Sunday 15th February 2026

Ravanna Waterfall : Buduruwagala Rock Carvings : Tissamaharma Raja Maha Viharaya : Yala National Park

Today our programme started at 8 am, and, an hour later, we stopped at the Ravanna Waterfall for a quick photograph.

The waterfall is pretty and surrounded by dense greenery.

Danesh pointed out a few black-faced monkeys.

Around 30 kilometres away are the Buduruwagala Rock Carvings.

The seven colossal Mayhayana Buddhist rock carvings, which were carved directly into the cliff face, date back to the 9th or 10th century AD.

 

 

 

 

 

The name Buduruwagala translates as the Rock of Buddhist Scriptures. The site is another rock-carved wonder!

Danesh knew how much we all enjoyed visiting temples and seeing the country’s architecture, so when we passed a huge stupa, he asked if we wished to stop.

The large white stupa (also known as a chatiya in Sri Lanka) belongs to the Tissamaharma Raja Maha Viharaya, an ancient Buddhist temple that dates back to the 3rd century.  It is said that a lower left tooth relic and forehead bone of Buddha are enshrined in the huge stupa, which measures 186 feet high and 550 feet in circumference.

 

 

 

 

 

As I was circumnavigating the huge stupa, I noticed a shrine opposite, where people were going inside. I decided to follow. As I entered, a priest welcomed me and placed a few flower heads in my hands for me to place on the altar. As I did this, I simultaneously popped a donation into the waiting box.

The priest immediately dipped two of his fingers into a small bowl of oil and pressed them quite hard into the crown of my head while reciting a blessing. He  then gave me a high five. Outside the shrine/temple was a statue of Ganesh, the Hindu elephant god, which quite surprised me.

Danesh explained to me that while the religious site is predominantly Buddhism, it also incorporates a little Hinduism too.  For many years in Sri Lanka, the two religions have been intertwined.

Close to our hotel, we drove alongside a canal where many cars, vans and even a couple of coaches were parked.  Many folks of all ages were in the water.  Some of the females were shampooing their hair, and we guessed that it must be the weekly bath and swim time.

The hotel is situated just 40 minutes from Yala National Park.  After checking in, we were advised to meet again at 1.30 pm for our game drive.

The Yala National Park covers an area of almost 380 square miles, as a comparison, the Serengeti National Park covers approximately 5,700 square miles.

Yala is home to the world’s biggest population of leopards per square mile.  If we see one, it will be the Sri Lankan subspecies of leopard, which is native to Sri Lanka. The subspecies is smaller than the African leopard.

Yala became a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and a national park in 1938.  Sadly, throughout the British colonial years, the park was used as a hunting ground by the British.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The elephants were fantastic.  At one point, a baby and its mother came within touching distance to drink water from a puddle.  I think both Anne and I held our breath, both in apprehension and awe.

A few minutes later, more jeeps arrived, just as more elephants appeared with four babies. Our brilliant driver/spotter informed us that the youngest was approximately 2 months old. The baby had wandered a few meters from its mother, and suddenly it realised this, and it appeared to be overwhelmed. It turned and ran to the group of elephants. Three large elephants immediately surrounded it, reassuring and protecting it.

It was so wonderful to see, as the baby elephant wasn’t really running as such, but it was trotting and wobbling from side to side, slightly off balance, as a toddler does when hurrying.

I must say that the jeeps don’t appear to bother the animals at all. The huge mammals come close to the vehicles especially if they see water.  The elephants take between 6 and 9 litres of water each time they put their trunk in water.

 

 

 

 

 

Funnily enough, the creature that we saw the most of were peacocks. When Danesh first shouted “Peacock”, Dave and I both responded by saying “Oh no!”

This is because our neighbours keep a couple of peacocks, and their noisy honking, which intensifies during the mating season, often disturbs our sleep.

 

 

Yala has wetlands, water holes, flat open grasslands, scrublands, forests and  lakes.   Around 20% of the park borders the Indian Ocean, and the salt marshes situated there create a perfect environment to attract both water birds and migratory birds.

 

 

 

 

 

Over two hundred species of birds have been recorded in Yala. We spotted various herons and storks and, of course, numerous birds that we couldn’t name.

At one point, we saw an impressive looking dove and Anne said “I wonder what that is?” “It is a Pink Speckled Sri Lankan Dove” I replied.  “Are you making that up” she asked. “Yes” I admitted. But it was pink, and speckled, and a dove and lived in Sri Lanka; it made us all laugh anyway

 

 

 

 

 

Although we didn’t see the elusive leopard, we did have a fabulous four hour safari. Our young driver was absolutely incredible, he spotted an eagles nest, a hare, herds of water buffalo, antelopes and spotted-deer all at quite a distance away.

He also got us up close to whatever creature there was to see, as Anne said “he claimed his space”.  A couple of times we were in a traffic jam, and the jeep was leaning at 45 degrees, it was scary but fun!

As I said earlier, the animals really didn’t appear to be concerned about the vehicles, we watched three or four animals simply walk through the row of vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was just before 7 pm when we were nearing the hotel. There were many more people at the canal and also some food stalls. Groups of people were sat here and there on blankets eating.  Others had lit small fires and were cooking.

There were lots of smiley faces and people were enjoying their day of rest.

The four of us felt exhilarated as we arrived back at the hotel after the amazing game drive.  After ordering some ice-cold beers and a lime & soda for our teetotal driver, we all discussed the itinerary for tomorrow.

Later, it was dinner and bed, we have an 8.15am start in the morning.

It has been an absolutely brilliant day!

 

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