Mountains of Sri Lanka

Pidurutalagala
Sri Lanka's Major Mountains (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ කඳු; Tamil: இலங்கையின் மலைகள்) are located in the central part of the island popularly known as the hill country or the central massif. 

The shape of the central massif over 1,500 m in height appears in the form of an inverted "T" or anchor, with a central ridge (or central backbone) forming the shank on which are some of the highest peaks in the country such as Pidurutalagala (2,524 m), Kirigalpotta (2,395 m) and Totapolakanda [(2,357 m) Sri Lanka Year Book, 1982]. The central ridge extends from Bopatalawa to Katugastota past Pidurutalagala and among the high plains of this ridge are Bopatalawa (Horton Plains), Hawa-Eliya (Moon Plains), Mipilimana (Elk Plains), Sita Eliya (Kandapola Plains) and Ambewela Plains (Vithanage, 1988). At the base of the central ridge (or the shank of the anchor) is Kirigalpotta from where one arm of the anchor extends westwards to terminate at Sri Pada while the other arm towards the east extends through Haputale and continues northeast to form Namunukula which is part of the north-south aligned Lunugala ridge (Sri Lanka Year Book, 1982).

On either side of this central ridge are two plateaux, the Ambatalawa (Hatton) Plateau to the west and Uva Basin (or Welimada Plateau) to the east averaging 1,200 m in height (Sri Lanka Year Book, 1982). There are also two regions detached from the central massif; the Dumbara massif (Matale Hills) and the Bulutota massif [(Rakwana Hills) Vithanage, 1988]. To the northwest of the central massif are Matale hills with Knuckles (1,863 m) forming the highest point (Sri Lanka Year Book, 1982). Forming the other detached portion from the central massif to the southwest lies the Rakwana hills and Bulutota massif averaging 900 m (Sri Lanka Year Book, 1982). Meanwhile, the east and southeast parts of the country are dotted with isolated hills with somewhat flat tops such as Monaragala, Govinda Hela and Kataragama.
 
The list of principal mountain peaks in Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka Year Book, 1982, Vithanage, 1988)

No. Mountain Height (MAMSL) District(s) Province(s)
1 Pidurutalagala
2,524 m
Nuwara Eliya
Central
2 Kirigalpotta 2,395 m
Nuwara Eliya
Central
3 Totapolakanda 2,357 m
Nuwara Eliya
Central
4 Kudahagala 2,320 m
Nuwara Eliya
Central
5 Sri Pada/Adam's Peak 2,243 m
Ratnapura
Sabaragamuwa
6 Kikilimana 2,240 mNuwara Eliya Central
7Great Western 2,216 m
Nuwara Eliya Central
8Hakgala 2,170 m
Nuwara Eliya Central
9 Conical Hill
2,166 m
Nuwara Eliya
Central
10 One Tree Hill 2,100 m
Nuwara Eliya
Central
11 Mahakudagala 2,100 m
Nuwara Eliya
Central
12 Waterfall Point 2,074 m
Nuwara Eliya
Central
13 Namunukula 2,036 m
Badulla
Uva
14 Gonmollikanda 2,034 mRatnapura-Badulla Sabaragamuwa-Uva
15Knuckles 1,863 m
Ratnapura-Badulla Sabaragamuwa-Uva
16Kotagala 1,753 m
Kandy-Nuwara Eliya Central

Other popular mountain peaks

Mountain Height (MAMSL) District(s) Province(s)
Saptha Kanya 1,571 m
Ratnapura-Nuwara Eliya
Sabaragamuwa-Central
Monaragala 1,520 m
Kandy
Central
Kondagala 1,511 m Nuwara Eliya Central
Kabaragala (part of the Dolosbage Mountain Range) 1,509 m
Nuwara Eliya
Central
Riverston View Point (part of the Knuckles Mountain Range) 1,480 m Matale Central
Madulsima 1,480 m
Badulla
Uva
Kallebokka 1,460 m
Matale
Central
Hanthana Peaks including Katusu Konda 1,322 m & 1,140 m
Kandy
Central
Yahangala (part of the Knuckles Mountain Range) 1,261 m
Kandy
Central
Lakegala 1,255 m
Matale
Central
Little Adam's Peak 1,151 m
Badulla
Uva
Ambuluwawa 1,071 m
Kandy
Central
Alagalla 1,033 m
Kegalle
Sabaragamuwa
Batalegala 798 m
Kegalle
Sabaragamuwa
Nelligala 771 m
Kandy
Central
Ritigala 753 m
Anuradhapura
North Central
Pettigala 673 m Kandy Central
Kukulugala 673 m
Ratnapura
Sabaragamuwa
Bahirawakanda 600 m Kandy Central
Govinda Hela 565 m
Monaragala
Uva
Uthuwankanda 430 m
Kegalle
Sabaragamuwa
Mawaragala 385 m Badulla Uva
Manakanda 378 m Anuradhapura North Central
Sigiriya 363 m
Matale
Central
Pidurangala 340 m Matale Central
Nuwaragala 332 m Ampara Eastern
Jathika Namal Uyana 320 m Anuradhapura North Central
Rajagala 316 m
Ampara
Eastern
Danigala 314 m Polonnaruwa
North Central

References
1) Sri Lanka Year Book, 1982. Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka. pp.4-5.
2) Vithanage, P.W., 1988. Relief and Drainage. The National Atlas of Sri Lanka. Survey Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 9559059009. pp.22-23. 


This page was last updated on 10 October 2023

Post a Comment

Cookie Consent
We serve cookies on this site to analyze traffic, remember your preferences, and optimize your experience.
Oops!
It seems there is something wrong with your internet connection. Please connect to the internet and start browsing again.
AdBlock Detected!
We have detected that you are using adblocking plugin in your browser.
The revenue we earn by the advertisements is used to manage this website, we request you to whitelist our website in your adblocking plugin.
Site is Blocked
Sorry! This site is not available in your country.