A Mini Guide to Mini World’s End in Riverston

The Riverston region is one of Sri Lanka’s most incredible, yet least-visited areas. This spectacular off the beaten track destination has an unending amount to explore: from gruelling multi-day treks through the jungle, to astoundingly beautiful villages, to short and easy walks to scenic viewpoints, this region has it all for adventurous and independent travellers.

We’ll be honest: Mini World’s End isn’t wildly impressive, but the Riverston region is and absolutely worth a few days of your time.

Whether you’re just looking for a cool-down stroll after a big trek in the Knuckles, or want something light and easy but don’t want to skip on epic views, a visit to vertiginous Mini World’s End should definitely be added to your list of Riverston places to visit.

Read on for our guide to visiting Mini World’s End in Riverston, the ultimate off the beaten track destination and place for your Sri Lanka adventure.

Mini World’s End Overview

Mini World’s End is a deep escarpment located near Pitawala village in the Riverston region of Sri Lanka. This area is on the edge of the Knuckles Mountain Range, an area ripe for Indiana Jones-style exploration (i.e., big-time Sri Lanka adventure). 

At Mini World’s End, the escarpment drops dramatically (around 300 m), providing incredible views of the surrounding valley and mountains. 

The beautiful valley around the Knuckles is called “Dumbara” because of the ever-present mist. (We can testify to that). The region is blessed with rich fauna and flora, nourished by rains and water cascading from surrounding streams. Think lush, tropical jungle vibes.

Riverston is an incredible region of the country and so far, it’s barely touched by tourists. Visiting this area of Sri Lanka was by far one of the highlights of our entire trip. If you’re looking for a Sri Lanka adventure and to get off the beaten track, look no further. 

Read The Essential Sri Lanka Travel Guide (2024) for all the Sri Lankan travel information you need

Mini World’s End: Location

Mini World’s End is located in the Riverston region in central Sri Lanka. It is one of the Riverston places to visit.

The closest settlement is the beautiful village of Pitawala, which is located 57 km north of Kandy.  Matale is the largest urban settlement and is 33 km away.

The Trail

The walk to Mini World’s End begins at the Knuckles visitor’s centre (complete with a small museum), which is just off the main road. There is a sign indicating the centre and it is quite obvious to find. At the visitor’s centre, you pay the admission: 800 LKR per person. If you have updated information on this price, please let us know in the comments below!

From the visitor’s centre, follow the well-maintained path for 750 metres, or about 15 – 20 minutes. You will reach an opening where the Pitawala Plains escarpment ends in a sheer drop and there are expansive views out over the Knuckles Mountain Range (which is, by the way, the ultimate place for a Sri Lanka adventure).

There are two viewpoints, both of which provide incredible panoramic views of the Thelgamuwa Valley and the surrounding highlands. Make sure to take the time to explore and enjoy both of these viewpoints. Watch your footing though, it’s a steep drop.

Read about Gartmore Falls, the most beautiful waterfall in Sri Lanka

How to get to Mini World’s End

Mini World’s End is best reached from Kandy.

To get there from Kandy, you have two options:

1. You can hire a tuk-tuk to drive you the entire way. It should take about 4 hours total and cost around 6000 – 8000 LKR. Be sure to bargain!

2. Via Public transport. It’s pretty straightforward to get to Mini World’s End from Kandy via public transport. 

• First, take a bus to Matale. Buses leave from Kandy’s bus station regularly. 
• From Matale, there is a bus that leaves for Pitawala at 3.30 pm and arrives in the village at 6.00 pm. 
• The entire journey takes about 4 hours and will cost around 260 LKR per person (about 70 US cents). 

You can also visit Mini World’s End as part of a tour from Kandy.

Spending some time in Kandy? Read about the best things to do in Kandy.

When to visit Mini World’s End

The best time to visit is during the dry season, from December to February. You can go outside of this timeframe, but you may encounter some rain. 

It is important to note that the weather is notoriously unpredictable in this part of Sri Lanka, so always be prepared for rain, even if visiting in the dry season. 

Read: 47 Essential Sri Lanka Travel Tips

Where to stay near Mini World’s End

Pitawala, the closest village to Mini World’s End, is a very small and remote village that does not see a lot of foreign tourists. 

There are a number of guesthouses and homestays in and around Pitawala, however, only one is on Booking.com, Crystal Riverston Deck. 

There are a number of other options for Riverston on Booking.com, but these will be further away from Mini World’s End and you will have to arrange transport from your accommodation to the site. 

If you search on Google, you will find a number of options for Pitawala village on Google Maps. Otherwise, your best bet is to walk around the village when you arrive. 

Other treks in Riverston For Your Sri Lanka Adventure

There are many places to visit and the region offers unlimited trekking opportunities. Here are a few popular and not-so-popular trails in the area.

Dothalugala Nature Trail In The Knuckles Mountain Range

The Dothalugala nature trail in the Knuckles Mountain Range is (no surprises here!), up the Dothalugala Mountain.

It offers breathtaking views from the south of the mountain range. You can complete this trek as a circuit by coming down the other side of the mountain, making the entire trek nearly 6 kilometres. The trek begins at the Knuckles Conservation Centre in Deanston and a permit is needed to enter the area. You can get your permit at the Conservation Centre. 

Read: 21 Amazing Places to Visit in Anuradhapura in 2024

Nitro Caves

Another popular choice for hikers is the nature trail that leads to Nitro Caves, a massive cave inhabited by hundreds of bats. The 11-kilometre path starts at Corbett’s Gap and will take about five hours to complete.

Corbett’s Gap is itself a noteworthy attraction, sitting at an elevation of 1,216 metres and offering spectacular panoramic views of the range.

Duwili Ella Waterfall

Largely considered the crown jewel of all the trails in the Knuckles Range, this is an epic and adventurous overnight hike beginning from Pitawala.

The trail is 32 km round trip and traverses thick jungle and montane forest. No less than 3 waterfalls are covered in the hike, including an epic infinity pool overlooking the jungle and a camping spot behind a waterfall, in a cave.

If you only do one overnight hike in the Knuckles, choose this one.

Read more about the trek to Duwili Ella

The Bambarella Hike

There are 5 prominent peaks in the Knuckles Mountain Range and of these 5, the most popular summit is the Bambarella Trail. 

The entire hike takes approximately 5 to 6 hours.

All Riverston Tours

If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, or you just like your activities organised well in advance, there are a ton of tours you can join in on to explore this beautiful region.

From full day treks, to overnight treks, to exploring beautiful hidden waterfalls, to cycling in the mountains, to even an 8 day trekking tour, there’s something for everyone.

Read next: Sri Lanka: 10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Skip the North

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