UKC

Hi all,

I'm going to Sri Lanka for 5 weeks this summer - can anyone recommend any good climbing/bouldering spots near Colombo?

Thank you!

In reply to helen.baldwin:

I looked it up last year before I left and didn't find any evidence of any. I'd learn to surf instead

In reply to helen.baldwin:
There 'might' be climbing of some description in the Knuckles Mountain Range but I think it is mostly trekking (also no good if based in Colombo).

I don't think climbing it is very developed there yet so you may just have to explore. We went for three weeks and, although we never planned it as a climbing holiday, I did look online but could not find much of a 'scene' there.

In reply to helen.baldwin:

Not a lot on this link, but it might open a few doors:
http://www.srilankanexpeditions.com/activity.php?id=10
I have trekked in the Knuckles range and there is certainly plenty of potential in that area.

In reply to helen.baldwin:

Was in Sri Lanka recently for a month, and certainly down the west coast, climbing was non-existent. There are apparently a couple of crags inland of Colombo, on the Sri Lankan expeditions site above, and coming back from Kandy on the train, there were some massive granite buttresses rising out of the jungle. But most of these are really poor quality rock.

My boots didn't get used once, but there's so much to see and experience, that it won't be a problem for you

In reply to maisie:


+1

I've made three or four visits to SL, never once considered it as a cragging destination for a moment. Admittedly, there are some good looking granite cliffs in the Knuckles but no idea whether the rock is any good and also you'd have a bush-whacking battle to get to the base of them. I'm scared of snakes myself but you might be made of sterner stuff In addition, the weather is either hot, or hot and wet, I love it but wouldn't expect to climb well in it.

Otoh, it's fabulously beautiful, lots of amazing things to see, the beaches are amazing, from Colombo you can now get to Galle in an hour on the new motorway, there are great beaches, Yala national park, temples, elephans, great food, etc. Plus if you get to know any Sri Lankans through work or whatever it is that takes you there, they will want to do stuff with you and will think you're totally bonkers for going climbing!