Horton Plains

Horton Plains National Park (“Maha-Eliya” in Sinhala) is a stunning highland national park in central Sri Lanka, renowned for its unique landscapes, biodiversity, and cool climate. Situated at an altitude of over 2,000 meters above sea level, the park enjoys a refreshingly cooler climate than the lowlands, with a mean annual temperature of 16 °C, compared to 26 °C along the coasts. The park was named in 1834 after Lady Anne Horton, the wife of Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton, then-governor of Ceylon. Horton Plains is famous for its rolling grasslands, cloud forests, and dramatic escarpments, including the iconic World’s End cliff. It is a must-visit destination for hikers, nature enthusiasts, and wildlife photographers, offering a peaceful escape into Sri Lanka’s breathtaking highland scenery.