Horton plains is situated in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka and was declared as a national park in the country. This would be probably the only national park in Sri Lanka which allows you to walk inside instead of taking a tour in a jeep. This was also declared as a world heritage by UNESCO in 2010 and consists of the greatest ecosystem with a large number of endemic flora and fauna species. Horton plains is also known to be the coldest and windiest location in the country and famous for its outstanding scenic beauty. The most frequent site of wildlife at Horton Plains are herds of Sambar Deer along with many other varieties of animals.

 

Photo Credit: Gayashan Rathnayaka

 

Photo Credit: Sindujan

 

If you are taking a trip to Central highlands this would be an amazing destination for all nature lovers. Horton Plains lies in between Nuwara Eliya and Haputale and you could access the plains via Pattipola or Ohiya. If you are traveling by train you could get down from Ohiya or Pattipola railway station and hire a tuk or vehicle from there to the entrance of the national park. Once you reach the entrance you will have to take tickets to enter the national park and you are not allowed to bring any plastic or polythene inside.

Once you are inside, you have two options since it is a circular trail. In this trail, you could visit the famous viewpoints of the World end and mini-worlds end along with Baker's fall.  You could either go to the right or left, if you select the left path you could reach to the World's End much faster but if you go to right you could avoid the crowd and you will be on your own. Either way, it is advised to visit the World's End before 10 am as it gets misty at that time and you will not have a chance to get the panoramic and distant view. 

 

Photo Credit: Sindujan

 

Photo Credit: Sindujan

 

Photo Credit: Sindujan

 

On a clear morning, the World’s End affords the view of the southern coast of Sri Lanka including the irrigation reservoir contained within the national park of Udawalawe along with the view of the low lying plains. Another amazing attraction you could visit 200m from Worlds End is Bakers Fall which was named after Samuel Baker, inventor of Nuwara Eliya. You will have to trail down to visit this beauty and it will be a treat to your eyes and mind after all the trekking to the World's End.

In this circular trail, you could find a water stream along the path which has the purest water (You could even try drinking this water if you are thirsty on the way). This 9km trail will make your mind amazed by its surrounding beauty and the walk itself is not challenging at all, unlike other trekking you have experienced. This whole trail will take about 3 hours and those 3 hours’ time will make you feel like you are in a heaven on earth since it will take you through montane evergreen forests, grasslands, and marshy lands in a climate of 14-16⁰ Centigrade temperature.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Gayashan Rathnayaka