Bodhinagala Sanctuary - birdwatching near Ingiriya
Bodhinagala, also called Ingiriya Forest Reserve, is a is a secondary lowland rain forest patch in Kalutara District, in 30 km distance from the West Coast. The Bodhinagala Forest is located to the south-west of Ingiriya town. The reserve covers a slightly hilly area of 20 hectares, stretching between the Panadura-Ratnapura mainroad A8 and the Kalu Ganga, one of Sri Lanka’s largest rivers, which is untouched and quite idyllic in this region.
Right in the centre of Bodhinagala Reserve is a meditation centre named “Bodhinagala Aranya senasanaya”. Due to new signboards, it’s easy to find the way to the forest monastery. There are about 20-25 monks living in the caves situated in Bodhinagala tropical rain forest. Paved routes are created as meditation paths for the Buddhists monks living here. There are restricted visiting hours, in order to leave them undisturbed in this calm area.
The forest reserve consists of two hills near the river. The slopes are rich in medicinal herbs and other typical wet zone plants. Many species of butterflies can be seen here, including the Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernardus). Endemic mammal species are Sri Lanka’s monkeys, the Purple-faced Langur (Trachypithecus vetulus) and Toque Macaques (Macaca sinica), and the Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura), one of the three subspecies of which is also native in Southern India.
The avifauna of Bodhinagala, which is home to 151 recorded bird species, is significant as one of the best sites to spot the Green-Billed Coucal (Centropus chlororhynchos), one of Sri Lanka’s rarest endemic bird species. Other endemic birds occuring in Bodhinagala are Black-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus), Ceylon Spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata), Yellow-fronted Barbet (Psilopogon flavifrons), Ceylon Small Barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus), Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot (Loriculus beryllinus), Layard’s Parakeet (Psittacula calthrapae), Sri Lanka drongo (Dicrurus lophorinus), Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis), and Spot-winged Thrush (Geokichla spiloptera). Endemics to South Asia occuring in Bodhinagala are the Ceylon Frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger), Dark-fronted Babbler (Rhopocichla atriceps), and the Malabar Trogon (Harpactes fasciatus). Common birds are Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica), Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus), and Black-napped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea).
Right in the centre of Bodhinagala Reserve is a meditation centre named “Bodhinagala Aranya senasanaya”. Due to new signboards, it’s easy to find the way to the forest monastery. There are about 20-25 monks living in the caves situated in Bodhinagala tropical rain forest. Paved routes are created as meditation paths for the Buddhists monks living here. There are restricted visiting hours, in order to leave them undisturbed in this calm area.
The forest reserve consists of two hills near the river. The slopes are rich in medicinal herbs and other typical wet zone plants. Many species of butterflies can be seen here, including the Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernardus). Endemic mammal species are Sri Lanka’s monkeys, the Purple-faced Langur (Trachypithecus vetulus) and Toque Macaques (Macaca sinica), and the Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura), one of the three subspecies of which is also native in Southern India.
The avifauna of Bodhinagala, which is home to 151 recorded bird species, is significant as one of the best sites to spot the Green-Billed Coucal (Centropus chlororhynchos), one of Sri Lanka’s rarest endemic bird species. Other endemic birds occuring in Bodhinagala are Black-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus), Ceylon Spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata), Yellow-fronted Barbet (Psilopogon flavifrons), Ceylon Small Barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus), Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot (Loriculus beryllinus), Layard’s Parakeet (Psittacula calthrapae), Sri Lanka drongo (Dicrurus lophorinus), Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis), and Spot-winged Thrush (Geokichla spiloptera). Endemics to South Asia occuring in Bodhinagala are the Ceylon Frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger), Dark-fronted Babbler (Rhopocichla atriceps), and the Malabar Trogon (Harpactes fasciatus). Common birds are Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica), Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus), and Black-napped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea).
