Knuckles Mountain Range
Named after the series of recumbent folds and peaks in the west of the massif, which resemble the knuckles of a clenched fist, the Knuckles mountain range in central Sri Lanka is a paradise full of awe-inspiring aesthetics, scenery, rich biodiversity, history, and scientific interests.
The area was called Dumbara Kanduvetiya, meaning Mist-laden Mountain Range, by the locals before its current renaming by British surveyors due to the series of isolated cloud forests at higher elevations of the mountain range.
Home to a variety of flora and fauna, the Knuckles range harbours a significant portion of the country’s biodiversity, even though the mountains only constitute about 0.03% of the island’s land area.
It contains several relict, endemic flora and fauna distinct from the central massif, with more than 34 percent of Sri Lanka’s endemic trees, shrubs, and herbs found only in these forests.
Designated as a conservation area, it is known as the Knuckles National Heritage and Wilderness Area. This site is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. The Knuckles sports 27 peaks over 1,000 metres, with the highest rising to nearly 2,000 metres, and stretches an impressive 155 square kilometres that contain five major forest formations: dry evergreen forests, montane forests, sub-montane forests, dry and wet patana, and savanna.
The history of the Dumbara hills dates back to the prehistoric era, with archaeological and historical evidence relating it to the Yaksha settlements of Giri Divaina or Malaya Rata.
The range serves as an important watershed for the whole country, as the three major rivers—Hulu Ganga, Heen Ganga, and Kalu Ganga—originate from the Knuckles range, along with some major tributaries of the Mahaweli River.
Situated within the wet zone of the country, the area enjoys plentiful rainfall from both the Southwest and Northwest monsoons, boasting an array of breathtaking waterfalls and streams.
The Knuckles range is home to up to 1,033 plant species, of which 15% are endemic, along with 128 bird species (17 endemic), 31 mammal species (4 endemic and 9 nationally endangered), 20 amphibians (12 endemic), 53 different reptile species (23 endemic and nationally threatened), and 25 species of freshwater fish (8 endemics and 7 nationally threatened).
The region contains some of the most isolated hamlets on the island, where it is still possible to witness a way of life largely untouched by humanity.
The vegetation within the Knuckles wilderness ranges from lowland semi-evergreen forests to montane forests. Mammals such as wild buffalo, wild boar, black-naped hare, jackal, toque macaque, and purple-faced leaf monkey can be found, alongside birds such as the yellow-eared bulbul, the elusive Sri Lankan whistling thrush, Sri Lankan spot-wing thrush, yellow-fronted barbet, jungle fowl, Sri Lankan super fowl, Sri Lankan wood pigeon, Sri Lankan green pigeon, Sri Lankan hanging parrot, Layard’s parakeets, brown-capped babbler, crimson-backed woodpecker, Sri Lankan woodshrike, Sri Lankan dull-blue flycatcher, Sri Lankan myna, bush warbler, and Sri Lankan white-eye.
The weather in the range is unpredictable, with the possibility of rain lowest from June to September.
The Knuckles mountain range is an ideal eco-tourist spot for mountain biking, caving and potholing, rock climbing, and hiking. Several common routes around the range include paths via Loolwatte, Corbet’s Gap, Bambarella, and Laggala, leading to various spectacular areas of the mountain range.
The Knuckles range is one of the loveliest nature attractions in Sri Lanka. The changing terrain of grasslands, rugged mountain peaks interspersed with streams and cascading waterfalls makes the Knuckles mountain range a trekker’s paradise.
Popular hiking trails include Mini World’s End from Deanston, Trail to Dothalugala from Deanston, Trail to Nitro Caves from Corbet’s Gap, Trail to Augallena Cave via Thangappuwa from Corbet’s Gap, and Trail to Kalupahana from Meemure village.