Knuckles Mountain Hike

The Knuckles Range, known in Sinhala as Dumbara Kanduvetiya, lies north-east of Kandy. British surveyors named it after a line of peaks that resembles the knuckles of a clenched fist. Together with Horton Plains and the Peak Wilderness, it forms the Central Highlands UNESCO World Heritage Site, valued for its many endemic plants and animals.

There are several trails, and the route is chosen to suit your fitness and the weather. Options include walks across the open grassland of Pitawala Pathana to Mini World’s End, forest trails from the area around Corbet’s Gap, and paths that drop towards remote villages where paddy is still worked by hand. Along the way you pass montane forest, streams and viewpoints over folded valleys, with good chances of birds, butterflies and the occasional lizard found nowhere else.

It is a day of real effort and real solitude, far from the busier hill-country routes.

Good to know

• Entry and trekking permits are required, and walks must be accompanied by a licensed guide; we arrange both.
• Fitness requirements vary by route, from moderate to challenging; expect uneven, sometimes slippery ground.
• Leeches are common after rain, so leech socks, long trousers and insect repellent are recommended.
• Weather changes quickly; carry a rain jacket, water and snacks. Drier spells are typically January to April and around July to September.

The hike can be added to any private itinerary based in or near Kandy, with route, start time and pace arranged around you.