Knuckles Mountain Range
Called the 'Misty Mountains' (Dumbara) in Sinhala, this region is a UNESCO hotspot of biodiversity, with hundreds of species being endemic to these mountains only.
The first multi-day trip of my life was during the first few months of the university. I had joined the Nature Team of the University of Moratuwa, and one of their major annual workshops was a 3-day visit to the Knuckles range of Sri Lanka.
Knuckles range gets its name from how it looks from certain angles. Although the range constitutes just 0.03% of the island's total area, more than 34% of Sri Lanka's endemic trees, shrubs, and herbs are only found in these forests. It is also included in the UNESCO world heritage list.
Moments
We stayed at the Knuckles Conservation Center (pre-booking needed). We cooked our own meals. Several guys I met on this trip became my closest friends through university life and beyond.
We got around in a bus we had hired. Environment enthusiasts who know about biodiversity taught us about different animals, their habitats, and behavior.
