rom Colombo this forest can be reached using the following route.

Colombo – Nugegoda – Piliyandala – Horana – 4 km from Horana junction look out for a board stating “Dombagaskanda forest Hermitage (Aranyaya)” Follow the boards to the forest. (1 ½ hours)

 

INGIRIYA/BODINAGALA FOREST RESERVE (DOMBAGASKANDA)

This is protected as a Forest Reserve which comes under the purview of the Forest Department and is 449 hectares in extent. This is a forest within which a Buddhist place of worship is located where priests engage in meditation. Observing silence & respecting the requirements of the temple is of paramount importance. This forest is threatened by human encroachments all around. However one is able to walk for about 1 ½ km inside the forest and also ascend a small hillock from where the surrounding forest canopy can be observed. There are well defined paths to walk as well as cement steps to climb the hillock. Even though not as rich as some of the large forests reserves in terms of the diversity of birds this location is popular with the Colombo birders due to its proximity to the city.

 

Birds to look for

Green-billed Coucal, Ceylon Trogon, Ceylon Crested Drongo, Indian Three-toed Kingfisher, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Black Capped,  Yellow Browed & Black Bulbuls, Legge’s Flowerpecker, Black Naped Flycatcher, Large-billed & Green Leaf Warblers, Ceylon & Green Imperial Pigeons, Brown capped & Black Fronted Babblers and many more.

http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/