Nuwara Eliya | Horton Plains
In the central highlands of Sri Lanka, at an altitude of 2,100 metres above sea level, Horton Plains National Park spans across 3,169 hectares of the highest plateau of the island. Discovered by planter Thomas Farr in the early 19th century, the area was named Horton plains in 1834 as an honour to the governor of Ceylon Sir Wilmot Horton. Considered an area of outstanding natural beauty and of conservation importance, the plains contain most of the country’s wet and montane zones including the most extensive surviving cloud forest in the country.
Starting at the visitor centre, a 9km circular trek of the plains can be enjoyed where you will be treated to an extensive view of the flora and fauna, montane grassland of rolling meadow and densely wooded cloud forest. Cultivated in the forest amongst the shrubs and trees you will also see spices growing such as pepper, cinnamon and cardamom.
The plateau comes to a sudden end with a magnificent escarpment falling from Horton Plains that drops an awe-inspiring 884 metres, known as ‘Big World’s End’. This is when you spy on the tea plantation villages in the valley below and enjoy an unhindered view south towards the Indian Ocean some 81km away. Best seen early morning between 6am and 10am before the clouds/fog rolls in and obscures the view, especially during the rainy season between April and September. In the evening and early in the morning, you will need to wear trousers and a sweater, but the plains warm up quickly, so a sun hat is recommended too!