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Talangama Lake – Experience Nature without Leaving the City

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Talangama lake is a small, man built irrigation tank located at Talangama, Baththaramulla, close to the administrative capital of Sri Jayewardenepura. While the reservoir is still used to provide water for cultivation of paddy for a limited extent, a unique wet land, mangrove eco-system has emerged around the tank making it a refuge for a large number of birds and other species of animal.

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Getting There
From Colombo reach Parliament junction on New Kandy road & proceed towards parliament entrance. Passing the parliament entrance drive straight to Palawatta junction. From Palawatta, drive 1.5 km along the D P Wijesinghe road and take the right turn to Lake road and drive ½ km along the lake road. Talangama Lake can be reached in less than an hour from Colombo.

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Weather and Season
Best months to visit Talangama lake is from November to April when winter migrating birds arrive in Sri Lanka. Even outside this period there are many resident species in the lake.

Attractions and activities

  1. Birds watching – Talangama lake is one of the best locations close to Colombo where you can see a wide variety of colorful birds. These includes herons, bitterns, strokes, egrets, swallows, gulls, kingfishers, water hens & swamp hens, cormorants, teals, bulbuls and many other species birds. If you spend few hours in a peaceful afternoon walking around the lake you will be amazed by the number of different bird species you can observe.
  2. Butterflies and Dragonflies – Not only birds, Talangama lake is a good place to observe butterflies and dragonflies as well.
  3. Paddling – You can also hire a paddling boat and paddle on the clam waters of the lake. Paddling is a good way to explore the lake and to get close to birds without disturbing them. Paddling boat service is available from about 3.00 p.m. until the Sun goes down. In Summery Talangama lake is an ideal location for a nature lover to spend few hours close to nature without traveling out side the city

Accommodation Options
It’s proximity to Colombo makes it easy to find a place to spend a night. If you are traveling from outstations.

Notes, Tips and Special Remarks
  1. At present the area has been declared as a protected area by the department of wildlife conservations. The number of people visiting the place seems to be going up but unfortunately some crowd with no intention of enjoying nature too seem to get attracted to the area. Relevant local authorities should take an initiative to develop this place as a nature attraction in the city.
  2. If you are not sensitive to nature and looking for a place to meet up with your friends and have a drink. Please don’t come to Talangama. Its not comfortable enough for that purpose and the nature will not feel comfortable with you.
  3. Best time for bird watching will be from about 7.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m in the morning and from 4.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. in the afternoon.

Image Gallery
Interesting moments captured at Talangama Lake. From left: an Egret Taking-off, a Pied Kingfisher emerging from water, Reflection of A dragonfly on keketiya and an egret sun bathing
A pair of Babblers captured in warm evening light. Looks like they just had a fight! Walking on water” – A Peasant Tailed Water Jacana
Paddling is a good way to explore the lake. It is relaxing; it can be exciting as well. If you keep your eyes and eras open while you paddle and manage to maintain silence you will be able to observe a lot of birds at very close range
Not only can water birds, many other species of bird also be seen at Talangama. Pictured here is a white browed bul-bul Leaf and water droplet enhanced by evening light
All colors, all shapes. Few species of water birds commonly found at Talangama. Pictures here from Left are: Common Coot (moorhen), Pond Heron, Purple Coot (swamp hen) and a Little Greb
Water buffalos have become an integral part of the lake’s eco-system and the cattle egrets are always behind them Portrait of a water-buffalo
In the water as well as out side water, many different kinds of plants and flowers can be seen. They come in all sort of shapes and colors
Golden rays of the setting sun turn the entire lake bed in to a gold carpet On a beautiful afternoon, a spot-built pelican floats on calm waters of the lake
Insect Life of Talangama Lake – Many different kinds of Butterflies and Dragonflies can be seen at Talangama

Last Updated | April 5, 2008

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