Horton Plains National Park

Horton Plains National Park is located in the heart of Nuwara Eliya district, at 2000 meters above sea level. This grassland, spanning 3169 hectares, is a mist-shrouded plateau with a delicate ecosystem.

Horton place is truly an outdoor enthusiast paradise, home to lush unspoiled landscapes, cascading waterfalls, rich biodiversity consisting of lots of flora and fauna, dramatic cliffs, and majestic mountains. So the Horton plain was also named a UNESCO world heritage site. This plain contains several tourist hotspots such as World's End, Mini World's End, Bakers fall, Chiminea fall, Kirigalpoththa mountain, Thotupala peak, Kudahagala mountain, etc.

Best time to visit Horton Plains

The weather is primarily misty and cloudy in this region, especially from April to September, so it is preferable​ to avoid these months.

Photo from krishankariyawasam

How to get to Horton Plain

Horton Plain national park is situated just 32Km from Nuwara Eliya. There are two entries to Horton Plain: Pattipola and Ohiya gates. Both can be easily approached by train.

Things to to in Horton Plains National Park

1. World's End

The World's End is without a doubt the park's main attraction. You have to walk 4km via the foot trail, to reach this severe precipice which offers you a panoramic view of the toy town, tea plantations in the valley below, and the Udawalawa reservoir at a distance. They are some of the many things that you will see from the World's End viewpoint. It is said to be that you must visit the place early in the morning (between 6 A.M-10 A.M). If not, the view of the World's End is often obscured by the mist.

Photo from cmisquitta

2. Kirigalpoththa Mountain 

The Kirigalpoththa Mountain, exactly 11Km away from the main gate, is Sri Lanka's second tallest mountain, with a massive height of 2388 meters. It is considered as the highest point that can be accessible to the general public. The trail that leads to the peak's summit runs through the Keena trees that resemble umbrellas and are covered in mist. This trail offers breathtaking views of the hilly plains and dreamlike stands of the cloud forest.

Photo from sriabeywickrema

3. Kudahagala Mountain 

Kudahagala mountain, also known as Agrabopath hill, is a beautiful mountain located in Horton plain national park, exactly 5Km away from the main gate. The massive height of 2320 meters holds the record of the mountain of the fourth height in Sri Lanka. Hiking of this mountain is not like others because your path is through a dense jungle environment. So you have a great chance to admire its biodiversity. It will take around 2 hours to reach the top of the mountain. At there you can have a fabulous view of the surrounding.

4. Thotupala Peak

Thotupala Kanda is Sri Lanka's third heights peak which is also located in Horton plain national park. The trails that lead to the top of the mountain area are about 2km long, and they start a few kilometers away from the Pattipola entrance to Horton plain. It will only take a maximum of 40 minutes to reach the summit. Walking through the bushes in the mist will be a fantastic experience for you. The surroundings view from the top is extremely breathtaking. This place has a historical connection with King Rawana.

5. Bakers Fall

 Bakers Fall is another popular destination among travelers who travel in Horton Plain. Mammoth ferns surround the waterfall, and it drops 20 meters in height. The water cascades down a large rock formation, creating a halo-like mist. You could be seen purple-faced monkeys chattering on the trees while the journey to the waterfall. Besides these hotspots, the Horton plain is also an excellent destination for bird watching. Dull-blue flycatcher, Sri Lanka bush warbler, Sri Lanka whistling thrush, and the lovely Yellow-eared bulbul are some of the rare species that one can spot in the park. Butterflies, Sambar deer, wild boar, wild hare, leopards, and giant squirrels are the other types of wildlife that can be seen in the park and the plains.