Horton Plains National Park is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site in the central highlands, known for its unique mix of misty grasslands, rare cloud forests, beautiful waterfalls, and the famous sheer cliff drop called World's End.

Why visit Horton Plains National Park

• Headwaters of Major Rivers : Horton Plains serves as the crucial headwaters for three of Sri Lanka’s major rivers: the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Walawe, highlighting its vital role in the island’s water resources.
• Home to Endemic Highland Species : The park is an Important Bird Area and a biodiversity hotspot, harboring numerous plant and animal species found nowhere else in Sri Lanka, particularly its six highland endemic bird species.
• Dramatic Scenic Escarpment : World’s End, a sheer precipice with a drop of nearly 870–880 meters, offers breathtaking panoramic views over valleys, tea plantations, forests, and (on clear mornings) extending to Sri Lanka's southern coast.
• Unique Montane Ecosystems : The landscape features a distinctive combination of montane grasslands and subtropical cloud forests, supporting a rich array of flora including many endemic woody plants and diverse herbaceous species.
• Historical Significance and Ancient Tools : Stone tools (geometric microliths) dating back to the Balangoda culture (Mesolithic period, ~28,500 BCE or earlier) have been discovered within the plains, indicating prehistoric human presence (likely temporary hunting/gathering camps) in this high-altitude region.