Pitawala Patana - Mini World's End near Riverston

Pitawala Patana Mini World's End is an overhanging cliff at the edge of a grassland plain in the northern foothills of Knuckles Range, situated at the Rattota-Illukkumbura mountain road in Matale District. "Pitawala", also transcribed "Pitawea", is the name of the nearby village between Riverston and the Mini World's End. Administrationally, also the pass and peaks and towers of Riverston are part of Pitawala. "Patana", also transcribed "Pathana", is a Sinhala term that applies to natural grasslands in the hillcountry in general. Such open meadows are also found at steep slopes of mountains. In the case of Pitawala Patana, it's only a slightly sloping grassland plain. The terrain of the open grasland of Pitawala Partana, surrounded by semi-evergreen forest, is of almost square size, half a kilometer long and wide.

open grassland of Pitawala Patana

Pitawala Patana in far distance, to the right

Pitawala Patana is rare type of natural grassland. The turf does not exceed 10 cm, except from only few places which are indicated by shrubs growing above head height. The turf is not deep, because there is a vast underground rock slab, which is covered only with thin soil that is also poor in nutrients. This is all the more difficult for plants to grow here as the wind gusts can be very strong in this mountainous area. Hence, larger plants cannot grow and plant species evolved in response to the extreme ecological conditions on this soil are heavily adapted and would have no chance to survive in more habitable eco-systems that are advantages for more common competitors. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the specific type of grassland of Pitawala Patana can be found nowhere else on the island. One plant and one animal species occuring here are endemic to Sri Lanka, namely a type of grass called Patan Ala and a frog named Dumbara Galpara Mediya after the Dumbara Kanduvetiya, which is the Sinhala name of Knuckles Range. Despite the unfavourable conditions for the flora, the fauna of Pitawala Patana is rich in reptiles and amphibians and insects. Not surprisingly, Pitawala Patana is rich in carnivorous plant species.

The hike crossing the entire length of Pitawala Patana is not long. The plain's sudden drop, known as "Punchi Lokanthaya" in Sinhala or "Mini World's End" in English, is in only 800 m (half a mile) distance from the car park at the ticket office. The view from the escarpment goes to the northern direction, where the northernmost foothils of Knuckles Range are located. Pitawala Patana can only be visited with a valid Knuckle Range ticket and an entry fee that will be charged at the said office at the Riverston road. Pathana Pitawala is open from 6.00 am till 6.00 pm.

As usual in the Knuckles Range area, Pitawala Patana can be rainy or foggy in any months of the year. Best chances to have dry weather are between January and March.

The ticket office of Pitawala Patana is in only 6 km (4 miles) road distance from the car park at Riverston Peak, the other main attraction of Pitawala, which can be seen from the grassland to the east. Halfway along the road is an excellent view point to the grassland area further below. The driving distance to Matale, the district capital, and Kandy, the provincial capital, are 40km (25 miles) and 65 km (40 miles) respectively.