Knuckles Mountain Range

The Knuckles Mountain Range lies in central Sri Lanka, in the Districts of Matale and Kandy. The range takes its name from a series of recumbent folds and peaks in the west of the massif which resemble the knuckles of clenched fist when viewed from certain locations in the Kandy District. Whilst this name was assigned by early British surveyors, the Sinhalese residents have traditionally referred to the area as Dumbara Kanduvetiya meaning Mist-laden Mountain Range (Cooray, 1984).

The higher montane area is often robed in thick layers of cloud. In addition to its aesthetic value, the range is of great scientific interest. It is a climatic microcosm of the rest of Sri Lanka as the conditions of all the climatic zones in the country are exhibited in the massif. At higher elevations there is a series of isolated cloud forests, harbouring a variety of flora and fauna. Although the range constitutes approximately 0.03% of the island's total area, it is home to a significantly higher proportion of the country's biodiversity. The isolated Knuckles range harbours several relict, endemic flora and fauna that are distinct from central massif. More than 34 percent of Sri Lanka's endemic trees, shrubs, and herbs are only found in these forests.

Mini World’s End

Mini World’s end (1192m) is an escarpment situated at the southern end of the Knuckles range is a fine observation point in the Knuckles range. From this location, the panoramic view of the knuckles range and some of the villages situated in the foot hills of knuckles can be seen.

Mountain Peaks

Knuckles mountain range features 34 peaks ranging in height between 1900 meters and 900 meters. Five high mountain peaks of the range having formed in the shape of a clenched fist, the British in Ceylon named the mountain range Knuckles.

Weather

Weather in the Knuckles mountain range is unpredictable and could transform within few minutes. A thick mist could shroud the mountains in a mater of minutes. Rain could breeze in any day.

Biodiversity

Knuckles range is home to mammals such as wild boar, spotted deer, giant squirrel, barking deer, purple faced leaf monkey, mongoose and porcupine are found here.

Among the endemic lizard species found at Knuckles range are Crestless Lizard (Calotes Leocephalus), Pigmy Lizard (Cophotis ceylonica) and Kangaroo Lizard (Otocryptus Wiegmanni) and are leaf nose lizard (Ceretophora Tennennti) is only found in this forest. Knuckles range is home to no less than 200 bird species. Fifteen of these species are endemic to Sri Lanka: Spot Wing thrush, Sri Lankan blue magpie Jungle fowl, Yellow-fronted barbet, small barbet, Sri Lankan warbler, White faced starling, Sri Lanka white-eye, Black headed bulbul, Yellow eared bulbul, dusk blue flycatcher, brown capped babbler and Layard’s parakeet.

Forest Cover

Knuckles features a great diversity in its forest cover: dry evergreen forests, montane forests, sub-montane forests, dry and wet pathana, savana etc. It has been found 20 percent of the plants herein are endemic to Sri Lanka. A wide range of hardwood as well as herbal plants are found herein.