World's sixth greatest wildlife spectacle - The Gathering

The Lonely Planet has now featured "The Gathering" as the world's sixth greatest wildlife spectacle, in which a unique spectacle of the congregation of some 150-200 wild elephants on the banks of the Minneriya Reservoir each year during the months of June, July and August happens and this is the largest grouping of Wild Asian elephants that can be seen at one given time - anywhere in the world.

The Minneriya national park is situated in between Polonnaruwa and Habarana and covers an area of 8890 hectares. It is a transit lounge of sorts for the elephants travelling from Kaudulla to the Wasgomuwa national park. In addition to the elephant one could also spot sloth bears, spotted deer, sambar, leopards, macaque monkeys and the endangered red lipped lizard. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/iceland/travel-tips-and-articles/76694