Kanneliya

Kanneliya Forest Reserve located in the Galle district is the largest of the KDN, or Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya, forest complex. Kanneliya is regarded as one of the most biologically diverse areas in the country . The biodiversity of Kanneliya is considered richer, even compared to the world heritage rain forest “sinharaja”. We found several endemic species in Kanneliya during our short visit. There were so many birds who are native to the area and were easily spotted during morning hours in the forest range. Kanneliya is rich in Herbal Plants which could be used to cure many illnesses.

Kanneliya has 02 main hiking trails and it has named according to the specialty of the area. Those are known as Kabbale Kanda Trail and Narangas Ella Trail. Kabbale Kanda trail has been identified as the difficult trail since the end of the trail, there is a mountain which has been identified as a difficult root to climb up.

Also there is a beautiful waterfall along with a  natural pool inside the forest range. The forest is rich with endemic plants, insects and animals.

Doona, Hora, Na, Hadawaka and there is a high proportion of endemic among the 234 identified woody tree species, with 141 being endemic to us. About 301 plant species are found. About 133 funnel species with 59 bird types. 14 amphibians with 32 butterfly species and 7 snakes with 10 mammals in addition to 7 fishes and 4 reptiles can be visit in Kanneliya forest reserve of Sri Lanka.

Also A total of 38 species of fishes, including 14 endemic forms, 20 fishes types out of them are endemic to Sri Lanka. Gin Ganga, Udugam Ela, Kanneliya Ela are most popular and suitable places to ground water fishes in Kanneliya forest reserve. Apacheilidae, Anguilidae, Belonidae, Channidae, Matacembelidae, Hetaropneustidae, Siluridae, Bagagridae and Gobilidae are most famous families of fishes.