Nestled amidst the lofty mountain peaks of the central hills, the park lies at an elevation of 7,000 feet and is a forty-five-minute journey from Nuwara Eliya. Horton Plains National Park is well worth a visit for its scenic beauty, natural formations, and birdlife.

The rolling landscape comprises mainly grassland and montane forest, and due to its elevation, it is very often cloaked in mist. The most common wildlife to be seen here are herds of sambhur, which are large elk-like deer. Although leopards are found in the region, sightings are extremely rare. Horton Plains National Park is designated an Important Bird Area and is an excellent place to see the endemic Dull Blue Flycatcher, Sri Lanka White-eye, Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, and the Sri Lanka Spurfowl.

At the southern boundary of the park, the aptly named World’s End marks an abrupt and physical end to the hill country. A sheer escarpment, here the land drops away close to a kilometer and is a must-visit if a trip is made to Horton Plains National Park. If conditions are just right, it is possible to see the southern coastline gleaming like a silver ribbon in the distance from here. Horton Plains is one of the most important watersheds in the country and three of its largest rivers, the Mahaweli, Kelani and Walawe, originate here. Baker’s Falls, which is a popular attraction is the beginning of the Walawe River.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass