Pitawala Patana and the Mini World's End Drop

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Mini World's End drop 1 at Pitawala Pathana — Mini World’s End drop 1 at Pitawala Pathana

The beautiful valley around Knuckles massif is called “Dumbara” because it’s always misty. The region is blessed with rich fauna and flora, nourished by intermittent rains and water cascading from surrounding streams.

The Knuckles mountain range (Dumbara Valley), called so because it resembles the knuckles of a clenched fist, consists of 35 peaks which rise above 900m, perhaps the highest aggregation of such peaks in a single mountain range.

The area above Knuckles Range was declared as a climatic reserve, a conservation forest and a National Biosphere Reserve for its unparalleled biodiversity.

The climate in the Dumbara Range varies from extremely wet to almost arid. The area is highly windy most of the period throughout the year.

Pitawala Pathana is a grass plain in Riverston in the Dumbara Valley. This plain can be accessed by traveling 32 kilometers from Matale along a misty, winding road. A private vehicle would take approximately 1.5 hours to reach the destination.

Pitawala Pathana Mini World’s End

The Pitawala Pathana plains culminate in a sheer vertical drop to the north, where two rocks extend towards the edge, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountain range and a dizzying glimpse of the bottom.

To access the Mini World’s End, visitors must purchase a ticket at the office near the car park. Entrance fees are LKR 60 for locals and LKR 975 (approximately USD 3) for foreigners per person. From there, a 750-meter hike across flat grassland leads to the viewpoint. The trail is well-marked with short yellow concrete markers, ensuring easy navigation.

Weather conditions can make the plains and the cliffside extremely windy, and since the edges are unprotected, visitors should exercise caution when approaching the rock edge. The entire visit, including the hike and time spent capturing photos, typically takes between 45 to 60 minutes.

Pitawala Pathana

Pitawala Pathana is a grass plain that spreads over an area of about 10 ha of a gently sloping rock slab covered with just a thin soil layer. The turf grass about 10 cm in height gives a velvety appearance to this sloping expanse of grassland. Isolated and scattered trees and shrubs could be seen. Many endemic plant and animal species are found.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is a rare type of grassland that evolved in response to a particular ecological condition and can be found nowhere else in the country. A semi-evergreen forest on somewhat deeper soil surrounds the grassland.

Pitawala Patana is home to two endemic species. One is a frog known as Dumbara Galpara Mediya and the other is Patan Ala, a type of grass. Many carnivorous plants on the plain trap unwary insects.

The soil in the plains is not very rich in nutrients and thus certain plants have adapted to find the required nutrients from insects. Kadulessa, one such carnivorous plant species, has a sticky serum that traps unwary insects.

Precautions when Visiting Pitawala Pathana and Mini World’s End

If the plains are wet, leeches are likely to be present, so it’s advisable to carry a leech repellent such as Dettol or liquid salt.
If rain is expected, bringing a raincoat or an umbrella is recommended.
There is no specific dress code for the visit.
Carry drinking water or snacks if needed.

Mini World's End drop 2 at Pitawala Pathana

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Map of the Pitawala Patana

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Pitawala Patana and the Mini Worlds End Video

An informative video clip by Nade Gura Travel & Conservation Society

Traveling Directions to Pitawala Patana

Route from Colombo to Pitawala Pathana	Route from Kurunegala town to Pitawala Pathana
Though : Peradeniya – Matale distance : 175 km Travel time : 4-5 hours Driving directions : see on google map	from : Dogangaslanda Road distance : 75 km Travel time : 1.5-2 hours Driving directions : see on google map
Route from Polonnaaruwa to Pitawala Pathana
Though : Elahara – Bakamoona distance : 105 km Travel time : 2 hours Driving directions : see on google map