Giritale is a small city at the ancient tank of the same name. Giritale has become a favourite base for excursions to Polonnaruwa World Heritage Site 12 km to the southeast and Minneriya National Park 15 km to the northwest. Medirigiriya is 23 km to the north. Several stylish and eco-friendly hotels such as Deer Park and Giritale Hotel are situated in Giritale. The reservoir is part of the Minneriya-Giritale Nature Reserve, which is an important bird habitat in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s north-central plains.