Vankalai Sanctuary
வங்காலை சரணாலயம்
A Ramsar Wetland of International Importance where large flocks of flamingos, plovers and herons feed in winter lagoons and shallows. It is the final stop on the bird migration route.
Vankalai lies south of the Mannar Island causeway, covering lagoons, seagrass beds, salt marshes and tidal mudflats. It was designated Sri Lanka's second Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2010. It sits at the southern end of the Central Asian bird migration route, and from about October to March tens of thousands of waterbirds winter here. The most striking sight is the large flocks of greater flamingos, and black-tailed godwits, gulls and herons are also common. The sanctuary has no formal entrance fee or trails. You can observe from the Mannar–Vankalai road and the embankments, with early morning and evening the best times. Bring binoculars. Flamingos are also often seen near the salt pans on the island.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Mannar Fort
- St. Sebastian's Cathedral, Mannar
- Mannar Baobab Tree
- Thiruketheeswaram Temple
- Giant's Tank
- Doric Bungalow, Arippu
- Talaimannar Pier & Lighthouse
- Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu