Corbet’s gap is a one of the most popular view points in the knuckles mountain range which spans the Kandy and Matale districts covering an area of 18,512 ha. Called the Dumbara Hills (Misty Mountains) in Sinhala due to ever present mist covering the mountains, the British called it Knuckles, since the range consists of 5 peaks taking the shape of a clenched fist. The five peaks, extending from West to South-east includes Kirigalpoththa ( 2388m), Gombaniya (1906m), Knuckles (1852m), Koboneelagala (1544m) and Dotulugala (1564m), respectively.
From Corbet’s Gap in the south, another ridge enters north east wards, more or less parallel to the Kalupahana range.
Locally known as Attala-Wettuwa, the British named this spectacular view point by the name of a British surveyor Corbet who mapped the area in the second part of the 19th century. This ridge is dominated by Dumbanagala (‘Misty rock 1642m) and Galtuna (3 rocks) it in turn meets the north west trending Telambugala (1332m) Welangala (1181m) ridge, is the finest peak of the whole.
The Corbet’s Gap is reachable by any vehicle through Hunnasgiriya – Meemure Road. From the Hunnasgiriya juction it is 19 km to the view point. This route will give one of the most spectacular view of the virgin forests of the central highlands of Sri Lanka and will take you up to the Meemure, a remote village far away from civilization. This is also the most popular route taken by trekkers to Corbet’s Gap as well as Meemure.
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Visiting Taylor’s Seat, Taylor’s Log Cabin, Well and the Very First Tea Patch.
Loolkandura Estate in the Kandy district is the very first patch of tea was planted as a test after the failure of coffee plantation in Sri Lanka. With the wild success of this plantation, then 21 year old planter James Taylor who was in charge of this plantation has been forever immortalized and has become a part of post colonization history of Sri Lanka.
Taylor had signed on for three years as an assistant supervisor on a coffee plantation in Ceylon in 1852. The sixteen–year–old Scot, son of a modest wheelwright, would never see his native land again. Five years after he took up his post, his employers, Harrison and Leake, impressed by the quality of his work, put Taylor in charge of the Loolkandura Estate (then Loolecondera Estate) and instructed him to experiment with tea plants. The Peradeniya nursery supplied him with his first seeds around 1860. He cleared 19 acres of forest in Hewaheta Lower, and planted the first seedlings which became a such a success which finally caused his downfall as well.
The Ceylon Tea became so popular, large tea companies flocked in to the “Ceylon Tea” market and started consolidating small estates. The small Loolkandura (Loolecondera) estate too was caught in this consolidation and Taylor was eventually dismissed by the estate management.
In 2nd May, 1892, aged 57 years, one year after being dismissed, Taylor passed away due to severe gastroenteritis and dysentery. His body was buried in the Mahaiyawa Cemetery in Kandy.
As a tribute to man who brought little known Ceylon to the world recognition with the ‘Ceylon Tea” brand, Loolkandura Estate has now restored several locations used by James Taylor including the very first tea patch open to the general public.
Here you can see the Taylor’s Seat, a rock seat used by James Taylor which gives a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain ranges, The chimney of the log cabin which was used by Taylor ( only remaining part of the cabin), The well used by Taylor and the very first patch of tea which was planted by Taylor now known as the No.7 field of the Loolkandura (Loolecondera) Estate.
One unique decision of James Taylor is the naming of the estate. When all other planters who setup estates named them with English names close to their hearts Taylor named his estate “Loolecondera”, by the local name of the area Loolkandura as he spelled it.
Traveling from Kandy, take the Galaha Road ( B364) and continue on the road for 34 kilometers passing Hindagala, Mahakanda, Galaha and Deltota to reach the entrance to the Loolkandura (Loolecondera) Estate. To reach these the above landmarks you need to travel a further 4 km inside the estate on winding roads.
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Sripada “mountain of Sacred Footprint of Sri Lanka” is an ancient pilgrimage site. This conical mountain of 2,243 m high has a unique distinction of being sacred to the followers of four religions. It is highly revered by followers of four religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islamism.
Long before the development of these religions, however, this lush mountain was worshipped by the aboriginal inhabitants of Sri Lanka, the Veddas. They used to call it Samanala Kanda, Saman being one of the four guardian deities of the island.
Location:
A Mountain is located in the southern area of the Central Highlands in the Ratnapura district of Sabaragauwa province. The surrounding region to this mountain is largely forested hills and distinctly visible because no mountain of comparable size is nearby. This lush forested area surrounded near the mountain is home to several wildlife species varying from elephants to leopards, and including many endemic species.
Myths Related
According to a legend, it is believed that Lord Buddha during his third visit to Sri Lanka placed his footprint on the summit of this sacred mountain. So, the name Sripada-the sacred footprint. Again the Muslim followers believe that the footprint is of Adam (hence the name Adam’s peak) whereas Christians and Hindus believe that the footprint is of St. Thomas, the disciple of Jesus, as he brought Christianity to the country and God Shiva respectively. For Hindus, the name of the mountain is Sivan Adi Padham, because it was the world-creative dance of the Lord Shiva that left the giant footprint (5 feet 7 inches by 2 feet 6 inches).
Pilgrimage Session to
Today the pilgrimage season commences in December and continues until the beginning of the monsoon rains in April (from May to October the mountain is obscured by clouds). Pilgrims try to reach the peak before dawn, as the view of sunrise from the peak is spectacular. There are several approaches to reach the peak. The main ones being through the Hatton town and Ratnapura District.
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