A high plateau of grassland and cloud forest, with a 9 km loop walk to the 870-metre drop at World's End and Baker's Falls.
At over 2,000 metres, Horton Plains is the highest plateau in Sri Lanka: rolling grassland, stunted cloud forest and cold streams that feed some of the island's biggest rivers. It became a national park in 1988 and forms part of the Central Highlands UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The loop walk
The park's main trail is a roughly 9.5 km circular walk that takes three to four hours. Along it you'll find:
- Mini World's End, a first taste of the escarpment.
- World's End, where the plateau ends in a sheer drop of about 870 metres. On a clear morning you can see across the tea estates to the southern coast.
- Baker's Falls, a pretty waterfall named after Samuel Baker, the explorer.
Beat the mist
Clouds usually roll in by around 10:00 am and can hide World's End completely. Leave Nuwara Eliya or Ohiya around 5:00 am to be at the entrance when it opens.
Wildlife
Look out for sambar deer near the entrance, the endemic purple-faced langur and highland birds such as the Sri Lanka whistling thrush. Leopards live here but are rarely seen.
Tips
- It is cold early in the morning. Bring a warm layer and waterproof jacket.
- Plastic and polythene are banned. Your bags will be checked at the gate.
- Stick to the marked trail and don't go near the cliff edge.
Getting there
The park is about 1.5 hours by road from Nuwara Eliya. You can also take the train to Ohiya station and continue by tuk-tuk or on foot.
