Hiyare Rainforest Reserve
A rainforest reserve and reservoir close to Galle with a biodiversity centre and easy trails, a quiet spot for birdwatching and spotting endemic amphibians.
About 16 km from Galle, a reservoir built over a century ago to supply water to the city sits at the heart of one of the region's better kept secrets. Hiyare Reservoir was constructed using pure gravity flow engineering, an impressive feat for its time, and served Galle faithfully until 2002, when the Municipal Council deemed its increasingly stagnant water unfit for consumption and sought other sources instead. Rather than abandon the site, stewardship of the reservoir and its surrounding 600 acres of rainforest passed to the Municipal Council in 2003, since jointly managed, the Sri Lanka Forest Department overseeing the forest itself, the Wildlife Society of Galle caring for the reservoir and its Biodiversity Research Center.
That research center has become the site's real heart, running an Animal Rescue Programme that provides emergency medical and surgical care for injured wildlife, alongside a Biodiversity Breeding Centre focused specifically on endangered freshwater fish and amphibian species, bred here and eventually released back into their natural habitat. The surrounding forest itself holds real depth too, 118 bird species with 13 endemic, 33 freshwater fish with 13 endemic, 78 butterfly species, and 55 dragonfly species among them, sightings of the strikingly colored Sri Lankan blue magpie and green billed coucal drawing dedicated birdwatchers specifically to this reserve over other options nearby.
Swimming in the reservoir itself isn't permitted, its cone shaped depths run deep enough to be genuinely dangerous, but a dedicated viewing deck offers a peaceful spot to simply take in the emerald water and surrounding canopy. No food outlets operate on site, so packing your own snacks is essential, and late afternoon or early evening tends to deliver the calmest, most rewarding atmosphere, quiet enough that the whole place feels like a private discovery rather than a crowded tourist stop.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Entry fee applies
- Opening hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm
- Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Best time: Early morning for wildlife
Getting there
At Hiyare, about 18km inland from Galle.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Hiyare Rainforest Reserve?
- Entry fee applies.
- What are the opening hours at Hiyare Rainforest Reserve?
- 8:00am to 5:00pm.
- How long should I spend at Hiyare Rainforest Reserve?
- Plan for 1.5 to 2 hours.
- When is the best time to visit Hiyare Rainforest Reserve?
- Early morning for wildlife.
- How do I get to Hiyare Rainforest Reserve?
- At Hiyare, about 18km inland from Galle.