Located in one of the most sacred Buddhist cities in Polonnaruwa area, Somawathie Chaitiya Sanctuary charms wildlife enthusiasts from all around the world. Covered mostly with grass meadows the sanctuary provides a home for many animal and bird species. Some of the animals you can spot in the national park are deer, wild boar, water buffalo, fishing cat and rusty-spotted cat. Stork, openbill stork, pheasant tailed jacana, marsh sandpiper, wood sand piper and pintail snipe are some of the common bird species you can see in this sanctuary. Somawathie Chaitiya Sanctuary is full of shallow water bodies called villus, which enhances the beauty of the sanctuary.
