Climbing Horton Plains- What to expect

Horton Plains is a National Park listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, that is perched between the hill countries Nuwara Eliya and Haputale at an elevation of 2000 metres. It is home to the famous World’s End; a sheer precipice with a depth of 880 metres!

History

Horton Plains was originally named as the Maha Eliya Thenna which means “great open plains”. Its name change is attributed to Sri Robert Wilmot-Horton, a British governor who “discovered” it in 1834. It was listed as a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and thanks to its biodiversity, soon became recognized as a National Park in 1988.

How to go

It takes about one and a half hours in a car from Jetwing St Andrews, a popular hotel in Nuwara Eliya, to reach the park. There is an entrance fee of less than 2000 LKR per person that is subject to change according to the tax. There is an additional charge for vehicles. Horton Plains definitely isn’t on the cheaper list of things to do but to those who love a good hike and great views, it is worth it.

The Hike

The hike is a 9 km long loop track that takes you through the forest and conservation area. It is recommended to start the hike early in the morning, firstly because your view from the World’s End viewpoint is not obscured by mist and secondly because it is best to avoid the scorching afternoon sun. You are not allowed to carry plastics so ensure you have your picnic packed in paper bags. While sometimes, you may be allowed in with plastic items, take responsibility for your action and leave nothing but footprints. It is vital to be a sustainable tourist as much as possible.

Since the track is a loop, you can choose to go clockwise or anti-clockwise. Most choose to go left first as it will take you to the World’s End first, a smart idea so you can reach before the mist start rolling over. The view is breathtaking and the hike is pretty much a walk. Normal walking shoes should suffice. You can choose to have your breakfast picnic here while waiting for the others to finish taking pictures.

Once you are satisfied, you can continue with the loop track. There is no cover whatsoever from the sun, so it is recommended that you wear sun protection as it is quite strong even at 7:30 am. As you continue, you will spot a few endemic species like the samba deer which are found in abundance. There are also a few leopards but the sighting is quite rare. Just a little ahead, you will come across the signpost for Bakers Falls, which is a great spot to get some shade and rest your feet. It is a small waterfall with a height of just 20 metres, that runs over rocks.

The walk tends to get a little strenuous due to the incline, however, this stretch doesn’t last too long and flattens out. The whole loop would take about 4 hours on average, allowing enough time to take pictures, catch some breath and have a picnic.

If you're interested in a hiking adventure, most travel companies like Esna Holidays, includes a trek through Horton Plains as part of their itinerary.

The Wildlife

As mentioned before, the samba deer is found in abundance with a very few leopards that you will be lucky to spot. You’ll also come across rare bear monkeys (also known as the purple-faced monkeys). Horton Plains is also an excellent place for the birdwatchers. Look out for the dull-blue flycatcher, yellow-eared bulbul, Sri Lanka bush warbler, which are a few endemics to name.