While travellers often head to Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle to visit sites like Sigiriya, they may miss the enchanting city of Habarana which as you shall see, has much to offer as well!
Habarana Lake
Amongst the main attractions is the idyllic Habarana Lake, a haven for flora and fauna. The great thing is, hotels like Habarana Village by Cinnamon lie right along the banks, perfect to enjoy the many highlights of the lake environs be it endemic and migratory birds or diverse butterflies; you may see elephants in the lake too!
Local Villages
The local villages give you a chance to observe and experience a more traditional way of life in Sri Lanka; resort or hotel properties even organise special excursions to such villages; here, you can observe local livelihood, interact with villagers, go on a catamaran with a fisherman and even enjoy a bullock cart ride.
Hurulu Forest Reserve
One of the best things to do in Habarana for nature lovers is to go on a safari to the Hurulu Forest Reserve. This important habitat is also a biosphere reserve and, on your visit, you can look forward to seeing elephants, tufted grey langurs, Sri Lankan junglefowl, spotted deer and crested serpent eagles.
Minneriya National Park
Only around a ten-minute drive from Habarana is the Minneriya National Park which offers even more wildlife safari thrills. The highlight here is undoubtedly the chance to witness “The Gathering”; during the dry season, between July and October, you can see hundreds of elephants around the park’s tank!
