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Photo ofUGA | Ulagalla Experience | Walk | Birds and Nature Walk

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UGA Escapes Trails and Experiences

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Trail stats

Distance: 1.33 mi
Elevation gain: 3 ft
Technical difficulty: Easy
Elevation loss: 3 ft
Max elevation: 404 ft
TrailRank: 33
Min elevation: 377 ft
Trail type: Loop

Time: 25 minutes
Coordinates: 204
Uploaded: November 18, 2020
Recorded: November 2020

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near Galkiriyagama, North Central (Sri Lanka)

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Itinerary description

Rise to the dawn chorus and discover your new home on a leisurely 90-minute nature walk through Ulagalla's lush grounds and atop the kumbuk-fringed bunds of Ulagalla Lake and Wannamaduwa Tank. Over 100 different bird species reside here, along with a variety of mammals and reptiles, and the waterways are festooned with lotus and lillies. We're likely to meet some of our local villagers, so expect to greet fishermen and bathers as you go.

Waypoints

Wannammaduwa Tank

The Wannammaduiwa Tank is our largest neighbouring waterhole, and is thought to date back to the time of King Mahasena, and the Anuradhapura era, in the third century AD. The tank extends some 100 acres and is usually beautifully festooned with water lilies and lotus flowers in whites, pinks and purples. Edging the tank, and dominant in this area, are stands of kumbuk – water loving trees that are often found in dry regions of the island.

Ulagalla Lake

Unlike Wannammaduwa, Ulagalla is a natural rain-fed lake. It is the second waterbody in our village and together with Wannammaduwa, it is of vital importance in irrigating our paddy fields and those of our neighbours, and in providing a source of water for the community. Access to this water is tightly controlled. Only after the Village Chieftain gives his approval may the water channels be opened to enable irrigation of the local farmland.

Ulagalla's Solar Energy

Sustainability is a keystone of the Uga Resorts brand. Ulagalla has its own solar energy plant which can produce around 450-500KW of power – not quite enough for supporting the whole resort though it is a substantial leap in the right direction. We also have our own sewage treatment plant and a river osmosis plant, all of which is situated in this area. Near the solar energy plant is our stables, and you may see some of our resident horses/ponies poking their heads out and greeting you as we wander by.

Main Wallawwa

The meeting point for our walk is outside our Main Wallawwa, a 150-year-old heritage building within the resort where everything began. This former manor house was once the home of the village chieftain, and gracefully surveys our 58-acre grounds. You may have noticed the cheeky troupes of grey langur and toque macaque monkeys that reside within our gardens, as well as the rich birdlife, and as you stand on the threshold of this historic building, you may well glimpse sight of them. We have discovered more than 100 species of birds in and around our resort and we hope you'll see a good variety of these on our walk.

Lake Flowers

For most of the year you can see exotic flowers on our lakes. Two main species predominate - water lilies and lotus. The pale blue water lily, or nil manel flower, is Sri Lanka's national flower. It is believed to symbolise virtue, purity and discipline. Lilies also come in shades of fuscia, purple and white, and have a star-like appearance. The flowers bloom in the daytime and the leaves at the surface of the water are round and green with undulating edges. You may see frogs resting on these leaves, or vibrant dragonflies hovering in wait. Lotus prefer shallower water and their flowers may also appear pink, white and purple.

Lake Fishing

Fish is a firm staple in the Sri Lankan diet. Most fish consumed on the island comes from the ocean though freshwater fish is the mainstay in rural, inland regions such as ours. In our neighbouring lakes, you're very likely to see village fishermen. They fish with a line but may often be seen casting nets in the evening and then returning the next morning to draw them in. Fishermen then sell their catch to local vendors who hawk their produce from the back of bicycles or motorbikes equipped with weighing scales, loudly calling out ‘marlu’ (which means fish), as they scoot up and down lanes. The Mozambique Tilapia – a fish species native to Africa that was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 1950s to boost freshwater fish stocks – is the mainstay of most local diets and used to make curries. Other fish found in these lakes include catfish, golden carp and eel.

Jungle Birdlife

Within our resort and our local surroundings we've discovered over 100 bird species. Those living amidst a canopy of coconut and palmyrah palms, fig trees and kumbuk include the Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, the Black-headed Oriole and the Brown Fish Owl. Some of the local endemics to look out for include the Grey Hornbill and the Ceylon Jungle Fowl.

Aquatic Birdlife

Our neighbouring lakes attract a rich variety of water birds. These include herons, storks, egrets, grebes, cormorants, swamp hens, water hens, coots, pelicans and kingfishers (including the Stork-billed Kingfisher, the largest of Sri Lanka's seven kingfisher varieties).

Village Bathing Location

Sri Lankans across the country often use irrigation canals, rivers and lakes as a free source of bathing water. The Wannammaduwa Tank is a popular (and picturesque) bathing place. Towards the end of the day villagers converge to wash in the cool waters. Some may have bathing facilities at home, but given that water supplies in rural areas such as ours can sometimes be intermittent or unreliable, they may prefer bathing in the lake.

Reptiles

Within the resort and throughout our walk there's always a good chance of seeing a monitor lizard. These are the largest lizards we have in Sri Lanka and their appearance is decidedly prehistoric. There are two varieties – land (thalagoya) and water (kabaragoya). Water Monitors are larger (not dissimilar to a small crocodile), and built for the water – the largest water monitor ever recorded was in Sri Lanka, and registered over three metres long. Other reptiles we might come across include the Soft Shell Tortoise, the Black Shell Tortoise and the Common Garden Lizard. Our grounds are also home to Rat Snakes – harmless grey/black snakes which feast on little creatures and are natural pest controllers.

Paddy Cultivation

We cultivate just under 10 acres of rice here at Ulagalla. The rice paddies have created their own ecosystem where we may see snakes, monitor lizards, peacocks, storks, ibis, orioles and other birds attracted to the area depending on the time of year. Nocturnal species occasionally spotted include the Indian Scops Owl and the Brown Fish Owl.

Variety of Trees

We are fortunate to have such a beautiful variety of trees within our resort. The mature, elegantly shaped rain trees deserve a special mention, and their canopy provides welcome shade. Others include kumbuk, found near the waterways, and mee trees which are believed to be of medicinal significance in the island's traditional healing system of Ayurveda.

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