Inhabiting Pigeon Island National Park are hundreds of Blue Rock Pigeons, an endangered species nesting and breeding amongst the rocks. Situated one kilometer off the coast of Nilaveli, a stretch of beach known as the most beautiful in Sri Lanka, it is a unique natural phenomenon made up of two Islands called the Large and Small Pigeon Islands. The island’s name derives from the rock pigeon which has colonized it. The 471.429-hectare natural habitat was designated a Marine Sanctuary in 1963 and was later declared a National Park. The Small Pigeon Island is a favorable feeding and breeding ground for over 300 species of coral reef fish. Those interested in scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing should definitely include Pigeon Island in their itinerary.
Pigeon Island National Park – a ‘must’ place to visit
