Wilpaththu National Park, the largest and one of the oldest national parks in Sri Lanka, is celebrated for its unique natural lakes, or “willus,” which serve as habitats for a variety of wildlife including leopards, sloth bears, and elephants. Spanning over 131,000 hectares from the North Western coast to the North Central province, the park features lakes amidst grassy plains and scrub jungle. Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1905, it attracts visitors with its diverse species, both common and rare. Wilpattu also holds historical significance as the site where Prince Vijaya is said to have arrived from East India in 543 BC. 165 kilometers distance from Colombo