Joanna James
Called 'knuckles' because of its resemblance to human knuckles, the Knuckles Mountain Range is a stunning mountain tract in Sri Lanka and a popular hiking trail. Read on to find out more!
Rising above a verdant forest, the Knuckles is a collection of 34 mountains with heights ranging from 900 to 2,000 metres. The mountain range features waterfalls, and the vicinity is dotted with small villages. This is one of the best places to enjoy hiking because of the array of wild animals that call this area home.
Before you attempt hiking here, you should know that this is one of the most difficult hiking trails you'll find anywhere, and prior experience is recommended if you want to hike here. Even if you have experience, it's best to have an experienced guide to show you around; navigating this labyrinth of hiking trails can be tricky. Also, you cannot access any protected area without a guide; it's not permitted.
When it comes to hiking the Knuckles, hotels play a major part. If you stay at a place like Wild Glamping Knuckles, you can get the hotel to find a guide and arrange a tour for you. So, choose your accommodation wisely and make sure you stay not too far away from the mountain range – hiking the trails is difficult enough, and you wouldn't want to add a long and difficult commute to that.
You'll find several hiking trails here with varying difficulty levels. So, it's important that you know what kind of hiking experience you are looking for.
For the best experience, you should consider spending the night in the mountains. There are overnight accommodation options that offer huts and camp areas with scenic views.
Make sure you have a large bottle of water. Hiking the Knuckles can be pretty tiring, and you cannot survive the hike without water. And the midday sun can dehydrate you pretty quickly, so make sure to have a bottle of water with you.
The tropical sun isn't the best thing for your skin, and sunburns are really difficult to recover from. So, make sure you bring your sunscreen. You should also have a hat, preferably with a wide brim, to protect your face and neck area. Also, the rugged terrain infested with leeches calls for a good pair of hiking shoes.
If you are thinking of staying in the mountains overnight, make sure you leave your luggage at the hotel. You don't need much, and heavy luggage will only slow you down.
Bring cash to buy something at the local store you'll find along the way. You will also need to tip the guide. If you are not comfortable with carrying around cash, let the driver know beforehand so that he can stop at an ATM.
You definitely need your camera to capture the beautiful moments you are going to experience. The views are absolutely breathtaking, and you'll want to take pictures of the wild animals that roam the area – speak to your guide before taking pictures of wild animals; your camera flash might scare them away.
Set out early in the morning to make the most of your time and avoid the sun for as long as you can. And the best months to visit are from June to August. This is the dry season with a relatively low chance of rain. December to May could work too if you don't mind the occasional drizzle.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
