Horton Plains - මහ එළිය

Perched on the southern edge of the Central highlands, midway between Nuwara Eliya & Haputale, Horton Plains Nation Park is the highest & most isolated plain in the island. Named after British governor Sir Robert Horton, it was declared as a National Park in 1988. Lying at a height of more than 2,100 m in the central highlands, the plateau bears a cool, misty and windy weather throughout the year. The park covers an area of 31.60 km², and is a mixture of wet grassland and highland forest with tree ferns and scraggly dwarf trees some native only to Sri Lanka. Also, the second & third highest mountains of the country namely Kirigalpoththa & Thotupola are found within the borders of the park while three major rivers Kelani, Walawe & the Mahaweli (the longest river of the country) origin from this area, too.

This silent and strange yet beautiful plateau is excellent for trekking & bird watching. Being a well-visited place by lots of travelers every year, The Baker’s Falls and The World’s End are the most popular and breathtaking tourist attractions within the park. The most famous ‘world’s End’ gives you an unmatchable experience as if you’ve suddenly reached the end of the world, with the cliff plunging almost vertically for 1050m creating an astonishing escarpment, revealing breathtaking views across much of the southern area of the island. The whole panoramic view is right in front of your naked eyes.

Apart from the breathtaking landscapes and scenic views the park is also known as a key wildlife area in the island. Leopard and Sambar (Sri Lankan Sambar Deer) & wild boar are the most common large mammals in Horton Plains while endemic Bear Monkey and Giant Squirrel are among other mammals. Also many highland endemic birds and flora unique to the world are found in this area.

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Morning dew drops on grass

Sambar deer

Baker's falls