Basic ecotouristic information on Horton Plains National Park (Sri Lanka) - localization, access, characteristic, fauna and flora, possible activities.
Localization
Central Sri Lanka, 32 km south from Nuwara Eliya
Access
Easy, along the good road from Nuwara Eliya.
Characteristic
3160 ha; Mountains area and plateau in the southern part of Central Highlands. The second & third highest mountains of the country are inside the park. The park's elevation ranges from 1,200–2,300 metres. Its altitude means that it has a much cooler and more windy climate than the lowlands of Sri Lanka, with a mean annual temperature of 16 °C. Three major rivers of the country start from this area. Typical ecosystems: montane forests, cloud forests, mountainous grasslands, wetlands and freshwater ecosystems. Horton Plains has rich biodiversity. Most of the fauna and flora found in the park are endemic and furthermore some of them are confined to highlands of the island.
Fauna + Flora
Species List - See the Attachment Below
(Species list may not be complete)
Possible activities
Very good conditions for walking and trekking - 10 km long touristic path
Hiking, mountaineering.
Note
Well-visited tourist attraction at World's End, a sheer precipice with a 1,050 m drop on the southern edge of Central Highlands. The return walk passes the scenic Baker's Falls.
Best period for visit I-IV (less rainy) and VIII in a weekday
UNESCO World Heritage Site