The Knuckles mountain range is a vitally important conservation area and forms the backbone of the recently declared Knuckles National Heritage and Wilderness Area, a UNESCO Heritage Site. Named so because of the appearance of this mountain range resembling that of a set of knuckles in a closed fist, the region is famed for its unique landscape and spectacular natural beauty.
The Knuckles forest covers an area of about 160sqkm and falls within the Kandy and Matale districts. It is the most scenic part of Sri Lanka’s highlands and contains some of the island’s most rugged, spectacular and breathtaking mountain scenery. Another unique feature of the Knuckles is that it represents almost all major climatic zones in Sri Lanka and this is sure to arouse the interest of nature enthusiasts, botanists and researchers alike.
