| Year and Month | April, 2014 (16th to 18th) |
| Number of Days | Three Day Trip |
| Crew | 3 (between 23-24 years of age)- Chamara,Wajira & Me and a Guide Called Ganesh, Who joined from Thangappuwa |
| Accommodation |
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| Transport |
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| Activities | Hiking & Trekking, Photography, camping |
| Weather | Every morning was sunny & misty. But after 4pm rain continued at 4-5 hours |
| Route | Kurunegala -> Kandy -> Theldeniya -> Rangala -> Thangappuwa -> Alugallena -> Trail head Knuckles and Return on Thangappuwa -> Rangala -> Theldeniya -> Kandy -> Kurunegala |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Author | upul nandana |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
Knuckles which named Dumbara forest is the first forest of Sri Lanka. We can introduce this forest bio diversity, weather and high geological variety, value of water source, value of natural beauty, value of ancient & prehistoric like broad space. This second-to-none forest spreads than 21000 hectares in Matale & kandy and the it is governed by wild life preservation department. Ilukkumbura for Matale & the Deanston for Kandy are preserving the Dumbara forest.
The Heighest Mountain of this forest is the “Gombaniya” mountain and it is about 6248 ft high. The second highest one is “Knuckles” mountain range and rests are orderly Kirigalpoththa, Aliya wetuna ela, Dumbanagala, Kalupahana, Selwakanda, Yakunge gala & Dothalugala.
This time we select the second youngest Knuckles mountain range. The way Theldeniya, Rangala, Thangappuwa across Kandy is used as entrance for that. Thangappuwa is a small colony who lived in estate laborers. 50 families are lived in this village. Plucking tea leaves, growing vegetables, plucking cardamom and in addition to that guiding for tourists are the ways of living in the people who lived there.
The map of Knuckles
 At the Teldeniya stand |
 Just got down at Rangala town |
 Rural way from Rangala to Thangappuwa |
 Initiating for new destination |
It was about 6.30 am which started from Kurunegala at 4.00 am. If there are two busses available from Theldeniya to Thangappuwa, they are not running yet a after the New Year season. There for we got to Rangala by bus and from that to Thangappuwa get a trishaw. The way Rangala to Thangappuwa is very feeble and it is about 7 km long.
Ganesh was joined with us at Thangappuwa and he was our guide. We took our breakfast from Ganeshs’ home and started journey again at about 9.30 am along the way across village and then entered to tea estate. Now the way goes forward with a high ascent.
 Some advices with describing the way from Ganesh |
 Enter to the tea estate |
 View of art… |
 Moment which want some rest |
We entered to the top of the mountain after a hard journey and from that tea estate was end and from that the Knuckles. We could see the way which we should go very clearly because of this way is a tourist paradise.
We could see the Knuckles at first time when entered to open area after a tiered journey about 2 hours. And also we had got an idea about “Alu gallena” which was destination for that day.
 At the first scene of the Knuckles which stands like a hulk |
 Red star- The destination of the 1st day(අළු ගල්ලෙන) |
 It’s a clear foot path |
 Just click along the way |
Again the way was across the jungle and bleeders were struck us continuously. The way which had pool, small hills had fallen bottom of the Knuckles parallel. That were spread small bamboo trees & cardamom. And also we could scene the horn lizard which endemic to Dumbara forest.
 It’s a natural beauty |
 At the end of his life. |
 The 1st visitor which welcomed us… (Horn Lizard) |
 What an amazing |
After a long tired journey about 15km we entered to “Alugal lena” at about 3.00 pm. This was another beautiful night in Dumbara forest with my three friends. We went asleep early with having dinner because we have rural journey than this tomorrow.
 Finding a rare angle |
 Remarkable difference |
 Our lodge of 1st night. (අළු ගල්ලෙන) |
 Our nice gang |
 It helps us to prevent from acrimonious cold and attacks of insects. |
 The 1st day bonfire |
The second day was come to “Dumbara forest” with the sun beams of top of Knuckles. Feeling with that cold we prepared our breakfast and lunch. After that we came about 7km long which the way we had come earlier.
 Woowww… cool morning |
 These 2 guys’ also good chefs. |
 Mmmm… bed tea is ready |
 Start up with a new fresh & power |
Eyes of leeches were look at us very impressively because of the rain which fell earlier evening.
Then the way was out which the way we came and it fell ahead with an ascent. We could reach to the top of the mountain which went forward with misty weather & the rain drops after about four hours hard journey.
 Come forward along the earlier way |
 Greenland of Knuckles |
 Always she covered her face by mist. |
 Come closer to the destination. |
 Closer to 1st peak. |
 This guy is our water bank… |
 It’s a paradise of flowers |
 Inheritors of the kingdom… |
 Rain is coming soon… |
 Great guidance |
 Passing the 1st peak |
 The way was very tough |
It was a fresh experience for us to feel this under a misty weather condition. We started again looking for place which we camping 2nd night, after 1 hour which had the lunch and small rest with feeling the beauty of Dumbara forest.
 Reaching beauteous destination after a tough Journey |
 Mist clasping the mountain |
 The victorious moment |
 Deep in to the Knuckles range… |
 The tiny village of Bambarella |
 The 3rd peak of Knuckles. |
 Climate is changed very quickly |
 Next target “ගොම්බානිය” |
Feeling happy.
If we entered to that place at about 6.00 pm, the random rain was completely destroyed our all wishes. Ganesh expressed our all wishes. He expressed his tight protest for stay their without a bonfire. If we spent at about one hour the weather condition was not good. So he decided to left again to Thangappuwa with our protest.
If there was no any solution we started journey again with the help of touch light through the dark and the mist.
 Bio-diversity |
 Come back |
 Just click |
 Just like a painting |
 She covered her face quickly… |
 With the intention of camping 2nd day. (Rain is destroyed our hopes) |
 Too tired after long hike. |
This dangerous journey was too hard because of bleeders. The water level of pools was high some height and also the wounds which occurs due to slippery were increased the pain too much.
We could reach to Thangappuwa at about 9.30 pm because of the ceaseless walk and we got tired very much. So we could spend our second night at Ganeshs’ house unavoidably. Treatments and the warm full responses of his family and neighbors were carried us freshness. That was a great experience for us really because we were not spend a night at a tiny cottage of tamil people earlier. Every hospitality which were given by Ganesh to us were noted as unforgettably forever on a page of my memory book in my trekking life .We left from Ganeshs’ house with saying goodbye the day after that day with having breakfast by the only bus which went from Thangappuwa to Kandy.
 It’s a distinct morning in our lives… (At Ganeshs’ home) |
 It’s a very precious moment for me. |
 Bathing dew in the morning. |
 Earnestly… |
 Our lodge at last night. |
 Feeling his own freedom. |
 Tiny cottage at Thangappuwa |
 Just click |
 Buds for waiting blossom |
 This also a buddy waiting for blossom |
 Colorful |
 The moment which leaving from Ganeshs’ family… |
This forest should be preserve for future generation really. Three rivers and streams are fallen down through this forest with full fill 30% of water amount by Mahaweli River and the no. of flora and fauna species are found out from this forest.
It’s very necessary to preserve all these things for the every born, unborn one in new generation. We are the members of that sacred activity. We said goodbye to queen Knuckles with the intention of that.
Thank you very much for read my report.