Solo Explorer: Deniyaya, Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

Deniyaya

Deniyaya, Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

Deniyaya is a small town located towards the South of Sri Lanka & it's also an isolated tourist destination of Sri Lanka. It is located in Matara District of the Southern Province. The city sits over 389M (1276ft) feet above sea level. The entire region is a mountainous area located near the central mountain range in the direction to the south-west of Deniyaya in the Rakwana-Bulutota pass & It's surrounded by the Sinharaja Rainforest where the climate is also relatively cool. The main source of income and livelihood here is tea cultivation. However, people are also engaged in vegetable cultivation.

The villagers say the meaning of "Deniyaya" in Sinhalese is, 'Deniya' which is similar meaning of 'Jungle' & 'yaya' mean 'large tract'. The place was named 'Deniya-Yaya' then it eventually became a 'Deniyaya'.

How to reach Deniyaya

It is situated 195 km (121mi) away from Colombo, Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, No railway line is available to Deniyaya, if you wish to travel Deniyaya by train, then you have to get-down at the Galle train station & then you have to catch a Galle- Deniyaya Bus or you can also hire a vehicle.

If you are planning to travel Deniyaya then you can have few options, you can travel via Colombo-Galle main road (A2 Road) to Galle then you have to take Galle - Deniyaya Road (A17 Road) to reach Deniyaya or You can use southern expressway till Imaduwa, from there exit at Imaduwa exit & take Galle - Deniyaya Road (A17 Road) to reach Deniyaya. Another famous & sceneric way is via Mathugama & Neluwa Road till Morawaka town, then you have to take Galle - Deniyaya Road (A17 Road). The last option is via Rathnapura & Rakwana Road this road also sceneric and very narrow road. In between Rakwana town to Suriyakanda you have to pass the 10U bends on this road.

Climate

Deniyaya has a tropical rainforest climate prevailing & it's usually warm, humid & rainy throughout the year. Its average maximum temperature is around 30 °C (86 °F) & the average minimum temperature is around 20 °C (68 °F). In a year the average rainfall is about 2000 mm in Deniyaya.

The Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve

The Sinharaja Rainforest reserve, Pitadeniya entrance is situated on 16km (10mi) away from Deniyaya city. The Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a forest reserve and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The reserve's name translates as Lion Kingdom. The reserve is covered with a surface area around 88.64 km² (8864 Hectare) & is only 21 km (13mi) from east to west, alongside a maximum of 7 km (4.3mi) from north to south but it is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The Sinharaja Rainforest constitute the southern Provinces' most important catchment area of almost all major rivers.

Birds tend to move in mixed feeding flocks, invariably led by the fearless Sri Lanka Crested Drongo and the noisy orange-billed Babbler. Out of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds, 20 rainforest species occur here, including the elusive red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal & Sri Lanka blue magpie. Reptiles include the endemic green pit viper and hump-nosed Vipers and there are a large variety of amphibians especially tree frogs. Invertebrates include the endemic with common birdwing butterfly and leeches.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Sinharaja is the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988.

Things to do in Deniyaya

Ø Sinharaja Rainforest Tour - If you are in Deniyaya don't forget to visit Sinharaja Rainforest. Pitadeniya entrance is the closest entrance to Deniyaya town. When you enter to the reserve you can see the site map, then you can choose which place you will visit. In most cases, you can see wild animals, birds & butterflies during your trekking & before you exit don't forget to take a freshwater bath on a safe place. You can get free fish therapy while you are bathing it's feeling really amazing.

Ø Getabaruwa Temple - Gatabaruwa Temple is located on a summit of the Gatabaru Mountain at an elevation of 457M (1500ft) above the sea level in the village of Katapola in between Galle - Deniyaya (A17) main road, to reach the temple you have to go to the summit of the mountain. The villagers believe that the temple has mystical power and one who earnestly worship in the temple, many things can become true.

Ø Patna Sliding Rock - The villagers known as "Burus Gala" the English meaning 'Burus Gala is 'Sliding rock'. This location recently becomes very famous with the impact of social media. The river flows over a number of wide rocks with gentle slopes and at the end of each rock lies a shallow pool. Due to the gentle water flow over the smooth rock surface number of natural water slides are created on the rock.

Ø Samangala Temple - This is a quite isolating place in Deniyaya, a number of visitors are coming to Patna sliding rock but very few visitors at Samangala temple and samangala viewpoint. In this place, you can see the mesmerizing & greenery of the Deniyaya Mountain range.

Ø Gongala Mountain Hike - Gongala mountain is situated in the Rathnapura District of Sri Lanka but it's very close to the Deniyaya town. At a summit elevation of 1358M (4455ft). It takes approximately 2 hours to reach the summit. At the summit, you can see the 360° view of the Gongala Mountain range.

Places to see in Deniyaya

· Sinharaja Rainforest

· Patna Sliding Rock

· Samangala Buddhist Temple

· Gatabaruwa Buddhist Temple

· Seven stages waterfalls (Sathmale Waterfalls)

· Gongala Mountain