Horton Plains National Park
Overview
Horton Plains National Park is in the central highlands of the island in the Nuwara Eliya District. It is located at an elevation from 3,900 to 7,500 ft. and it encompasses montane grassland and cloud forest. It is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. It is designated as an 'important bird area' with many species not only endemic to Sri Lanka, but restricted to the Horton Plains. The temperature could get low as 12 oC during the day.
Nearly 750 species of plants belonging to 20 families have been recorded from the park. Horton Plains is a popular tourist destination, with World's End being the key attraction, it is a sheer cliff, with a drop of about 4,000 feet and of the most-visited parts of the park.
The Indian Ocean, 50 miles to the south, can be observed on clear days.
The central highlands of Sri Lanka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of three wet-zone parks namely, Horton Plains National Park, Knuckles Conservation Forest, and Peak Wilderness Protected Area.
