Description

The Minneriya National Park is found in the District of Polonnaruwa in the North Central Province. Minneriya tank, with its surroundings, plays a vital role as a wetland. Therefore it has high biodiversity.
The main entrance to the Park is Ambagaswewa, 8.8km from Habarana on the Colombo - Polonnaruwa route. Following receiving a permit from the Ambagaswewa wildlife conservation office, one could enter the Park.
Minneriya is an old irrigation tank with 22,550ha when complete and a catchment area of 24,000ha. The primary source of the river is from a deviation of the Amban Ganga forward the Elahera channel. The Park covers an area of 8,889ha. The altitude ranges from around 100m to 8,885m at the summit of the Nilgala peak. The situation is tropical monsoon climate; anticipated annual rainfall is about 1,146mm and means yearly temperature of 27.5 ° C.