Horton Plains National Park
Primarily made up of cloud forest and montane grassland, Horton Plains National Park is in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, accessible from Nuwara Eliya.
Its diverse topography makes for great hiking with the popular 10km trek through the forest leading to a sheer precipice known as the World’s End. It culminated in the Baker’s Falls, an impressive formation where the waters of the Belihul Oya tributary tumbles over boulders.
Sambar deer are regularly spotted here as well as toque macaques, leopards, mongoose and muntjacs as well as a wide variety of amphibians.
Hidden gems in Horton Plains National Park
Horton Plains National Park
Hiking in Horton Plans
Nuwara Eliya may now be an overdeveloped mess, but it is the gateway to one of the most unique landscapes in the country. Approximately 30 km uphill from the city is the Horton Plains National Park, a protected grassland spread out over a vast plateau that makes for a fascinating and moderately intense trek. A microcosm of Sri Lanka’s diverse topography, Horton Plains is marked by scrawny shrubbery interspersed with green hills and dense cloud forests. The 10-km trek winds through a rugged forest path that leads to a sheer precipice called the World’s End, and culminates in the Baker’s Falls, one of the park’s chief attractions. While not particularly challenging, the three-hour-long trek requires stamina and some agility. The ideal time to visit Horton Plains is at dawn when low-hanging clouds lift to reveal the park’s surreal landscape. After 10am, the view from World’s End is likely to be obscured by cloud cover. The trip to Horton Plains and back takes half a day (or longer, depending on the length of your trek), so stay in Nuwara Eliya for two days. Your hotel should be able to help you book a van or SUV for the return journey. Note that low-clearance cars are likely to struggle on the bumpy road to the top. It’s best to visit Horton Plains during the dry months, between January and March.
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