SriLankaView by www.srilankaview.com The Virtual Traveller to SriLanka
SriLankaView by www.srilankaview.com The Virtual Traveller to SriLanka
Knuckles
Mountain Range 
Knuckles Mountain Range or the Knuckles Massif is part of the Hill Country of Sri Lanka which is also above 3000 Ft or 915 Mts. from sea level and covers an area of about 90 Sq.Miles or 234 Sq.Km of land extent. This is also called as Knuckles Range or Knuckles Peaks or simply as Knuckles. The reason to call it Knuckles is because,there is a mountain with five peaks in itself, that looks like the knuckles of a clenched fist when seen from Kandy area ( or the SW direction of that mountain named as Knuckles with a height of 6112 Feet ). The Sri Lankan name for this mountainous area is " Dumbara Mitiyawatha " which means " The Misty Vally ". Since this inner mountainous area is off the motoring roads, it remains as an unspoilt nature reserve even today. Knuckles Mountain Range is considered as the most spectacular mountain scenic landscape of Sri Lanka's highland. The best view points of Knuckles mountain range are from Corbet's Gap and from Laggala Patana where there is a mini Worlds End.
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Major tour routes to the Knuckles Nature Reserve are detailed here and large number of prime scenic images which will only do justice to this wonderful Sri Lankan World Heritage Site accompanies this Web Page.
There are Fifteen Tour Trails being earmarked for trekking by the Sri Lanka Forest Department Information guide.
Kandy Division area of Knuckles Range has six trekking trails.
They are Deanston-Mini Worlds End trail-(02 km), Deanston-Dothulugala trail-(04 km), Deanston-Hapugaskumbura trail-(05 km), Kumbukgolla-Nitre Cave-(04 km), Thangappuwa-Allugallena trail-(08 km) , Bambaraella-Knuckles Peak trail-(14 km)
Matale Division area of Knuckles Range has nine trekking trails.
They are Pitawala Pathana-Mini Worlds end trail-(0.76 km), Illukumbura- Kosgaswela trail-(03 km), Kahagala-Pottewela-Sera ella trail- (04 km), Illukkumbura-Rambukoluwa trail- (05 km), Illukkumbura-Manigala-Etanwala trail-(05 km), Rambukoluwa-Korahangala trail-07 km), Narangamuwa-Lakegala trail 908 km), Rambukoluwa-Doowili Ella trail- (08 km) and Etanwala-Walpolamulla- Doowili Ella trail- (10 km)
Sphinx Rock scenery
Click on Thumbnail Photos to see full size image and the photo description.
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There are nine peaks over 1220 Mts. or 4000 Ft. in Knuckles Mountain Range. The highest peak, "Gombaniya" is 1906 Mts. or 6248 Ft. high. The main water streams starting from Knuckles range are Mimure Oya, Kalu Ganga and Kote Ganga. Rainfall annually varies from about 2540mm [100 inches] on Eastern side to 5080mm [ 200 inches] for mid mountain range. Maximum rainfall is during October-January and minimum rainfall from February to September.There is dry weather and sunshine from February to April.
Click on Thumbnail Photos to see full size image and the photo description.
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One can experience clouds covering up the area and then passing off at Riverston area making the atmosphere cold.
Click on Thumbnail Photos to see full size image and the photo description.
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There are Montane grasslands and pygmy forest in the Knuckles range. Passing Riverston and with the gradual climb down along the motor way, one can see sevaral peaks of Knuckles Mountain range such as Gombaniya, Yakungala, Kirigalpotta, Dorakulugala and Kobonilagala.
This is the famous 'Pitawala Patana' or the 'Pitawala Grassland' of an area of 20 Hectares. Due to gale force winds , the trees growing in the pictured area are not growing big. Notice the rocky flat terrain only holds small plants and few survive the hot weather without getting dried. The rainy weather brings them back to life.The time of the year is August when these photos were taken. .
This is the famous
'Pitawala Pathana' or the 'Pitawala Grassland' of an area of 20 Hectares. Due
to gale force winds , the trees growing in the pictured area are not growing big.
Notice the rocky flat terrain only holds small plants and few survive the hot
weather without getting dried. The rainy weather brings them back to life.The
time of the year is August when these photos were taken. ....................
Click
on Thumbnail Photos to see full size image and the photo description.
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Teligam Oya, Maha Oya and Heen Ganga are the main water streams originating from the Knuckles Range.The above selection of Photos shows the Teligam Oya during the dry season.
Click on Thumbnail Photos to see full size image and the photo description.
Since the Knuckles Mountain Range is situated almost perpendicular to North East and South West directions, the mountain range gets rain from both Monsoons. From May to October, there is Southwest monsoon and from December to March, the Northeast monsoon brings rain. During this time, hundreds of water streams with abundance of crystal clear water makes the whole region come alive with all types of ferns and mosses. The above pictures amply shows the Riverston route with the fascinating humid nature during those rainy seasons.
The Knuckles Mountain Range can be accessed from several routes and the route nearest to Kandy is through Wattegama along Bambarella Road passing Panwila. From Kandy, the route is as follows. From Kandy Town to Katugastota then to Madawala. Just passing Madawala, and about 1.5 km before Wattegama, comes the V junction where the road diverts towards Wattegama and Bambarella. Proceeding along Bambarella Road will take the traveller towards the famous 'Knuckles Peaks'. Hulu Ganga Falls comes across about the half way distance from Wattegama - Bambarella road.
Click on Thumbnail Photos to see full size image and the photo description.
Katugastota area, Wattegama area and Panwila area.
Click on Thumbnail Photos to see full size image and the photo description.
The landscape sceneries that greets the visitor on the way to Hulu Ganga Falls along Bambarella road.
Knuckles Mountain covered by a cloud layer. The Kandasami Maley rock is seen, which is situated next to the Knuckles Peaks.
Motoring from Kandy via Teldeniya, turning inwards from Hunnasgiriya towards Deanston and Corbets Gap direction
Knuckles Mountain Range covers an area of roughly 234 sq. km. Entering the Knuckles Range from the Hunnasgiriya town is the most sought after trail since some fantastic picturesque landscapes could be encountered from this route which runs upto Meemure village.
Starting from Kandy Town, travelling along A26 Main Road to Padiyatalawa, one has to pass Kundasale, Digana,Teldeniya, Medamahanuwara and at Hunnasgiriya town, turning to left and proceeding along the road running through Deanston to Meemure.
On this route the traveller comes across the Deanston Conservation Centre of the Forest Department, where the trail to Mini World's End starts.
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