The famous Horton Plains is a nature reserve characterized by a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, forests, and grassland. The highest plateau in the island, spanning approximately 10,000 hectares, is home to 24 species of mammal - such as elk, deer, giant squirrel, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine, and leopard. The park also hosts unique vegetation and offers a perfect ground to observe many rare and endemic highland birds (87 species, 14 of which are endemic). An impressive physical feature in Horton Plains is the escarpment that falls 880 meters to the lowlands of the southern region of the island. Aptly known as the "World’s End", the precipice boasts a fabulous view of the tea estates below and all the way out to the distant southern coastline.
Horton Plains, or 'Mahaeliya' as it is traditionally named, is a popular weekend destination amongst locals. Therefore, we recommend to visit the park on a weekday when it is more peaceful.
The Horton Plains are located on Sri Lanka's highest plateau, between altitudes of 2,000 and 2, 300m. The landscape consists of undulating lands covered with tropical cloud of forests or verdant montane savannah grasslands, locally known as patannahs.
The best time to visit is early in the morning when the sky is the clearest and you can enjoy the best of the views. In the afternoons, clouds tend to descend and the area becomes submerged in mist. This is equally enthralling though and provides evidence for the evolution of this forest type. Allowing a half-day should give you plenty of time to enjoy it all at a leisurely pace.
