Gombaniya is the highest mountain in Knuckles forest reserve and about 1906m. It was situated near the Alakolla Estate at Hulu Ganga. Yakungehela mountain is the most nearest mountain to Gombaniya and fromthe eastern  the edge connecting to Sudugala and towards Lahumanagala. From the northern side its goes up to Knuckles Kirigalpotta. And Gombaniya is the mountain which can easily seen to the other mountains. Specially we can see this full range at Duwili Fall. Further we have seen this at the top of Knuckles 5 peaks but it couldn’t seen at the top of Alugal Kanda and Dumbanagala since those summits got hide from the 5 peaks. However this full mountain range is visible to the road from Panwila to Kabaragala via Madulkele and Kellebokka.

Gombaniya (1906m) is the highest peak of Knuckles mountain range. This is our one day hike to false popular summit and true peak of Gombaniya.

In 2014 when I hiked Gombaniya I did note this magnificent giant called Yakkunge hela and ever since that day I wanted to conquer it so It was pushed up the list on 2019 and It didnt fail my expectations.

We all gathered at Peradeniya and started our trip with 5 Motor bikes. We had our breakfast at Madawala and reached Panwila around 8:30 am. After passing the Panwila Filling station there is a road to left with the name boards which is the road to go to Hunnasgiriya mountain range.

Our initial plan was to visit at Knuckles peaks from Bambaralla and this was a suddenly planned trip due to misty covering of Knuckles peaks. Although we expected to have energetic waterfalls due to monsoon rain it didn’t happen.

One of my favorite hiking places is knuckles. I can still remember my first trip to knuckles about decade back. It was in 2003 and we went to Meemure and hike Lakegala Mountain. After that I went several times to Knuckles range with different entry points. Last time in April 2013 we hike Knuckles peaks. After this I had a dream to climb highest peak in Knuckles range, its Gombaniya Mountain. I read a trip report published in LAKDASUN.

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.

As my 2nd journey of my 2012 vacation I decided to take a trip to Matale to visit few cascading beauties around the area. As many of our members has done it is no means a hike or some sought of. But just a road trip where we went on search few places where you could find the waterfalls around the area.