A Visit to Galway’s Land National Park
One of the youngest (2006) and smallest (27 hectares) national parks in Sri Lanka, Galway’s Land National Park is a patch of dense montane forest in the middle of Nuwara Eliya town, just a 3km drive from Lake Gregory. The Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938 but was upgraded to national park status in 2006 to conserve its montane ecosystem – high altitude forests that thrive in cool, temperate climates.
The walking trail is just 2km long and generally flat, so this should be considered as more of a wellness walk rather than a hike. On the walk, you can observe many spectacular and bizarre trees towering high above. In addition, the Park is a well-known site for bird watching, home to 15 migrant birds and 30 native species, some of which are endemic to Sri Lanka. You may also see – but more often hear – buffalo, wild boar, barking deer and other mammals hiding in the thick shrubs. Guides are available at the entrance to help in navigating the park, though it is not necessary.
