Knuckles Mountain Range ~ Visit Sri Lanka Travel guide

It’s Sri Lankans commonly known as “Dumbara Kadu watiya” which main entrance situated Reverston area, its gather of enchanting mountains range highest mountain top is Gombanigala, which is 1904 meters in height. Gombanigala, followed by Knuckles (1862 meters), Kirigalpoththa (1646 meters), Dumbanagala (1642 meters), Kalupahana (1628 meters), Wamarapugala (1558 meters), Dothalugala (1553 meters), Kehelpothdoruwagala (1528 meters), Pathanagala (1514 meters), Thelambugala (1331 meters) and Lakegala (1317 meters).

This area declare as reserve forest early 1980 accommodate 21,000 hectare which consist following Basic vegetation types

• Semi Evergreen Forests
• Sub Montane Forest
• Montane Forest
• Patana and Savanna Grasslands
• Riverine Forests

Semi Evergreen forest seen lover elevation around below 700m this area dominating Mora (Dimorcarpus longan), Badulla (Semecarpus nigroviridis) , Milla (Vitex altissima),Thimbiri (Diospyras malabarica), Kotadimbula (Ficas hispida), Atticca (Ficus racemosa) and Etamba (Mangifera zeylanica) further this trees shade there leave during the July to August period due to lead higher diversity of this area,this is the main catchments area for Mahavali river,

Sub mountain Forest easily identical between higher & lower level vegetation highly thrated vegetation due to Cinnamon & tea industries still playing key role to sustainability of streams. Mal Weralu (Eleocarpus gladulifer), Malaboda (Myristica dactyloides) are in common flora seen this forest, dry & wind during the though out the year but May to August identical,

Mountain forest can be seen 1300m above range of the knuckles, Specially Gombaniya,Kalupahana,Thngappuwa area is identical,mist during the year fascinating, Keena (Calophyllum trapezifolium) and Nelu (Strobilanthes pulcherrima) can be seen “Dumbara Mitiyawatha”,Singhala Meaning Of “Dumbara Mitiyawatha” is Mountain Covering by Mist,

Patana & Savanna Grasslands identified hills below 1000M area, Hena cultivation has been very popular agricultural system among Villagers this area it’s course this Vegetation type,

Pitawala Pathana is eye-catching example of typical vegetation of Pathana,

Rivering forest Dominating Mora (Dimorcarpus longan), Badulla (Semecarpus nigroviridis), Milla (Vitex altissima),Thimbiri (Diospyras malabarica), Kotadimbula (Ficas hispida), Atticca (Ficus racemosa), Etamba (Mangifera zeylanica) this forest visible Kaluganga & Heengaga banking range,

Waterfalls in the forest increase the natural beauty. Dumbara ella, Udaduvili ella, Veddapeni ella, Seru ella, Diyakerella, Meemure ella, Rathninda ella, Kalupahana ella, Huluganga ella and Rathna ella are the waterfalls in the area.

This forest holds a wide variety of Fauna. Most importantly it is a home to many endangered and endemic species. 247 vertebrate species have been recorded in this area which 26% are endemic to Sri Lanka, including 14 birds and 9 fish species. More than a 100 of other resident and migrant bird species,Five of these endemic species, three fresh water fish (phillipis gara-garra phillipsi, martenstyne’s puntius srilankensis) one amphibian (marbled cliff frog-nannophrys mamorata) and one lizard (ceretophora tennenti) are restricted to knuckles forest range further mammals namely elephants, leopards,sambhurs, wild boar, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer & giant squirrel can be seen also total of 1033 flowering plants, belonging to 141 families has been recorded. Among them 255 are tree species, while the balance consists of shrubs and herbs. Of the total number of flowering plants species ,160 are endemic to Sri Lanka while, about 32% are nationally threatened. Though the Knuckles Forest Range covers less than 0.5% of the land area in Sri Lanka, it consists almost one-third of the island’s flowering plant species. There are more than 25 Orchids species in the forest range.

Knuckles is bordered by 77 villages, such as Dandeni Kumbura, Poththetawela, Kahagala, Dammanthenna, Divulgaspathana, Etenwala, Walasmulla, Rmbukwewa, Udagala Debokka, Galamuduma, Pallegala Debokka, Meegahamada, Medakele, Meemure, Kaikawala, Gomare, Wadawala Kanda, Nellikele , Narangamuwa. Villages life hard but simple main sources of income farming,

The Kncukles is the main catchment area of Sri Lanka’s longest river Mahaweli. The Hulu ganga ,Kalu ganga ,Heen ganga main catchment waterways of the Mahaweli river. In addition, Hasalaka Oya, Theligam Oya, Heen Oya and Karambaketiya Oya also offer water for the Mahaweli River. These waterways dazzle in the morning sunlight, fascinatingly.