Horton Plains National Park
Horton Plains National Park is situated on the southern edge of Sri Lanka’s central highlands region and forms part of the eponymous UNESCO World Heritage-listing Central Highlands of Sri Lanka.
Moorland or heath in the valleys The Park’s altitude is between 2,100 and 2,300 metres with vegetation consisting of a mixture of montane forest, gallery forests and heath/grassland. Flora is correspondingly varied and includes several endemic bird species.
Horton Plains’ best-known geographical feature is the aptly named World’s End where the heathland and forest suddenly meet a near sheer escarpment dropping off some 1000m to the coastal plains below. Naturally, views are stupendous and on a clear day, even the Indian Ocean – 80 kilometres distant – is visible.
A hike in Horton Plains National Park is included in our Sri Lanka Family Tour as well as both of our small group Sri Lanka tours, Island of Serendipity and Sri Lanka World Heritage. Our circular route takes us through forest to the southern limit of the park and the World’s End viewpoint before turning north across moorland to Baker’s Falls. From here, a trail leads back to the main entrance, car park and, most importantly, the tea shop and cafe.
The famous World’s End viewpoint The full route weighs in at a distance of some 9 kilometres and usually takes between 3 to 3 1/2 hours although various shortcuts are available should you be feeling weary. Paths are generally well-marked, well-maintained and relatively easy going. The cool highland temperatures are very appreciable as well. Guides will tailor precise routes according to weather conditions and energy levels.
Rainforest on the southern edge of the escarpment As with all our hikes, the idea is not to get from A to B as quickly as possible but to enable hikers to discover the flora and fauna, as well as views and landscapes, along the way.
