A Boat Excursion - Madhu River
Madhu River
Madu ganga, known in ancient text as Weliganga(sandy river) is located in the coastal town of Balapitiya and is considered the last remaining tract of pristine mangrove forest in Sri Lanka after Bentota. A virgin habitat constituting a coastal wetland mangrove ecosystem and the fact that it's bio-locked, meaning that it's protected from outside influence to its native aquatic plant & animals. It has a high ecological and biological significance, also on record for being home to over 300 plant species from 95 families and 250 plus vertebrate families. The main reason for the existence of Madu ganga is the tides of the area,
Madu ganga, known in ancient text as Weliganga(sandy river) is located in the coastal town of Balapitiya and is considered the last remaining tract of pristine mangrove forest in Sri Lanka after Bentota. A virgin habitat constituting a coastal wetland mangrove ecosystem and the fact that it's bio-locked, meaning that it's protected from outside influence to its native aquatic plant & animals. It has a high ecological and biological significance, also on record for being home to over 300 plant species from 95 families and 250 plus vertebrate families. The main reason for the existence of Madu ganga is the tides of the area,
Declared as a RAMSR world heritage virgin wetland in 2003 and acknowledged as the second largest wetland habitat in Sri Lanka, which is formed by five stream converging together forming "Maduganga". A canal approximately 02 kilometers long connects it to the ocean via the coastal resort town of Balapitiya in southwestern Sri Lanka.
A boat excursion is the best way to navigate and enjoy what's on offer at Madu ganaga, a stretch of lake with almost placid water dotted with many islets. The famed temple where the higher ordination was carried out on a barge in 1803 of the Buddhist Amarapura nikaya sect can be seen, along the famous Kothduwa monastery.
A rickety black-bridge serves the community in one of the larger islands of Maduganaga, the main livelihood of these inhabitants are peeling cinnamon and making cinnamon oil, while on excursion the sight of darting Brahmin kites and majestic swoops of the Sea eagles down on to the water is a site to behold. The town of Balapitiya, a 15 minute boat ride away is well known as a game fishing ground for the likes of Marlin, swordfish & shark, so test your angling prowess on a deep sea fishing trip with the experts who will show you where and how as needed.
