Legend has it that ‘Sinharaja’ which means lion (Sinha) king (raja) was the birthplace of the Sinhalese people. The story goes on to relate how ‘Sinhalese’ were born through the union of a lion king, who roamed the forests and a princess. Walking through the forests will give you a glimpse of the deeply embedded legend and historical significance of this magnificent tropical treasure. Sinharaja is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bounded by rivers on three sides, and has a fast contrasting altitude fluctuation ranging from 300 to 1,170 meters. – Endemism for flora within the Reserve exceeds 60% – Endemism for fauna within the Reserve exceeds 50% – 19 of Sri Lanka’s 20 species of endemic birds are found here – 08 of Sri Lanka’s 12 species of endemic mammals are found here Old Nawada Tree Trail (05km): The Nawada Tree trail is most famous for the iconic en route Nawada Tree (Shorea Stipularis). This tree is over 500 years old and is a remnant of this ancient rainforest ecosystem climbing over the canopy at over 40m in height. The trail is one of the oldest at the reserve and is a hot spot for birdwatching. An occasional elusive mammal too appears en route. This riveting rainforest experience will certainly have you intrigued.