Being a part of Matale & Kandy Districts in the Central Province of the island, the Knuckles Mountain range offers breathtaking panoramic views to the tourists. Its name derived from its shape of a clenched fist, which forms a scenic wonderland. What makes the Knuckles Forest/Mountain Range unique is the geographical character of its location. Perpendicular to the mountain range that runs from Laggala to Urugala runs three distinct but lesser ranges while there are other minor ranges running parallel to it. There are a total of 34 clearly identified such ranges with in the 62 square miles that makes up 3000-6500feet in height.

The Knuckles Mountain Range itself has a rich bio-diversity where there are 5 vegetation types in the mountain range namely, Semi evergreen forests, Sub Montane Forests, Montane Forests, Patana & Savanna grasslands and Riverine forests.

The villagers together with about more than 2500 years old indigenous community of Knuckles Mountain Range form a unique bio–cultural landscape. Meemure, Kaikawala, and Galamuduna are few villages out of 37, which can be found in this area. Indigenous community in this area has always interacted with and depended upon the Knuckles Forest and this association goes as far back as prehistoric times. The day-to-day lifestyles of this community are very simple and their main income generating sources are farming, cultivation of Paddy, and Chaina, and Cardamom. These villagers rely on cattle for transporting goods between villages and sub-urban areas and this is referred as Pack Ox (Thawalam). The traditional villagers in this area maintain the rich cultural diversity associated with unique natural landscape of Knuckles.