Knuckles range was named by the British in Ceylon due to its 5 peaks resembling the knuckles on a clenched fist. It is situated just off Kandy in the Central highlands; which has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. The main summit also happens to be the 6th highest in the country. Overall, hiking through this range would be a great experience for any nature lover as it has an abundance of fauna and flora, and boats of a panoramic view.
Before you go
The best times to visit the range would be between the months of June to September as that is when it rains the least in the area.
The hike itself takes around 6 hours to complete, so it is suggested that you start no later than 8 am. This also implies that you should be moderately fit enough to complete it.
The weather is usually unpredictable, so bring a raincoat along with you in case it rains. Other things to pack would include some sort of leech repellent; as there are many in the area, plenty of water, and even your swimwear.
The path you take
The route to the summit takes you through grasslands, tea plantations, and rare dwarf cloud forests, as well as past ancient caves, streams and waterfalls. If you plan on swimming in these waters, do take care as the current could suddenly strengthen or the water level could increase. As some of these waterfalls are hidden, having a guide who knows their way around would enhance your experience.
Occupants of 37 ancient villages inhabit the mountain range, and their livelihood depends on cultivation of rice, cardamom, and Chena. These people are known for distancing themselves from the industrial, technological world, and are quite traditional. Some of these villages even offer tours and allow camping to allow tourists to experience what it’s like to disconnect.
Knuckles range also has its own mini world’s end; an escarpment situated at its southern end which has a view of the villages below, and can be reached from the Knuckles Conservation Center in about an hour.
Biodiversity
Some of the common animals you’d see would be the purple faced leaf monkey, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, and more.
The range is also known for having many endemic species of plants and animals, some of which can only be found at Knuckles itself, and nowhere else in the land. The Crestless lizard, Pigmy lizard, Kangaroo lizard, and leaf nose lizard are some of the endemic creatures which are unique to the area.
knuckles is known to have about 200 species of birds. Along with that, 20% of the range’s forest cover is also said to be endemic. This makes it the best place for anyone who loves bird watching or is enthusiastic about plant life.
At the summit
Once you reach the top of the plateau you will have a panoramic view of the forest and sky. This is the perfect spot to spend some time away from it all, and just embrace the serenity at the top of the range till you are ready to come back down again.
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