Horton Plains National Park

Horton Plains National Park lies in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, south of Nuwara Eliya, at an elevation of about 2,100 to 2,300 metres. It covers 3,160 hectares, about 31 square kilometres, and is managed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Together with the Peak Wilderness and Knuckles ranges, it forms the Central Highlands World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2010.

The plains were named after Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton, a British governor of Ceylon. The area was declared a nature reserve in 1969 and became a national park in 1988. It is the source of several of Sri Lanka's major rivers.

The landscape is montane grassland mixed with cloud forest. Many plants and animals are endemic, including the Sri Lankan sambar deer, often seen near the entrance, the purple-faced langur and several highland birds. The best known walk is a 9.5-kilometre loop to World's End, a cliff that drops about 870 metres, and Baker's Falls.

Mist usually closes in by late morning, so arriving at the gate around opening time gives the best chance of a clear view from World's End. Entry fees are charged per person and vehicle, with separate foreign rates. Plastic is restricted, and visitors stay on marked trails.

As of March 2026 the foreign adult entry was USD 25 plus a service charge, vehicle fee and VAT, paid at the gate. The gate opens from about 6 am; leave Nuwara Eliya before 5 am to reach it as it opens.

The climate is cool and wet for Sri Lanka. Rainfall passes 2,000 millimetres a year, the mean temperature is about 13 °C, and nights can fall to around 5 °C, with ground frost common in February. Bring a warm layer for the early start. The plains are the headwaters of the Mahaweli, Kelani and Walawe rivers, and Kirigalpoththa (2,389 metres) and Thotupola Kanda (2,357 metres), the island's second and third highest peaks, rise from the park.

Birders come for endemics. Together with the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary the area holds 21 bird species found only in Sri Lanka, including the dull-blue flycatcher, Sri Lanka white-eye and Sri Lanka wood pigeon. Baker's Falls, about 20 metres high, is named after the explorer Sir Samuel Baker. Forest dieback is the main threat to the park, with vegetation loss close to 50 per cent in some outer areas.