Sri Lanka · national park
Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe National Park is a national park in Sri Lanka, established in 1972, covering 308 km² (119 sq mi). It is the #9 largest of Sri Lanka's 26 national parks.
- Area
- 308 km²
- Established
- 1972
- IUCN
- II: National Park
- Nearest airport
- HRI · 31 km
Nearest airports to Udawalawe National Park
- 1 HRI31 kmstraight line
- 2 KCT80 kmstraight line
- 3 RML119 kmstraight line
More about Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe National Park is one of 26 national parks in Sri Lanka. It covers 308 km² (30,821 ha) — about 2.9 times the size of Paris, making it the #9 largest national park in Sri Lanka (3.5% of the country's national park area).
History and protection
The park was established in 1972, 54 years ago — the first national parks in Sri Lanka date back to 1937. It is listed in IUCN category II: National Park — protecting whole ecosystems while welcoming visitors for recreation and education.
Visiting Udawalawe National Park
The closest airport is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), about 31 km away — around 41 minutes by car; alternatively Koggala Airport (KCT, 80 km). Other national parks within reach include Lunugamvehera National Park (235 km²), Ussangoda (3 km²), Horton Plains National Park (32 km²) and Bundala National Park (62 km²) — easy to combine on one trip.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Udawalawe National Park?
When was Udawalawe National Park established?
What is the nearest airport to Udawalawe National Park?
What protection category is Udawalawe National Park?
Data: Wikidata (CC0), English Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.