The Central Highland National Park of Cloud Forest and Wet Patana Grassland plateau that bears the 2nd and 3rd Highest Peaks of Sri Lanka
Horton Plains in Sri Lanka, the coldest and windiest location in Sri Lanka consists of ecosystems such as Montane evergreen forests, grasslands, marshy lands and aquatic ecosystem. At an altitude of 2,100 meters above sea level, Horton Plains spreads across over 3,169 hectares of the highest tableland of the island. In view of the large number of endemic flora and fauna species, Horton Plains was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 30th July 2010. The escarpment with a depth of 900 meters called World’s End and Baker’s Falls are the highlights of the Horton Plains.
Ecological importance of Horton Plains
Horton Plains, its surroundings, forests and the adjoining Peak Wilderness constitute Sri Lanka’s most important catchment area of almost all major rivers. The plains are also of outstanding scenic beauty and conservation importance, containing most of the habitats and endemic plants and animals representative of the country’s wet and Montane zones. The western slopes support the most extensive area of Montane cloud forest surviving in the island. Horton Plains is not merely a destination for nature tourists. Since the rich biodiversity of Horton Plains is still grossly underexplored, it affords invaluable opportunities to those engaged on educational and research activities. Protecting Horton Plains is a call of duty for all Sri Lankans.
Climate of Horton Plains
The Climate of Horton Plains is that of a wet Montane forest. The average annual temperature of 14-16⁰ Centigrade while the humidity is relatively low at 65%. Though annual rainfall of the highlands is about 2540mm, Horton Plains records over 5000 mm of rainfall annually.
During the dry season, i.e. the months of January, February and March, temperature drops to around 5⁰ Centigrade in the day time. Swept with strong gale force winds at times, over-night frost is fairly common.
Reaching Horton Plains
Horton Plains is spread over the southern ridge of the central highlands in between Nuwara Eliya and Haputale. The tourists approaching Horton Plains from Nuwara Eliya find an entrance point at Pattipola while those approaching from Haputale find an entrance point at Ohiya. Three kilometers drive from either entrance leads to the newly built visitors center. Visitors center exhibits interesting displays on the history of flora and fauna of Horton Plains.
One can reach Horton Plains by main road or rail. The most common approach is by road either from North via Pattipola or from South via Ohiya. If coming by rail one can get down either at Pattipola or Ohiya and walk all the way or arrange some means of transport locally. No public transport is available along the road which runs through the National Park.
An entrance fee is charged from visitors and also for the vehicles that enters the park.
Access to Horton Plains
Horton Plains can be reached by any of the follwing roads:
1.Via Nuwara Eliya, Ambewela and Pattipola (32km)
2.Via Haputale or Welimaa, Boralanda, Ohiya (38km)
3.Via Nuwara Eliya, Hakgala, Rendapola, Ambewela, Pattipola (38 km)
lot of times travelers going to do is visit nuwaraeliya and then going to horton plains by hiring a vehicle.if u going to haputale first then you can start from there too.and you can stop on nuwaraeliya.
Farr Inn – The present Visitor Information Center
For the Visitor to Horton Plains, there is a fine Nature Trail , the most significant is the main circuit Nature Trail involving Small World’s End, Big World’s End, Baker’s Falls and Chimney Falls views. There are also Nature Trails to Thotupolakanda and Kirigalpoththa. The Main Trail starts at Farr Inn (lodge built by Thomas Farr) which is the Horton Plains Information Center now. It covers a distance of about 9 km and takes about 3 1/2 hours to complete in good weather at a leisurely pace with photographing and sight seeing. The trail is of easy level except the portion of trail leading to Baker’s Falls and back through the Cloud forest. Only eco friendly material is allowed to take in from the Park Entrance Watch Post in to the Park except plastic water bottles which needs to be brought back. Polythene covers or bags, cigarettes and lighting material such as box of matches or lighters are not allowed to be taken in.
The Farr Inn which is now the Visitor Center provides the visitor with much interesting Information and also publications relevant to Horton Plains.
The Main Trail
The entrance to the Main Trail starts from this Park Entrance Watch Post and a single pathway leads up passing Red Bridge upto the brick Sign post at the “Y” turnoff junction.
The Red Bridge
This is the uppermost section of the famous Belihul Oya running under the Red Bridge.This is one of the major tributaries of River Walawe which flows into the sea at Ambalantota. The trail proceeds over the Red Bridge upto the point the path diverts into two at a “Y” junction..
To the Left or Right at “Y” Turnoff point?
Passing over the Red Bridge, one comes upto this point where the trail leads towards left and right at a Y turn off junction as you face this brick sign post. It is a looped trail and one can proceed towards left and come back hiking about 7km or vice versa. If the weather is good and if it is the morning, one might be interested to have a clear glimpse through the World’s End escarpments. Since mist begins to accumulate towards afternoon, it is the best of interests to visit these view points the earliest possible. So proceeding clockwise or towards left takes the visitor first to Small Worlds End and then to Big world’s End saving more time towards trail of Baker’s Falls and Chimney Pool.
The Small World’s End
The time taken to reach Small worlds End was about 25 minutes from the brick sign post at trail division and 37 minutes from the Park Entrance Watch Post. The nature had been exceptionally kind for this fascinating tour and the Small World’s End view was fabulous as can be seen above.The escarpment at Small Worlds End drops 274 m at this point.
The Big World’s End
It takes about another 25 minutes to reach the Big World’s End from the Small World’s End. It had taken 1 hour 10 minutes to reach here from Park Entrance Watch Post with observations of surroundings and photographing the landscape.The unobstructive view from Big World’s End made it possible to photograph Uda Walawe reservoir and beyond with a shear drop of 2000m from the point of observation and the plains of Dry Zone.The escarpment at Big Worlds End drops 884 m at this point.Though the three dimensional effect one see in real life by standing at an edge of these escarpments cannot be reproduced in these photographs ,it still gives a fair idea on the thrilling and awesome surrounding landscaping in these two places.
A Short Clip
Baker’s Falls
To access this fabulous waterfall , one needs to travel through the cloud forest through a path from the trail. There are two access points to the waterfall. One may easily get this trail bypassed but if one leads through it, the path takes you to the bottom of the waterfall that will show many vivid landscapes of the waterfall and surroundings.
Chimney Pool
The Chimney Pool is situated between Baker’s Fall and the brick sign post at Y junction which had been mentioned earlier. This man made bund using granite has created a water mass in an elevation above the pool below and flows into the pool as a kind of a waterfall. The pool is in abundance with Kekatiya plants ( Aponogeton jacobsenii) which also can be seen in the stream running along side of the trail at some places.
Leopard (Panthera pardus) at Horton Plains
The Leopard in the Horton Plains is shy and avoids daytime appearances. There is a stuffed Leopard in the Visitor Center exhibition room.
Full Info Clip About Horton Plains
Other Trails at Horton Plains
There are two unfrequented Trails at Horton Plains. They are the Trails leading upto the Peaks of Totupolakanda and Kirigalpoththa. The level of difficulty of the Trails are Medium as given by Visitor Center information displays.
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Stratification: Wet grasslands & Sub-Montane and Montane forest
Area: 3,160ha
Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site (nature), National Park
Altitude: 2100 – 2200mm
Temperature: 15 C°
Annual Rainfall: 2500 – 5000mm
Best time of year to visit: November to March
Optimum duration of stay: 1 to 3 nights
One day excursion: From Nuwara Eliya
Most convenient accommodation option: Nuwara Eliya
Nature Highlights: The escarpment (900m) called World’s End, Barker’s falls
Wildlife – regular sight: Herds of Sambar Deer
Location: Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
Some Clicks
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