Treasure island: Sri Lanka’s Pigeon Island National Park- The New Indian Express

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Pigeon Island Nationwide Park with its white powdery seashores on the east coast of Sri Lanka is an aquaphile’s dream. Snorkellers are drawn to the splendour of its ocean’s residents—shy reef sharks, endangered turtles, bright-coloured fish akin to lionfish, raggedfin parrotfish, humphead wrasse, blue-ringed angelfish, cornet fish, boxfish, surgeonfish, eels, butterfly fish, squids, octopus, or the smooth corals akin to sinularia, lobophyton and sarcophyton.

Greatest visited between March and October, and located one km from the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal city within the Trincomalee District, the island is called after the endangered rock pigeons of the area. Declared a sanctuary in 1963 to guard them, it was introduced a nationwide park in 2003 to incorporate the coral reefs. It’s Sri Lanka’s Seventeenth nationwide park, and one in every of its two marine nationwide parks; Hikkaduwa is the second. The island itself contains two smaller ones specifically massive and small Pigeon Islands.

Although there’s scuba diving, windsurfing, swimming and fishing, snorkelling is the most well-liked exercise. The reefs are shallow—one to seven toes—and protected for novices. A deep calmness takes over as they float over the water in silence. After which, marine life opens like vibrant surprises. 

Hold an eye fixed out for the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle with its slender, pointed beak. It’s harvested for its prized shell that’s made into ornaments. 

In the event you’re fortunate, the elusive black-tip reef shark will make an look earlier than you.If snorkelling isn’t your factor, different sights beckon; a visit to the Koneswaram temple is one in every of them. A 40-minute drive from the island, the Seventeenth-century hill-top Shiva temple provides panoramic views of the island. Believed to 
be one of many Panch Ishwarams or the 5 abodes of Shiva, there are caves beneath it, relationship to the Sangam Interval. To not be missed are the Kanniya Sizzling Springs—seven wells with various temperatures, the waters of that are thought of therapeutic. Locals consider King Ravana created them for his mom to wash in. Prepared to take a dip into historical past?

<br /> Pigeon Island Nationwide Park with its white powdery seashores on the east coast of Sri Lanka is an aquaphile’s dream. Snorkellers are drawn to the splendour of its ocean’s residents—shy reef sharks, endangered turtles, bright-coloured fish akin to lionfish, raggedfin parrotfish, humphead wrasse, blue-ringed angelfish, cornet fish, boxfish, surgeonfish, eels, butterfly fish, squids, octopus, or the smooth corals akin to sinularia, lobophyton and sarcophyton.</p> <p>Greatest visited between March and October, and located one km from the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal city within the Trincomalee District, the island is called after the endangered rock pigeons of the area. Declared a sanctuary in 1963 to guard them, it was introduced a nationwide park in 2003 to incorporate the coral reefs. It’s Sri Lanka’s Seventeenth nationwide park, and one in every of its two marine nationwide parks; Hikkaduwa is the second. The island itself contains two smaller ones specifically massive and small Pigeon Islands.</p> <p>Signage on the island</p> <p>Although there’s scuba diving, windsurfing, swimming and fishing, snorkelling is the most well-liked exercise. The reefs are shallow—one to seven toes—and protected for novices. A deep calmness takes over as they float over the water in silence. After which, marine life opens like vibrant surprises. googletag.cmd.push(operate() {googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });</p> <p>Hold an eye fixed out for the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle with its slender, pointed beak. It’s harvested for its prized shell that’s made into ornaments. </p> <p>In the event you’re fortunate, the elusive black-tip reef shark will make an look earlier than you.If snorkelling isn’t your factor, different sights beckon; a visit to the Koneswaram temple is one in every of them. A 40-minute drive from the island, the Seventeenth-century hill-top Shiva temple provides panoramic views of the island. Believed to <br /> be one of many Panch Ishwarams or the 5 abodes of Shiva, there are caves beneath it, relationship to the Sangam Interval. To not be missed are the Kanniya Sizzling Springs—seven wells with various temperatures, the waters of that are thought of therapeutic. Locals consider King Ravana created them for his mom to wash in. Prepared to take a dip into historical past?<br />