Knuckles Sphinx-2 / කිනිහිරිගල-2 (1500+m)

Year and Month	Summited- 06th April 2019 Attempts- 21st December 2018 31st December 2018 06th January 2019
Number of Days	Four separate days
Crew	Summited-Vikum, Shashi and Myself Attempts-Eshan, Keshan, Chathura, Nuwan, Vikum, Shashi and Myself
Accommodation	Not Applicable
Transport	By Bus, Three wheeler and hiking
Activities	Hiking, Photography and Trekking
Weather	Sunny and misty
Route	Colombo->Theldeniya->Rangala->Thangappuwa->Spnix-2 back in same route OR Colombo->Hunnasgiriya->Corbett’s gap->Sphinx-2 back in same route
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Leech protection methods to be followed. Start the journey early. Don’t try in wet days (Rainy or misty) as rock is slippery Carry at least 1-1.5l per person. It is a strenuous hike and we spent about 4 hours to reach the peak. It has a part of rock climbing as well. Having a rope is good for safety. The top of Sphinx-2 is a narrow area. It is completely covered by bushes of Rhododendrons sp. No place for camping. When you get on to these bushes can have 360 degree view. No water on top. There is only a small open area at slope where you can sit. As it is situated at Knuckles forest reserve you need permission. It get about 2.5-3 hours to reach the base of the rock from Loolewatta-Meemure road. It is a continuous ascend after crossing the water stream. There is a clear foot path from line house to certain extent but villagers don’t like outsiders to visit this area. (what we felt) Analyze the Google map and stick on it. But sometimes it may mislead you.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Knuckles Sphinx-2 / කිනිහිරිගල-2 (1500+m)

There are two square shaped rocks situated at Knuckles massif closer to Corbett’s gap named as Sphinx-1 and Sphinx-2 or Kinihirigala-1 (කිනිහිරිගල-1) and Kinihirigala-2. Sphinx-1 (1400m+) is not seen at Corbett’s gap, but can be captured on your way to Corbett’s gap or after passing the gap, as it is situated just behind the gap. Sphinx-2 is situated just beyond the gap. Therefore it can be seen easily from the gap and on your way to Meemure after passing the gap.

What is the mean of Sphinx?
It is a mythological creature with a lion’s body and a human head, an important image in Egyptian and Greek art and legend. Sometimes winged sphinx comes in Greek legends. The earliest and most famous example in art is the Great Sphinx (a pyramid) at Giza at Egypt. This is known to be a portrait statue of the king Khafra.
Asian Sphinx has additional wings to the lion body. (Quoted from https://www.britannica.com)

As these two rocks also have similar appearance of sphinx, named as Sphinx in Colonial era when they mapped Knuckles range. (Most probable reason) Seems Sphinx-2 has more sphinx appearance than sphinx-1.

Sphinx-1

Sphinx-2

Sphinx-1 and Sphinx-2 in one picture. This was taken at Loolewatta-Meemure road.

Sphinx-2 is known a difficult hike due to slope of the rock. It has very less connection with nearby mountains. Therefore it is difficult to find a place to get on the rock. You can’t get a clear idea of the rock even looking at Google map. Closer analysis of pictures would reveal it has two rocks, consists of main rock with summit and side small one. Aliyawetunaela Mountain is situated behind Sphinx-2 (when you stand at Loolewatta-Meemure road) and there are some peaks in between these two. If someone tries to approach the base of Sphinx-2 from Thangappuwa side it needs to pass Aliyawetunaela Mountain and all these peaks as well. The approach from Loolewatta-Meemure road is also time consuming as ascend is more. Though you reach the base of the rock with all these difficulties, it has only few places to get on the rock.
Therefore all these factors make this hike difficult.

How Sphinx-2 stands with rest of Knuckles range

Majestic appearance of Sphinx-2

Closer analysis of Sphinx-2 would reveal it has two rocks, the main rock with peak and side small rock

Main rock and side rock

Sun rise over Sphinx-2.

Side rock of Sphinx-2

Side rock of Sphinx-2.

Another view of Sphinx-2. Aliyawetunaela Mountain is situated behind Sphinx-2 and there are few other mountains between these two. You can see the slope of the rock in this picture.

Aerial view of the rock. Note this side rock is how small compared to main body.

Aerial view of Sphinx-2

Sphinx-1 is marked by a star closer to Corbett’s gap and Sphinx-2 is marked as Kinihirigala No 2 in metric map. Click image to enlarge.

Sphinx-2 in Google map

Area of Sphinx-2 is circled.

As it is a difficult hike, I had to attempt different times to understand the geography of this rock. We have reached the base of rock all the times but unable to find a place to get on it. Sometimes it was difficult to try at some places due to slippery rock in damp condition. But at the end it gave me a clear idea about this majestic rock than other mountains.

First attempt-21/12/2018
In my first attempt I tried to reach the base of the rock from Loolewatta-Meemure road. We four (Keshan, Nuwan, Chathura and Myself) travelled from Hunnasgiriya to Corbett’s gap and just passed the line house below Corbett’s gap. Then entered the forest. There was a clear foot path to certain extent (As there is a toddy spot) and it was a continuous ascend till we reached the base. Later we got to know lower part of this forest is still belongs to an estate. People at line house don’t like out siders to visit here (most probably illegal toddy business).
There was few potential places at rock to attempt the summit from base in this side. But we didn’t try much due to damp weather and as we didn’t have a rope. We were able to get a nice view of Dumbanagala in this journey.

Toddy spot… It is situated closer to the line houses. There is a clear foot path up to this.

Nuwan, Chathura and Keshan were members of the journey. This is a one place we came across 90 degree angle rock

Kakilla

Dumbanagala is situated right in front of Sphinx-2. You can note it’s tail and head.

View of Dumbanagala. Gerandigala is situated behind Dumbanagala.

The hotel situated at base of Dumbanagala. This is not Dumbanagala Chalet.

Three lines of mountains

Mist is coming…

Towards Alugal Lena and Meemure side

Paddies at Kumbukgolla.

The hotel at Corbett’s gap.

Second attempt-31/12/2018
This was my second attempt to Sphinx-2 from different side. It was part of two days trip and we have visited at Sphinx-1 in first day. Sphinx-2 approach was through Aliyawetunaela Mountain. We have passed the peak of Aliyawetunaela and rest of the mountain range between Sphinx-2 and Aliyawetunaela. Here using of Google map was bit confused as we came across few drops where getting down is impossible. There was a steep drop at final descend and ended up at western edge of Sphinx rock. This was very narrow area and drops were in either side. As the rock was dripping with mist and due to time factor we didn’t proceed further. We were able to view Sphinx-1 and Gerandigala with Garandi falls in this journey. First time we got a clear idea about the top of Sphinx-2.

Eshan and Tharindu were in this journey.

View of Sphinx-1 on our way to Sphinx-2

Rhododendrons sp. bushes

Gerandigala and Garandi Ella is flowing down

Globular shape of Sphinx-2 top.

Zoomed view of top of Spinx-2. Flag is also seen.

Top of Sphinx-2.

The drop…

Rhododendrons sp.

The drop and narrow connection with nearby mountain

At the end…

Drop at other side

Third attempt-06/01/2019
After failing two times I was really disappointed and decided to give another try after one week of second attempt with a rope. Here we approached the base of the rock as same as our first visit. We have crossed to the other border of the rock in this time. With aid of bushes we have hiked certain extent along the rock and found some possible places to get on the rock. Although we had the rope, we didn’t like to get unnecessary risk. After this attempt I decided to not to spend further time on this rock for certain time.

Wikum, Shashi and Eshan were members of this journey

The mist

Removing leeches. It was a wet day.

Macro…

Rest	It was a continuous ascend along this side till you reach the base of rock

Wikum in action

Hike along the edge of other side of Sphinx-2

Sheer drop

With help of bushes

This small rock which is similar to Sphinx rocks situated between Sphinx-1 and 2

Weather became clear then

Koboneelagala is appearing above the forest edge

We have climbed a certain distance along the rock

The front rock touches the main rock

Though it was unsuccessful we enjoyed the journey

Though I have lost my hopes on Sphinx-2, Wikum who was a member of my third journey was ready to find possible places to get on the rock. Wikum was able to reach the summit of Sphinx-2 in his second attempt with his friends.

Successful journey to Sphinx-2
Exactly after three months of my last attempt, I was able to conquer this majestic Sphinx rock. All credit should go to Wikum to accompany me to top of Sphinx-2. We have spent about four hours to reach the top of Sphinx-2 with aid of rope as well.
The top of Sphinx-2 is a narrow place and completely covered with short bushes. (This was tally with our previous observation). We have stood on these short bushes to get the view from top. Here you can get 360 degree view including Aliyawetunaela Mountain, Knuckles Five Peaks, Alugal Lena Mountain and top part of Alugal Lena cave, Meemure side, Lakegala, Dumbanagala, Balalgira, Corbett’s gap, Loolewatta to Meemure road and Koboneelagala etc. It was not a good time to look for second line mountains as mist was around. After spending about an hour on top we just stepped down to the tiny open area situated at slope of Sphinx-2. It was just enough to sit for 2/3 people. We were managed to make return journey in 3 hour’s time. So at the end I was able to achieve my dream in 4th attempt.