Horton plains; a national park wedged between Nuwara Eliya and Haputale, is known for its abundance of endemic flora and fauna, which ultimately led to it being declared a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s also known for being the home of World’s end, and Bakers falls. It’s the perfect place for bird enthusiasts, and any person who loves a challenging hike.
Planning your trip
The best time to visit would be from November to March, but if you are hoping to see any leopards or other animals, August would be ideal.
Hiking in the morning before 10 am increases the possibility of being able to avoid the fog; especially from May to July. The park usually opens at around 6 am, so get there as early as possible.
The entire hike would take around 3 hours or more, and being at least moderately fit would be preferable as the hike is quite strenuous.
Bringing food and drinks in to the park is allowed, but if the packaging is made out of plastic or polythene, the workers will provide you with an alternative paper bag. Water bottles are allowed, but their labels will be removed. This is practiced in order to prevent the park from any possible pollution.
Light, warm clothing would be the best option; as it is quite cold and windy up there. Make sure you are able to move around comfortably in whatever you decide to wear. Staying hydrated along the way should also be prioritized.
On the route
The path starts off easy as you just walk through grasslands. Then it’ll start to get harder as you approach the cloud forest, where you will have to climb stairs solely made out of mud which is held together by tree roots. You will also come across very rocky areas which require some well thought out maneuvering.
Along the way to the main sights, you’ll also come across Mini World’s end, the smaller version of World’s end. You will also see little bridges crossing over streams as Horton Plains is the catchment area of all of Sri Lanka’s major rivers.
For fauna; a variety of birds fly in the air, bear monkeys hang in the trees, and sambar deer roam around freely while you travel, but these are just a few examples of the many animals that are known to wander throughout the park. Horton plains is also known for sightings of the Fishing Cat; a mammal that’s declining in popularity, and has been declared an endangered species by the IUCN. There have also been sightings of the slender Loris, a primate which was presumed to be extinct.
As for flora; you will also pass many spices that grow in the wild, such as cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon. The path is also decked with plants and flowers that attract an array of insects like butterflies.
World’s end
This is the escarpment that has a drop of about 900 m, almost as if it was the edge of the world; giving it its name. The drop is not protected so do take care when you try to look over.
You will be provided with a boastful view of all the houses that line the hills, and land that stretches out for miles. When it’s not foggy, you will even be able to see the Southern Coast.
Baker’s falls
After you feel like you’ve had your head in the clouds for long enough, you could follow a path that will lead you to Baker’s falls, where you can enjoy the cooling spray of the water, and then proceed to make your way back to the entrance.
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