Hike to highest Peak (Gombania, 6,253 ft) of the Knuckles Range

This journey we did some times back, most of the members of the crew are members of “Dumbara Mithuro” Environmental and Cultural Society. The society is devoted for the conservation activities in the Knuckles mountain range. On the other hand expedition in the knuckles forest is another prime objective of the society.

Knuckles mountain range consist of 34 main peaks and the most popular one among the public is “Knuckles” peak( 6,128), while the highest peak is “Gombania(6,253)”. Kalupahana is famous for disastrous cardamom estates, but it locates in the middle of the knuckles range, the peak (5,341) also surrounded by the estates. Our journey was planned in order to achieve the highest peak and assess the current condition of the “cardamom estate” in Kalupahana. We planned the journey in two stages as there is a long distance between Gombania and Kalupahana via forest, and that direction is very difficult due to the steep slope. It’ll take at least 12 hours to reach gombania to kalupaha, and also carrying a heavy backpack to facilitate 3 nights is not possible with the difficult path. (No path, actually we’ve to find a path).

Part 1 – Gombania

We started the journey around 4.00 a.m. at Malabe and reached Bambarella around 7.30 a.m. the first target was “Gombania”. Mr. Talwatta at Panwila helped us to find a well experienced and knowledgeable guide called “Nimal”. Through panwilla, huluganga we came up to “Alakolla Estate” by car and a motor bike. Road inside the estate is not possible with a car up to the point where road ends, but a vehicle with more ground clearance could do.

Factory

The road is ok about 1km after the factory using a normal vehicle, thereafter about 2km road is available up to the resting place constructed by the estate.

Resting Place

This is an ideal place to have a rest, before start the hiking through the forest, better to refill the water bottles. After this point up to another 1 km there is a foot path used by the estate workers. Thereafter we decided to find a direction to reach the peak, with the guidance of the land marks, but on our return we realized that there is a hidden path to the peak, but it is not clear at all.

We had to find our own path and clear the under grown

Gombania mountain range

Hiking through plants

Nimal, our guide explaining the plan to the crew, at this point we’ve done a half of the trek, behind the crew you can see the surrounding area down (Panwila & bambarella).

After that planning session we started the most difficult half of the trek, both the slope and thickness of the forest increases.

You cannot walk steadily and have to bend down.

The mountain is covered with plenty of flowers specially orchids.

The mountain is covered with plenty of flowers specially orchids.

After about 3 hours trekking we reached to the bottom of the rock (peak)

Then we had to go around the rock to reach the summit.

Happy faces at the summit

The peak is always covered in mist and sometimes it clears for few minutes, we captured some village in the down.

we captured some village in the down

Misty mountains

Misty mountains

We spent about 2 hours at the peak while having lunch and started to climb down , at least 3 hours is required to reach the resting place, hence before sun go down we went down.

First day night we stayed at the temple at bambarella

Part 2 – Kalupahana

Next day morning we started the journey to Kalupahana from bambarella, which is fairly easy one, as there is a very clear foot path. Two new members from bambarella joined the crew in place of local members (Nimal and Talwatta) participated in the yesterday.

A Typical view of “Knuckles Mountains” from bambarella

We continued our journey to kalupahana through “Lebonan Estate”

Without any difficulty we reached to Kalupahana cardamom estates within 2 hours and decided to stay at “KMP wadiya”

You can imagine the scale of cardamom estates in Kalupahana, these constructions are permanent illegal things within the knuckles range. Compared to the past now the cardamom estates are not functioning actively as it is prohibited by the rules. But we’ve observed still some “Ovens” which used to dried cardamom are operating. Due to the cardamom estates there is two main threats to the forest. First the under grow is cleared for cardamom plantations and hence in future when the matured trees died, there is no generation to fulfill the gap. Second, for, the matured trees are used for the fuel requirements of Ovens. Once the matured trees are died the “Kalupahana” will just be a grass land.

KMP wadiya

Pictures of Ovens

Cardamom – inside the oven

Cardamom Plantations – see the entire under grown is cleared

We started the trekking for Kalupahana peak early in the morning and had to reach the peak through cardamom estates while having a worm well come from leeches

worm well come from leeches

Sunrise at the peak, while we are striving

Beauty of a Montane forest

Crew at the summit

As I mentioned earlier Kalupahana Mountain is located in the center of the knuckles mountain range, hence you can have a 360 degree view of the entire range could be observed.

Knuckles mountains

Lakegala

Weak sight of Gombania through clouds

We came back to the bambarella via the same route to end our jouney. If you visit kalupahana do not forget to climb the mountain to get a panoramic view of the entire forest.