Quick answer
Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary is a Ramsar-listed wetland of roughly 1,400 hectares between Chilaw and Puttalam, made up of a cascade of six ancient irrigation tanks. It is one of the best places on the north-west coast for waterbirds, with painted storks, spoonbills, cormorants and herons nesting, and migrant ducks and waders roughly from November to March. It is about 15 to 20 minutes from Chilaw and roughly two hours from the airport, and makes an easy stop on the way to Wilpattu.
Key takeaways
- Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary was designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 2001.
- The sanctuary links six ancient tanks in a cascade, a traditional system in which water flows from one tank to the next.
- Painted storks, spoonbills, cormorants and several heron species nest in the sanctuary.
- Migrant ducks and waders winter on the tanks roughly from November to March.
- The sanctuary lies about 15 to 20 minutes from Chilaw, on the coast road towards Puttalam and Wilpattu.
What Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary is
Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary is a protected wetland in the Puttalam district, inland from the coast road between Chilaw and Puttalam. It was declared a sanctuary in 1997 and designated a Ramsar wetland in 2001, one of only a handful in Sri Lanka.
The sanctuary is built around six ancient tanks, linked in a cascade so that water released from one flows into the next. This system, developed over centuries, kept paddy fields watered through the dry season, and the tanks still irrigate local farms today.
Between the tanks are reed beds, scrub and patches of forest, and around them paddy fields, which together support a remarkable density of waterbirds.
Birds at Anawilundawa
Anawilundawa is best known for its waterbirds. Painted storks, Asian openbills, spoonbills, little cormorants, Indian cormorants and several species of heron and egret nest in trees on the tank edges, especially from roughly December to March. Purple swamphens, pheasant-tailed jacanas and lesser whistling ducks are common in the reeds.
In the northern winter, roughly November to March, migrant ducks such as garganey and pintail, and waders such as sandpipers and stints, join the residents. Raptors such as the brahminy kite and white-bellied sea eagle hunt over the water.
- →Nesting colonies: storks, cormorants, herons and spoonbills.
- →Reed birds: purple swamphens, jacanas and whistling ducks.
- →Migrants: garganey, pintail and waders, roughly November to March.
- →Raptors: brahminy kites and sea eagles.
Other wildlife
Anawilundawa also holds mugger crocodiles, water monitors and freshwater turtles, along with toque macaques, grey langurs and small mammals such as the fishing cat, which is rarely seen. Butterflies and dragonflies are abundant in the drier months.
The tanks' fish attract otters, though these are shy. Early morning walks along the bunds give the best chance of seeing mammals.
- →Reptiles: crocodiles, monitors and freshwater turtles.
- →Primates: toque macaques and grey langurs.
- →Insects: butterflies and dragonflies.
How to visit Anawilundawa
Anawilundawa is reached from Chilaw in roughly 15 to 20 minutes, turning inland from the coast road towards Puttalam. Visitors walk along the tank bunds and paths, and some local guides offer short boat trips on the larger tanks. Ask at the sanctuary's office or through a Chilaw hotel.
Early morning, from around sunrise, is the best time, when birds are active and the light is soft. A visit of two to three hours is enough. Lankan Stays & Trails includes Anawilundawa as a morning stop on the drive between the airport and Wilpattu.
- →Arrive around sunrise for birds and soft light.
- →Walk the bunds quietly, keeping to paths.
- →Bring binoculars and water.
When to visit Anawilundawa
The best time to visit Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary is roughly November to March, when migrant birds are present and nesting colonies are active. The west coast's driest months, roughly December to March, overlap with this window.
During the south-west monsoon, roughly May to September, the tanks fill and the reeds grow tall. Resident birds remain, but there are fewer migrants and walking can be muddy.
Fitting Anawilundawa into a trip
Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary fits naturally on the coast road between the airport and Wilpattu or Kalpitiya, and is close to the Munneswaram temple at Chilaw. A morning at the tanks, a temple visit and the drive to Wilpattu make a good day.
For birders, Anawilundawa pairs well with the Puttalam lagoon and the Kalpitiya peninsula, which hold flamingos and other waterbirds in the northern winter.
Frequently asked questions
What is Anawilundawa?
Anawilundawa is a wetland sanctuary between Chilaw and Puttalam, made up of six ancient irrigation tanks linked in a cascade. It was designated a Ramsar wetland in 2001 and is one of the best places on the north-west coast for waterbirds, including nesting storks, cormorants and spoonbills.
How far is Anawilundawa from Chilaw?
Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary is roughly 15 to 20 minutes by road from Chilaw, turning inland from the coast road towards Puttalam. From the airport it takes roughly two hours, and from Wilpattu roughly an hour and a half.
What birds can you see at Anawilundawa?
Common birds include painted storks, openbills, spoonbills, cormorants, herons, egrets, purple swamphens, jacanas and whistling ducks. From roughly November to March, migrant ducks such as garganey and pintail and many waders also visit. Raptors such as brahminy kites hunt overhead.
When is the best time to visit Anawilundawa?
The best time is roughly November to March, when migrant birds are present and nesting colonies are active. Early morning, from sunrise, is the best time of day. During the south-west monsoon, roughly May to September, there are fewer migrants and paths can be muddy.
Can you take a boat at Anawilundawa?
Some local guides offer short boat trips on the larger tanks, but most visitors explore on foot along the bunds. Ask at the sanctuary office or through a Chilaw hotel. Walking quietly along the bunds often gives closer views of birds than a boat.
Is Anawilundawa worth a stop on the way to Wilpattu?
Yes. Anawilundawa is just off the coast road and makes an easy morning stop on the way from the airport to Wilpattu or Kalpitiya. Two to three hours is enough for a good look at the birds, leaving time for the Munneswaram temple and the drive north.
What is a tank cascade?
A tank cascade is a traditional Sri Lankan irrigation system in which several tanks are linked so that water released from one flows into the next. It stores and reuses water through the dry season. Anawilundawa is one of the best-preserved examples and still irrigates local paddy fields.