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Kaludiya Pokuna Forest

April 10, 2024

Kaludiya Pokuna Archeological Forest Site (කළුදිය පොකුණ පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය) is a forest with archeological remains in Kandalama, in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka.[1] The site has been handed over to the Girls' High School, Kandy in accordance with the "Urumaya Thani Nokaramu" program organized by the Department of Archeology.[2] For the first time in Sri Lanka, a school was given custody of an archeological site.[3]

Kaludiya Pokuna Forest and Archeological Site
View from Kandalama Hotel Side
LocationCentral Province, Sri Lanka
Nearest cityDambulla
Coordinates7°52′02″N 80°44′01″E / 7.86722°N 80.73361°E / 7.86722; 80.73361
Governing bodyDepartment of Archeology

Etymology edit

 
Black pond at Kaludiya pokuna

The place got its name from a pond that had dark water at ancient times.

Archeological remains edit

 
Pagoda at Kaludiya pokuna
 
former monestries at Kuladiya Pokuna
 
Stairs to main site at Kuladiya Pokuna
 
Medieval sinhala at Kaludiya Pokuna Slab inscription
 
Pagoda at Kaludiya Pokuna

The site was initially settled in the 2nd century BC. The remains in the site include inscriptions, residences and a monastery.

Species diversity edit

Kaludiya Pokuna is also rich with numerous biodiversity, both flora and fauna. The forest is home for many endemic and non-endemic species of flora and fauna, that prevail much more secure than other forests in Sri Lanka.

Site is surrounded by farmland and human settlements from the north, east, and west but is undisturbed by humans and the primates are not provisioned. There is no evidence to indicate that hunting, timber extraction, or woodcutting have occurred at the site.

Forest is composed of many endemic and highly valuable trees and shrubs. The majority of flora are in the family Euphorbiaceae. Plants like Hydnocarpus venenata, Mischodon zeylanicus, Lepisanthes senegalensis, Grewia rothii, Ficus microcarpa, Mussaenda frondosa, Drypetes sepiaria, Mallotus eriocarpus, Manilkara hexandra, Dimocarpus longan, and Tetrameles nudiflora are abundant. Plants of family Ebenaceae, such as Diospyros ebenum, Diospyros malabarica, Diospyros oocarpa, and Diospyros ovalifolia, which has large timber value, are enormous without any human conflict.

Kaludiya Pokuna is rich with its populations of primate species mainly, where many researches on primates based on this site, especially on tufted gray langur and purple-faced langur. Besides them, forest is also home for the other primates in Sri Lanka, such as toque macaque and red slender loris and other herbivorous mammals, such as Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), spotted deer (Axis axis), sambar (Rusa unicolor), and wild boar (Sus scrofa). The area is also home to a full complement of potential predators such as black eagles (Ictinaetus malaiensis), crested serpent eagles (Spilornis cheela), brahminy kites (Haliastur indus), white-bellied sea eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster), leopards (Panthera pardus), fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) and Indian rock pythons (Python molurus).

Endemic snakes such as Sri Lanka flying snake, Boiga barnesii, Dendrelaphis bifrenalis, Dendrelaphis oliveri, Oligodon sublineatus are frequently seen. Venomous snakes like Indian cobra, Russell's viper and Hypnale hypnale. Numerous types of skinks and lizards are also found.

 
Crimson rose at Kaludiya pokuna
 
Dendrelaphis tristis at Kaludiya pokuna
 
Halcyon smyrnensis at Kaludiya pokuna

The avian diversity is much more high than all other faunal categories at Kaludiya Pokuna. It is about 120 species of birds paradise. Most common birds are Indian cormorant, Oriental darter, Indian pond heron, cattle egret, black-headed ibis and common peafowl.

Endemic birds like Sri Lanka spurfowl, Sri Lanka junglefowl, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka green pigeon, crimson-fronted barbet, greater flameback, greater racket-tailed drongo, black-capped bulbul can be seen without disturbances. It means out of 33 endemic species, 80% of endemic birds are found in Kaludiya Pokuna.

Both types of monitor lizards - Bengal monitor and water monitor, can be seen in Kaludiya Pokuna.

Butterflies and moths are also frequent in Kaludiya Pokuna. Species like crimson rose, common Mormon, Ceylon rose, common rose, common cerulean, common Indian crow, Lemon emigrant are common.

 
Kaludiya pokuna forest cover
 
Kaludoya pokuna mountainous rock of Kandalama lake side
 
Path for kaludiya pokuna forest site
 
Kaludiya pokuna board at Green Paradise Hotel premises, showing the path

The following list provide the fauna of Kaludiya Pokuna Archeological Forest Reserve.

Birds edit

Aquatic birds around lakes in Kaludiya Pokuna edit

Forest birds in Kaludiya Pokuna Forest edit

Reptiles edit

Mammals edit

References edit

  1. ^ Vandercone, Rajnish P.; Dinadh, Chameera; Wijethunga, Gayan; Ranawana, Kitsiri; Rasmussen, David T. (2012). "Dietary Diversity and Food Selection in Hanuman Langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) and Purple-Faced Langurs (Trachypithecus vetulus) in the Kaludiyapokuna Forest Reserve in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka". International Journal of Primatology. 33 (6): 1382–1405. doi:10.1007/s10764-012-9629-9.
  2. ^ "Kaludiya Pokuna handed over to Kandy High School". Lankadeepa. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Kaludiya Pokuna under Kandy High School". hirunews. Retrieved 27 April 2021.

External links edit

  • Kaludiya Pokuna at the website of the Department of Archaeology of the Sri Lanka government
  • Green Pradise' of Kandalama, The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

April 10, 2024
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Kaludiya Pokuna Archeological Forest Site කළ ද ය ප ක ණ ප ර ව ද ය භ ම ය is a forest with archeological remains in Kandalama in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka 1 The site has been handed over to the Girls High School Kandy in accordance with the Urumaya Thani Nokaramu program organized by the Department of Archeology 2 For the first time in Sri Lanka a school was given custody of an archeological site 3 Kaludiya Pokuna Forest and Archeological SiteView from Kandalama Hotel SideLocationCentral Province Sri LankaNearest cityDambullaCoordinates7 52 02 N 80 44 01 E 7 86722 N 80 73361 E 7 86722 80 73361Governing bodyDepartment of Archeology Contents 1 Etymology 2 Archeological remains 3 Species diversity 4 Birds 4 1 Aquatic birds around lakes in Kaludiya Pokuna 4 2 Forest birds in Kaludiya Pokuna Forest 5 Reptiles 6 Mammals 7 References 8 External linksEtymology edit nbsp Black pond at Kaludiya pokunaThe place got its name from a pond that had dark water at ancient times Archeological remains edit nbsp Pagoda at Kaludiya pokuna nbsp former monestries at Kuladiya Pokuna nbsp Stairs to main site at Kuladiya Pokuna nbsp Medieval sinhala at Kaludiya Pokuna Slab inscription nbsp Pagoda at Kaludiya PokunaThe site was initially settled in the 2nd century BC The remains in the site include inscriptions residences and a monastery Species diversity editKaludiya Pokuna is also rich with numerous biodiversity both flora and fauna The forest is home for many endemic and non endemic species of flora and fauna that prevail much more secure than other forests in Sri Lanka Site is surrounded by farmland and human settlements from the north east and west but is undisturbed by humans and the primates are not provisioned There is no evidence to indicate that hunting timber extraction or woodcutting have occurred at the site Forest is composed of many endemic and highly valuable trees and shrubs The majority of flora are in the family Euphorbiaceae Plants like Hydnocarpus venenata Mischodon zeylanicus Lepisanthes senegalensis Grewia rothii Ficus microcarpa Mussaenda frondosa Drypetes sepiaria Mallotus eriocarpus Manilkara hexandra Dimocarpus longan and Tetrameles nudiflora are abundant Plants of family Ebenaceae such as Diospyros ebenum Diospyros malabarica Diospyros oocarpa and Diospyros ovalifolia which has large timber value are enormous without any human conflict Kaludiya Pokuna is rich with its populations of primate species mainly where many researches on primates based on this site especially on tufted gray langur and purple faced langur Besides them forest is also home for the other primates in Sri Lanka such as toque macaque and red slender loris and other herbivorous mammals such as Asian elephants Elephas maximus spotted deer Axis axis sambar Rusa unicolor and wild boar Sus scrofa The area is also home to a full complement of potential predators such as black eagles Ictinaetus malaiensis crested serpent eagles Spilornis cheela brahminy kites Haliastur indus white bellied sea eagles Haliaeetus leucogaster leopards Panthera pardus fishing cats Prionailurus viverrinus and Indian rock pythons Python molurus Endemic snakes such as Sri Lanka flying snake Boiga barnesii Dendrelaphis bifrenalis Dendrelaphis oliveri Oligodon sublineatus are frequently seen Venomous snakes like Indian cobra Russell s viper and Hypnale hypnale Numerous types of skinks and lizards are also found nbsp Crimson rose at Kaludiya pokuna nbsp Dendrelaphis tristis at Kaludiya pokuna nbsp Halcyon smyrnensis at Kaludiya pokunaThe avian diversity is much more high than all other faunal categories at Kaludiya Pokuna It is about 120 species of birds paradise Most common birds are Indian cormorant Oriental darter Indian pond heron cattle egret black headed ibis and common peafowl Endemic birds like Sri Lanka spurfowl Sri Lanka junglefowl Sri Lanka grey hornbill brown capped babbler Sri Lanka green pigeon crimson fronted barbet greater flameback greater racket tailed drongo black capped bulbul can be seen without disturbances It means out of 33 endemic species 80 of endemic birds are found in Kaludiya Pokuna Both types of monitor lizards Bengal monitor and water monitor can be seen in Kaludiya Pokuna Butterflies and moths are also frequent in Kaludiya Pokuna Species like crimson rose common Mormon Ceylon rose common rose common cerulean common Indian crow Lemon emigrant are common nbsp Kaludiya pokuna forest cover nbsp Kaludoya pokuna mountainous rock of Kandalama lake side nbsp Path for kaludiya pokuna forest site nbsp Kaludiya pokuna board at Green Paradise Hotel premises showing the pathThe following list provide the fauna of Kaludiya Pokuna Archeological Forest Reserve Birds editAquatic birds around lakes in Kaludiya Pokuna edit Spot billed pelican Pelecanus philippensis Little cormorant Microcarbo niger Indian cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Greater cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Indian darter Anhinga melanogaster Little egret Egretta garzetta Great egret Ardea alba Gray heron Ardea cinerea Purple heron Ardea purpurea Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis Indian pond heron Ardeola grayii Intermediate egret Mesophoyx intermedia Eurasian openbill Anastomus oscitans Lesser adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus Black headed ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus Eurasian spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Lesser whistling duck Dendrocygna javanica White breasted waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Purple coot Porphyrio porphyrio Pheassant tailed jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Yellow wattled lapwing Vanellus indicus Whiskered tern Chlidonias hybrida Strok billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis White throated kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensisForest birds in Kaludiya Pokuna Forest edit Jerdon s baza Aviceda jerdoni Oriental honey buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus Brahminy kite Haliastur indus White bellied sea eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster Gray headed fishing eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus Crested serpent eagle Spilornis cheela Shikra Accipiter badius Black eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis Changeable hawk eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus Shaheen falcon Falco peregrinus peregrinator Blue breasted quail Coturnix chinensis Sri Lanka spur fowl Galloperdix bicalcarata endemic Sri Lanka jungle fowl Gallus lafayetii endemic Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus Emerald dove Chalcophaps indica Sri Lanka green pigeon Treron pompadora Green imperial pigeon Ducula aenea Spotted dove Spilopelia chinensis Alexandrine parakeet Psittacula eupatria Rose ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri Blue faced malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris Asian koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Greater coucal Centropus sinensis Oriental scops owl Otus sunia Collared scops owl Otus bakkamoena Forest eagle owl Bubo nipalensis Jerdon s nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis Indian swiftlet Aerodramus unicolor Asian palm swift Cypsiurus balasiensis Little swift Apus affinis Little green bee eater Merops orientalis Blue tailed bee eater Merops philippinus Chestnut headed bee eater Merops leschenaulti Indian roller Coracias benghalensis Malabar pied hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus Sri Lanka gray hornbill Ocyceros gingalensis endemic Brown headed barbet Megalaima zeylanica Crimson fronted barbet Megalaima rubricapillus endemic Coppersmith barbet Megalaima haemacephala Golden backed woodpecker Dinopium benghalense Greater flameback Chrysocolaptes stricklandi endemic Indian pitta Pitta brachyura Barn swallow Hirundo rustica Red rumped swallow Hirundo hyperythra endemic Paddyfield pipit Anthus rufulus Flame minivet Pericrocotus flammeus Sri Lanka woodshrike Tephrodornis affinis endemic Indian paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi Black naped monarch Hypothymis azurea White browed fantail Rhipidura aureola Black capped bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus endemic Red venter bulbul Pycnonotus cafer White browed bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus Black bulbul Hypsipetes ganeesa Common iora Aegithina tiphia Golden fronted leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons Jerdon s leafbird Chloropsis jerdoni Asian brown flycatcher Muscicapa latirostris Kashmir flycatcher Ficedula subrubra Tickell s blue flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae Oriental magpie robin Copsychus saularis White rumped shama Copsychus malabaricus Black backed robin Saxicoloides fulicatus Brown capped babbler Pellorneum fuscocapillus Yellow billed babbler Turdoides affinis Gray breasted prinia Prinia hodgsonii Ashy prinia Prinia socialis Large prinia Prinia sylvatica Common tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Pale billed flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos Purple rumped sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica Purple sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Oriental white eye Zosterops palpebrosus White rumped munia Lonchura striata Scaly breasted munia Lonchura punctulata Common mynah Acridotheres tristis Indian golden oriole Oriolus kundoo Black hooded oriole Oriolus xanthornus Black drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Racket tailed drongo Dicrurus paradiseus Jungle crow Corvus macrorhynchosReptiles editIndian rock python Python molurus Green vine snake Ahaetulla nasuta Brown vine snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta Common rough sided snake Aspidura trachyprocta Barnes cat snake Boiga barnesii Sri Lanka cat snake Boiga ceylonensis Forsten s cat snake Boiga forsteni Common cat snake Boiga trigonata Sri Lanka flying snake Chrysopelea taprobanica endemic Common bronzeback tree snake Dendrelaphis tristis Green keelback snake Rhabdophis plumbicolor Banded kukri Oligodon arnensis Common rat snake Ptyas mucosa Black headed snake Sibynophis subpunctatus Checkered keelback water snake Fowlea piscator Indian cobra Naja naja Brahminy blind snake Ramphotyphlops braminus Jan s blind snake Typhlops mirus Phillips shieldtail Uropeltis phillipsi Russell s viper Daboia russelii Hump nosed viper Hypnale hypnale Sri Lanka green pit viper Trimeresurus trigonocephalus Common green forest lizard Calotes calotes Painted lipped lizard Calotes ceylonensis Whistling lizard Calotes liolepis Oriental garden lizard Calotes versicolor Lowland kangaroo lizard Otocryptis nigristigma Fan throated lizard Sitana ponticeriana Small day gecko Cnemaspis podihuna Blotched ground gecko Geckoella yakhuna Kandian gecko Hemidactylus depressus Bark gecko Hemidactylus leschenaultii Haly s tree skink Dasia haliana Common supple skink Lankascincus fallax Common skink Eutropis carinata Rock skink Eutropis macularia Spotted skink Eutropis madaraszi Sarasin s snake skink Nessia sarasinorum Land monitor Varanus benghalensis Water monitor Varanus salvator Mugger Crocodylus palustris Black turtle Melanochelys trijuga Star tortoise Geochelone elegansMammals editAsian elephant Elephas maximus Gray slender loris Loris lydekkerianus ssp nordicus Tufted gray langur Semnopithecus priam ssp thersites Purple faced leaf monkey Trachypithecus vetulus ssp philbricki Toque macaque Macaca sinica ssp sinica Grizzled giant squirrel Ratufa macroura ssp dandolena Indian palm squirrel Funambulus palmarum Indian gerbil Tatera indica Lesser bandicoot rat Bandicota bengalensis Indian field mouse Mus booduga Black rat Rattus rattus Indian porcupine Hystrix indica Black naped hare Lepus nigricollis Pygmy shrew Suncus etruscus Fulvous fruit bat Rousettus leschenaultii Indian flying fox Pteropus giganteus Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus Jungle cat Felis chaus Golden jackal Canis aureus Common palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Golden palm civet Paradoxurus zeylonensis Small Indian civet Viverricula indica Indian gray mongoose Urva edwardsii Ruddy mongoose Urva smithii Eurasian otter Lutra lutra Wild boar Sus scrofa Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak Spotted deer Axis axis Sambar Rusa unicolorReferences edit Vandercone Rajnish P Dinadh Chameera Wijethunga Gayan Ranawana Kitsiri Rasmussen David T 2012 Dietary Diversity and Food Selection in Hanuman Langurs Semnopithecus entellus and Purple Faced Langurs Trachypithecus vetulus in the Kaludiyapokuna Forest Reserve in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka International Journal of Primatology 33 6 1382 1405 doi 10 1007 s10764 012 9629 9 Kaludiya Pokuna handed over to Kandy High School Lankadeepa Retrieved 27 April 2021 Kaludiya Pokuna under Kandy High School hirunews Retrieved 27 April 2021 External links editKaludiya Pokuna at the website of the Department of Archaeology of the Sri Lanka government Green Pradise of Kandalama The Sunday Times Sri Lanka Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kaludiya Pokuna Forest amp oldid 1183527880, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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