-
8/7/2019 Serendib the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka a World Heritage
1/612 October 2010 www.srilankan.aero
Heritage
The CenTral highlands of sri lanka
A World HeritAgeSri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean lays claim to eight of the current 911 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka were recently recognised and became part of this awe inspiring listing
which already includes Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Galle, Kandy, the Sinharaja Forest, and the
Dambulla Golden Temple.
Though collectiely called the
Central Highlands o Sri Lanka,
the name itsel does not do justice
to the mystique and majesty o the
three unique attractions that make
up this area. The Peak Wilderness
Protected Area, Horton Plains National
Park and Knuckles Conseration Forest,
all o which hae unique attributes with
their dierse range o ora and auna
are the Central Highlands o Sri Lanka
that are truly a World Heritage.
Words: Aadhil Aziz | Photography: Atheeq Mahuroof and Ramesh Laktharu
The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, the view from Adams Peak
We cmfbe he hg
b, wm che c
y c me m/we
c wehe. Cy c, ey f
we ec eee.
-
8/7/2019 Serendib the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka a World Heritage
2/6October 2010www.srilankan.aero 13
At an altitude o 2,100m, Horton
Plains is a large system o plains and
orest coer that include Agra-Bopats,
Moon Plains and Elk Plains, and is
completely dierent to all the other
national parks in Sri Lanka. The high
altitude means that both the auna and
ora hae adapted to this altitude and
this makes some o the parks species
unique, not only in Sri Lanka, but to
the entire world. In a relatiely small
expanse o 3,160ha is a curious mix o
grassland, wet eergreen orest, and
waterways which gie rise to Sri Lankas
longest rier the Mahaweli Ganga
(Mahawelirier), as well as two other
prominent riers in Sri Lanka, the Kelani
Ganga and the Walawe Ganga.
Sadly, between 1831 and 1948
it became a Sambhur deer hunting
ground. Wild boar and elephants were
also hunted to a lesser extent, but this
was a part o what led to the extinction
o the regions elephants. The diersity
o ora and auna that can be seen at
this park, includes a number o endemic
species such as the Sri Lankan Leopard,
the Horned Lizard, the Purple Faced
Langur, and the Jet Black Giant Squirrels.
Some endemic owers are the Royal
Horton plains national parkPurple Binara and the Maha Ratmal to
name a ew.
One primate that deseres special
mention is the Horton Plains Slender
Loris, which is a sub-species o the Red
Slender Loris and is considered one o
the most endangered primates by the
Zoological Society o London. It was
photographed or the frst time - as
recently as July 2010!
The most amous part o this park
is somewhat exaggeratedly named
Worlds End, which is a 884m sheer drop,
straight out o a Sylester Stallone moie.
Once again, the iew is spectacular.
Sambhurs roaming the plains
Horton Plains is rich in diversityThe lake at Horton Plains
As far as the eye can see
-
8/7/2019 Serendib the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka a World Heritage
3/614 October 2010 www.srilankan.aero
Up we go - Horton Plains
Bakers FallWorlds End
Horton Plains
How to get tHere Y c ge hee fm y f he fwg e:
V nw Ey, ambewe, p (20 me/32m); He Wem,
B, ohy (24 me/38m); nw Ey, Hg, re,
ambewe, p (24 me/38m)
Best time to travel a ye . pefec f wfe eh
e ve
important
TRAvEL TIPS
-
8/7/2019 Serendib the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka a World Heritage
4/6October 2010www.srilankan.aero 15
Garra. Now that eco-tourism is to play
a big part in Sri Lankas uture tourism
plans, hopeully they will escape
extinction.
The Central Highlands o
Sri Lanka are three staggeringly
beautiul elements, each with their
own quintessentially distinctie
characteristics that set it apart rom the
other seen UNESCO World Heritage
sites on this most extraordinary
island. They are certainly worthy o
their inclusion into the special list
o UNESCO World Heritage Sites, to
explore, treasure and presere or uture
generations to come.
It is because o this irtual isolation
that the less mobile species ound on
the Knuckles mountain range, hae
oer the years eoled into seeral
interesting sub-species, ound no
where else on the planet, let alone
Sri Lanka. For example, the Kir thisinghe
Rock Frog, the Star Orchid and the
Grassland Yam. According to the
IUCN 2007 Endangered Species list,
two o the three species o fsh ound
exclusiely in the Knuckles region
are close to extinction. These include
the Blotched Filamented Barb and
Martenstyns Barb. The third species
unique to this region is the Phillips
knuCklEs ConsErVation ForEstConsisting o 27 mountains all aboe
1,000m in height, surrounded by the
Dumbara valley, rom a distance they
gie the impression o the knuckles
o a clenched fst when iewed rom
certain locations. This region was
originally called Dumbara Kanduvetiya
(Sinhalese or mist-laden mountain
range), but oer the years the name
Knuckles has stuck ast. The act that
a alley surrounds these 27 peaks at
their relatiely high eleation, gies the
impression o an island surrounded in a
sea o mist, and it is quite a breathtaking
sight to see, especially during the early
hours o the morning.
Knuckles
How to get tHere thee e my e, b he be ve hgh ky Me
Best time to travel a ye , b be chec wehe befe veg
note th che ey vg fe, me e e gh e hgh
important
TRAvEL TIPS
Knuckles range
-
8/7/2019 Serendib the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka a World Heritage
5/616 October 2010 www.srilankan.aero
Popularly known by a ariety o
names, depending on who you ask,
Adams Peak is a majestic mountain
isible rom most parts o the Island
at dusk or dawn. At 2,243m, it is the
Islands second tallest mountain. The
majority Buddhists reer to the mountain
as Sri Pada in reerence to a ootprint
embedded into a rock at the summit.
Muslims beliee this same oot print
to be that o the Prophet Adam, who
was cast down rom the heaens, and
ell to earth at this ery spot. The Hindu
community beliees that the oot print
belongs to Lord Shia, during one o
his ritual dances, and some Catholics
beliee it to be the ootprint o
St. Thomas. Seasonal yellow butteries
(called Samanalayo in Sinhala),
combined with a history lesson where
Saman, one o the our deities o the
Island resided, gies this mountain
its other name oSamanala Kanda
(Samans Mountain).
Whilst there maybe seeral ariations
o these oerly generalised ideologies
o the dierent communities, one
thing remains clear. This mountain is
prooundly and undeniably sacred.
We began our ascent during the early
tHE pEak WildErnEss protECtEd arEa
Adams Peak
How to get tHere Ehe fm he w f Mey (he), r (ge)
Best time to travel Fm he F M decembe F M a
Best time to climB 2 m h by 6 m y e he f he mm cch he behg e
important
TRAvEL TIPS
hours o the morning, along what was
originally reerred to as the Fathers
Path, by none other than the amed
Moor explorer Ibn Batuta. This path is ar
longer (a 26km trek!) and treacherous
and begins at the town o Ratnapura.
The less arduous Mothers Path (which
begins at the town o Maskeliya) or
those a little more street smart; is less
than an eight kilometre hike.
I must admit there were times
where my mind was willing, but my
legs elt like lead. Leaing the debate
o the Fathers Path ersus the Mothers
Path aside, it was the neer ending
Adams Peak or Sri Pada
-
8/7/2019 Serendib the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka a World Heritage
6/6October 2010www.srilankan.aero 17
I heard the bell being struck six, seen and
then eight times, and imagine my surprise
as I saw the sweetest and most rail old
lady ringing this bell, with a wry smile on
her ace!
I timidly rang the bell with a single
strike as this was my frst ascent and
quietly moed away to the sacred
ootprint. People silently took their turns
worshipping in their own way according
to their personal aiths and belies.
It was ascinating to see how the same
symbol brought orth such oerwhelming
emotion rom the aried races and
religions o this country and tourists alike.
staircase that played tricks on my mind.
At eery stop I drew inspiration rom an
elderly gent or lady easily twice my age
quietly, resolutely plodding along, step
ater endless step.
When you near the summit you
hear this glorious sound o a bell
being struck, echoing out through the
surrounding plains, sometimes a single
strike, and sometimes a series o notes
strung together in celebrated melody.
The number o times you strike the bell
is a mark o the number o times you
hae ascended this sacred mountain.
Ironically as I climbed the last ew stairs
The sunrise is probably the
ultimate reward or those who
complete this arduous journey. It is
impossible to describe the iew, to
do its magnifcence justice. It must
be noted though, the sunrise and
spectacular iew which then opens
up like a curtain being raised oer
the entire earth is probably best
appreciated ater this climb has
actually been made, ater you hae
toiled and troubled, sweated and
cramped your way to the summit.
It is the ultimate reward and the
ultimate high!
The bell being struck to signify the number of visits to the Peak Sunrise
Those from around the world venerate this PeakFirst timers draw a thread as they climb up to the summit