HORTON PLAINS

 Tourists whom are penchant of eco diversity adventures in Sri lanka will prefer this most. Horton Plains is considered as a picturesque destination in Sri Lankan tourism. Horton Plains’ is a beautiful mountainous nature park situated in 2200 m above sea level. Local travelers call is as Maha Eliya plains.


Horton Plains is located in Nuwaraeliya, southern plateau of Central Province in Sri lanka. Other than that the park is marginalized of Kirigalpotta mountain from south and Thotupala Kanda Mountain from North. Consequently they are listed as the second and third highest mountains in Sri lanka. Horton Plains’ was invented by British animal hunter Mr. Horton. 

You have 2 options to visit the park. One is Ohiya entrance – through Welimada or Bandaraweala. The other route is Pattipola entrance – through Nuwara Eliya and Ambewela. The national park covers an area of 31.6 sq.kms. Horton plains’ is the mother water fountain of Mahaweli, Kelani and Walawe rivers. Further it also feeds Kiriketi Oya, Belihul Oya, Agra Oya and Bogawantalawa Oya. The average temperature is around 16°C but it is variable between 5°C and 27°C. Thus the mean annual rainfall is around 2000 mm.

Horton plains are reckoned as the only national park in Sri lanka that allows visitors to walk and travel freely on their own tracks in the park. But they can’t access every part of the park because some may damage to the indigenous plants and animals. Such kind of activities must be prohibited.