Trekking at Horton Plains

The Horton Plains is a protected forest and wildlife sanctuary and offers a breath-taking and unforgettable view of Sri Lanka ‘s highest plateau. Situated above 2,130m above sea level, the southern part of the plains suddenly ends plunging down to sheer depth of 1000m that it is rightly called the “World’s End” and those fearing depths should take care not to view the deep below. From here one can view the southern foothills and on clear days, may even get a glimpse of the far horizon down to the sea. Horton Plains is named after the animal hunter Sir Robert Horton, the British Governor of Sri Lanka. Large Savannah plains, crystal clear water flowing from numerous waterfalls, silent forests and wildlife make this an area extremely rich in biodiversity. A number of endemic flora and fauna abound in this wilderness including a leopard endemic to Sri Lanka. One needs to trek through the numerous routes to enjoy the site of various ferns, orchids, wildflowers, butterflies and birds. Trekking is done best with a tour guide for maximum benefit. Established as a nature reserve in 1969 and declared a National Park in 1988, Horton Plains is a veritable paradise to a nature lover.