Sinharaja Rainforest ReserveSinharaja rain forest reserve the best kept secret in Asia, is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rain forests in Sri Lanka. Beautiful Streams, springs, rivers, waterfalls, leopard, monkeys, butterflies and moths, ra re trees, valuable shrubs and medicinal herbs are all found within its green canopy. A trek along the sinharaja paths would provide nature entusiast a never to be forgotten experience of sights and sounds and feelings. This rain forest covers an extent of about 11187 hectares from east to west of Sri Lanka. The length of the ain forest is about 21km and width from North to South is about 3.7km. It was declared a National wilderness area in 1988 and lately a world heritage site in 1989. Sinharaja is one of the few virgin forests left in the world, The forest has series of mountains and ridges rising abruptly from 90m to 1170m above mean sea level. Situated in Ratnapura, Galle and Matara districts in the interior wet zone of the south west of the island. The average annual temperature of Sinharaja is 23.6 C. Rainfall figures show values Sinharaja Red-faced Malkoharanging from 3,700 to 5,000 in and around the Sinharaja forest. The Sinharaja area consists a series of ridges and valleys.There are several mountain peaks in the eastern side of the Forest Reserve. Mountain Peaks Hinipitigala Peak - 1,171 m Dotugala Peak - 769 m Mulawella Peak - 760 m Kosgulana 797 m Hinipitigala West 1170 m Tibbotagala 904 mKohilarambe 757 m Pathinigala 605 m Sinhagala 742 m Rivers Koskulana Ganga Maha Ganga Kudawa Ganga Maha Dola Pitakele Ganga Gin Ganga Kalukandawa Gin Ganga Napala Dola Aranuwa Dola Average height of the trees varies between 35m – 40m. some individuals rise even up to 50m. Out of the 211 woody trees so far identified within the reserve 139 (66%) are endemic. Similarly, high levels of endemism are perhaps true for the lower plants like ferns, epiphytes as well. Out of 25 general endemic to Sri Lanka 13 are represent in Sinharaja forest. Most of the plants have a disjunct distribution and high species endemism. The forest is multi layered which is a characteristic to the rainforest and Mesua – Shorea community and Dipteracarpus community, dominates the vegetation. The forest also sheltered the large varieties of wild orchids, epiphytes and lianas as well. Studies on the fauna of Sinharaja have revealed that there is a high degree of endemism among the butterflies, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are greater than 50%.The most common deer species is the Sambhur, The Monk deer and Barking deer are also found within the reserve. Among the snakes the green Pit Viper and Hump-nosed Viper are commonly found in this forest and are endemic to Sri Lanka.The amphibians are fairly well represented in the reserve and nine endemic species have been identified. Bird life includes Ceylon Spurfowl, Ceylon Junglefowl, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Layard's Parakeet, Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Ceylon Small Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, Spotted-winged Thrush, Brown-capped Babbler, Orange-billed Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughing-Thrush, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon White-headed Starling, Ceylon Hill Munia, Ceylon Hill Myna, Malabar Trogon, Black Bulbul, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Green Imperial Pigeon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Yellow-browned Bulbul.