{"id":25343,"date":"2025-02-17T12:38:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T12:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/?p=25343"},"modified":"2025-02-17T12:49:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T12:49:49","slug":"a-close-encounter-with-a-veddha-chief-in-the-knuckles-mountain-range-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/a-close-encounter-with-a-veddha-chief-in-the-knuckles-mountain-range-sri-lanka\/","title":{"rendered":"A close encounter with a Veddha chief in the Knuckles Mountain Range, Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1739795859752{padding-top: 50% !important;background-image: url(https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jamie-veddha-knuckles.jpg?id=25351) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text css=””]Team ETG’s Jamie recently returned from a recce deep in Dumbara Kanduvetiya (the mist-laden Knuckles Mountain Range). Discover what happened on his adventure in this rarely-visited, remote part of Sri Lanka<\/a> when he stayed at ETG\u2019s latest off-the-beaten-path find (Eagle\u2019s Crest Homestay<\/a>)…<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”chino” css=””][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text css=””]There he stood.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A small man with a weathered but happy disposition and long grey beard, wearing nothing but a sarong and holding a small axe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not exactly who I was expecting to greet me on my arrival at <\/span>Eagle\u2019s Crest<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sid, the homestay host, introduced him to me. \u201cMeet Sudalage Atho,\u00a0the Veddha Chief,” a leader of Sri Lanka\u2019s indigenous Veddha people. Despite not speaking any English, Sudalage greeted me warmly with a smile and traditional two-handed handshake.<\/span><\/p>\n

These two were to be my trekking guides, and all-round Knuckles experts, for the next few days. What a privilege.<\/span><\/p>\n

That first evening, we chatted over a delicious homemade dinner chased down with beers and Arrack. Sid filled me in on the history of the Veddha tribe and their plight. They originally lived entirely off the land, but when the government declared their homeland a national park, they were displaced. Now, they rely on handouts and the small income they make selling honey (which we buy at ETG for exclusive referral gifts), so supporting this is more important than ever.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the morning, I pulled back my bedroom curtains to an incredible view \u2014 the brightest greenery and curved mountain peaks that live up to their name, The Knuckles. Quite the reveal after arriving in the dark the evening before!<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”25344″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]Next, <\/span>I <\/span>fuelled up on a<\/span> hearty breakfast <\/span>o<\/span>f hoppers (my <\/span>favourite<\/span>)<\/span>, and then it was time<\/span> for us<\/span> to <\/span>go <\/span>trek<\/span>king in the mountains<\/span>.<\/span> Still just in a sarong and barefoot<\/span>,<\/span> t<\/span>he <\/span>Veddha<\/span> Chief <\/span>walk<\/span>ed<\/span> a little behind Sid <\/span>and me <\/span>at his own pace<\/span> but was completely unfazed by the steep hills and thick undergrowth<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The trek itself was about 14km \u2014 starting on a mountain road, cutting through a steep, overgrown shortcut, then following dirt paths and forest trails down towards a tiny village. It was gloriously quiet and remote.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the first half, I didn\u2019t see another soul. Then, out of nowhere, a man appeared, walking towards us with a rucksack, wearing smart shoes, a tucked-in shirt and belted trousers. Curious, I asked Sid who he was.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the postman,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Turns out, this man walks <\/span>20km a day, six days a week, delivering letters to families scattered across the unspoiled mountains.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”25347″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text css=””]That\u2019s what makes the Knuckles so special. No crowds, no rushed itineraries \u2014 just time, space, and the kind of encounters you don\u2019t plan for but never forget.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat \u2014 though maybe with a little less beer and arrack the night before…<\/span><\/p>\n

Fancy meeting and walking with the Veddha chief yourself?<\/h3>\n

Follow in Jamie’s footsteps on these ETG adventures:<\/p>\n