Horton Plains and the Great World's End

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A herd of Sambar Deer gracing @ Horton Plains National Park

Size	3,160 hectares
Main attraction	Flora and Fauna

Horton Plains National Park is a national park in the highlands of Sri Lanka. Known as “Maha Eliya” in ancient times, it lies about 20 kilometres south of Nuwara Eliya and 20 kilometres west of Haputale, 2000 meters above sea level among the second and third tallest mountains in Sri Lanka – Kirigalpotta and Totapola. The average temperature in this area is about 16 C. With high winds in the evening, it can be quite chilly. The park covers 31.60 km² and is a mixture of highland forest and wet grassland. This is the only National Park in Sri Lanka where visitors are allowed to walk on their own on the designated tracks.

You can reach Horton Plains through Bandarawela or Nuwara Eliya which is about 1½ hour’s drive. It is also possible to take the train up to the Ohiya Station and hike up to the plains which may take about 3-4 hours. But remember this is an uphill climb. There is no accommodation at the plains except two lodges and three camping sites which you must book beforehand.

Sambar is the most common animal in the plains but wild boars and leopards too can be found in this area.

Entrance Fees to Horton Plains National Park

Description (Fees Applicable for Category 1 Park)	Price
Local – Adults	LKR 150
Local – Children (6-12 years)	LKR 100
Local – Student	LKR 20
Local – Children (below 6 years)	FOC
Local – Group Fee (per vehicle)	LKR 400
Foreign – Adults	USD 25
Foreign – Children (6-12 years)	USD 15
Foreign SAARC Countries – Adults	USD 20
Foreign SAARC Countries – Children (6-12 years)	USD 10
Foreign – Children (below 6 years)	FOC
Foreign – Group Fee (per vehicle)	USD 10
Taxes on total cost	15%
Entrance Fee per vehicle	LKR 300

Ticket Price Schedule as gazetted in 2022

for example, for 2 foreigners with 1 child between 6-12 will have the cost of

Description	Cost
2 adults	USD 50.00
1 child	USD 15.00
Group Fee	USD 10.00
Total	USD 75.00
Tax (15%)	USD 11.25
Total	USD 86.25

The above costs are for entry tickets for persons as gazetted in 2022. A ticket for the vehicle, as given above, has to be purchased separately.

Payments can be made in USD or equivalent LKR by foreigners. You can call 1919 (government information center) for the latest ticket prices. If you hire a private safari Jeep, the prices vary from LKR 11,000 to LKR 15,000 for a half day (4 hours) based on the park. For a full day, it’s double the cost of a half day.

The payment can be made in USD or LKR equivalent

“Worlds End” and Bakers Falls Trail

Other than the gorgeous weather, flora, and fauna of Horton Plains, one of the most popular activities is the hiking trail covering the mini world’s end point, the great world’s end point, and Bakers Falls. Once you reach Horton Plains you can visit the “Worlds End” which is a 4000-foot straight vertical drop. This is of course a 4-kilometer hike from the trailhead on a beautiful path. This drop can be covered with mist most of the time and the best time to be up at the world’s end is towards the afternoon. Or you can just see Bakers Falls which is about 3.3 kilometers from the trailhead.

This is essentially a circular trail which ends at the trail start. Therefore you can start off from any direction travel 9.4 km and return to the trailhead. The trail starts from the checkpoint by the authorities for permits and banned items such as liquor, cigarettes, and lighters. Traveling on more or less flat ground for 600 meters will bring you to the circular path which you can hike clockwise or anticlockwise.

Taking the anticlockwise path will first bring you to Baker’s Fall after 2.6 km. Then you need to move off the track and climb down a rocky and uneven path for about 700 meters to reach the viewing platform. Then you need to get back to the track and continue for a further 2km to reach Worlds End, a sheer cliff, with a drop of about 4,000 feet (1,200 m).

You will go off the trail for about 100 meters to reach the viewing platform which will give a spectacular view even up to the Indian Ocean which lies 81 km away on a clear day.

Getting back to the trail and traveling another kilometer will bring you to the “Mini Worlds End” which is another viewpoint that is a smaller cliff with a 1,000-foot (300 m) drop. Walking another 1.75 km will bring you to the beginning of the loop from where you need to take the same path back to the checkpoint.

Leg of Mutton pool on the trail to Bakers Falls @ Horton Plains National Park

An Elk Deer near the vehicle park @ Horton Plains National Park

Also See

Map of Horton Plains National Park

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Travel Directions to Horton Plains National Park

Route from Colombo to Horton Plains National Park through the Ohiya Entrance	Route from Colombo to Horton Plains National Park through the Pattipola Entrance
Through : Ratnapura – Balangoda – Haputale – Boralanda – Ohiya Distance : 210 km Travel time : 5 hours. Driving directions : see on Google map	Through : Awissawella – Karawanella – Ginigathena – Hatton – Thalawakele – Ambewela Distance : 183 km Travel time : 4 hours. Driving directions : see on Google map
Route from Bandarawela to Horton Plains National Park through the Ohiya Entrance	Route from Nuwara Eliya to Horton Plains National Park through the Pattipola Entrance
Through : Diyathalawa – Boralanda – Ohiya Distance : 33 km Travel time : 45 mins. Driving directions : see on Google map	Through : Blackpool – Ambewela Distance : 27 km Travel time : 45 minutes. Driving directions : see on Google map