Wilpattu National Park is one of the largest and oldest national parks in Sri Lanka, located in the northwest lowland dry zone of the country. Covering an area of 131,693 hectares and ranging from 0 to 152 metres above sea level, the park lies about 30 km west of Anuradhapura and 26 km north of Puttalam (approximately 180 km north of Colombo). Wilpattu is famous for its unique “Willus”—natural, sand-rimmed lakes and depressions that fill with rainwater. Nearly sixty Willus and tanks are scattered throughout the park, creating diverse habitats for wildlife. The park is world-renowned for its leopard population (Panthera pardus kotiya), making it one of the top destinations globally for spotting these elusive big cats, although the exact number of leopards in Wilpattu is still unknown. Its combination of dry forests, grasslands, lakes, and ancient tanks makes Wilpattu a must-visit destination for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.