your eyes between leaves. A notable example with a formidable but misleading title is the Sri Lanka Greater Hourglass Tree Frog.
It all sounds like there’s such a lot to see at the park. But overhead is where the action really is. Sri Lanka, home to over 400 species of birds, has long been a birdwatcher’s paradise. In Minneriya National Park alone, 160 species crowd the trees or strut the banks.
You can afford to miss the Painted Storks, Great White Pelican, Gray Herons, and even the Ruddy Turnstones (whatever those are). But do try to spot the Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Brown-capped Babbler and Sri Lanka Gray Hornbill, because, as you can guess from their names, nowhere else are you going to find them but here, in Sri Lanka.
Even if you’re not a bird enthusiast, at least you can boast about your trip later by throwing around some exotic bird-names. |
|
 KarmaWhatever you give, you receive in turn. Book between the 1st and 15th of March, and you'll get the value of your room to spend however you please. It's our own kind of karma. And it's valid for stays between 1st April to 30th June (all dates inclusive). Available exclusively by booking here.
This offer is bookable from 1 Mar 2010 to 15 Mar 2010, valid for stays from 1 Apr 2010 to 30 Jun 2010 (all dates inclusive).  Best Available RateEnjoy the best of what this intriguing destination has to offer with Deer Park Hotel�s Best Available Rate!
 Best Of AngsanaPutting together the ultimate getaway is hassle-free with the Best of Angsana. This two-night package is specially crafted to highlight the most stunning experience of Deer Park Hotel, with the inclusion of one signature dining experience for two, one deluxe spa treatment from Angsana Spa, daily breakfasts, and accommodation in an Angsana Cottage. |
 |
|
 View MapsSituated on the banks of the Giritale Reservoir within the district capital of Polonnaruwa, five hours by road from the capital, Colombo, and Bandaranaike International Airport.  AnuradhapuraThe first capital of Sri Lanka – and remaining so for 1,400 years – Anuradhapura was abandoned and swallowed by the dry-zone jungle two centuries after Vijayabahu I had retaken the country and retained the Cholas capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th Century.  DambullaAbout 12 miles from Sigiriya you’ll come to the Raja Maha Vihara, otherwise known as the Dambulla Cave Temple or Golden Temple. This is actually a series of five temples that finds its origin in the Anuradhapura period (1st Century B.C.)  KandyThe Hill Capital may be some distance from Deer Park Hotel, but what you can do is to stop by for half a day on your way back to Colombo for your flight home. As the last major capital of the Sinhala kings, Kandy is definitely a place not to be missed if you want your Sri Lanka trip to be complete.  Parakrama Samudra“Let not one drop of water reach the sea without first serving man.” These were the words of 12th Century King Parakramabahu I, who was responsible for one of the largest man-made reservoirs – the Parakrama Samudra, or Sea of King Parakrama. This astonishing tank is larger in size than even the Colo  PolonnaruwaAs early as the 7th Century, when Anuradhapura was still the capital, Sri Lankan kings had made Polonnaruwa their country retreat. With the Cholas’ conquest of Anuradhapura in the 11th Century, Polonnaruwa succeeded it as the capital and remained so for the next 200 years - even when Vijayabahu I ev  SigiriyaDesperation can also drive a man to greatness. It must have been a mixture of fear and guilt for having his own father slain and stealing the throne from right under his half brother's nose that motivated King Kasyapa to erect this magnificent fortress – 'Palace in the Sky' – in the 5th Century A.D.  Minneriya-Giritale National ParkA flapping sea of black invades the emerald Minneriya Tank, as a flock of two thousand cormorants nosedive for fish. Later, elephants trudge by, drinking from the same reservoir.  Wasgamuwa National ParkLong before wildlife conservation became fashionable, Sri Lanka already had areas of jungle marked out for conservation. One such case is that of the Wasgamuwa National Park, a portion of which was declared a Strict Nature Reserve as early as 1938.  Other National ParksSri Lanka is full of forests, and it is natural that as one of the pioneers of conservation the country contains more national parks, or nature reserves, than you have time to visit.  Sun & SeaAs the shimmering horizon disappears into the distant azure sky, tall gusts of waves surf towards the palm-fringed sandy beaches encircling Sri Lanka.  HistoryTaprobane, Serendib, Emerald Island and The Teardrop of India - Sri Lanka has earned many endearing monikers for its colorful past.  ReligionIt is worthy of note that an eyetooth remains the most significant religious symbol in Sri Lanka since Buddhism was first introduced to the Sinhalese in 250 B.C. This is no ordinary pointed conical tooth – it is believed to have belonged to Siddhartha Gautama, otherwise more popularly worshipped as  Tea & SpicesWhat does “The Hound of the Baskervilles” have to do with Ceylon tea? Read on.  WeatherSri Lanka is blessed with a tropical paradise climate. Most days are hot, humid and sunny with temperatures averaging between 27 ~ 31°C. A hat and sunscreen will be essential if you are planning to spend the day outdoors, whether romping around a hertitage site or lazing at the beach. |
|
|
