Sri Lanka is a paradise for tourists. The country is replete with first-class beaches and modern hotels. And, of course, there is something to see here! There are many attractions in Sri Lanka. These are Buddhist monasteries and temples, mysterious caves, beautiful gardens. But the first place where guests of the island strive to get is the Horton Plateau. The national park attracts tourists with its amazing views, as well as the fact that you can visit it on your own, without being accompanied by a paid guide.
Description
The plateau is located in the center of the country, 32 kilometers from the resort town of Nuwara Eliya. It is located at an altitude of 2100-2300 meters and occupies a vast territory of 3160 hectares. The place got its name from Robert Wilmot-Horton, the British governor of Ceylon. Here are the mountains of Krigalpotta and Totapola - one of the highest peaks of Sri Lanka. What to see in the national park? Lots of waterfalls, amazing vegetation, rich wildlife and, of course, the famous "Edge of the Earth".
On Horton you can theoretically meet mongooses, wild boars, leopards, gullmans, giant squirrels. But more often on the way tourists come across beautiful birds and butterflies, monkeys, Zambar deer, representatives of amphibians. In total, 87 species of birds live here, 24 - mammals, 9 - reptiles and 8 - amphibians.
The vegetation of the park is currently under threat, as the forests are slowly dying off due to the accumulation of harmful substances in the soil and constant droughts. The issue of conservation of vegetation on the plateau is now handled by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Features of visiting
You can come to the national park from anywhere in Sri Lanka. The Horton Plateau is a popular attraction, so a lot of sightseeing tours from the country's resort towns are organized here. You can visit the plateau on your own. So you can choose the most optimal time for a walk in the park and will not be limited to the route of the tourist group.
It is better to come to the Horton Plateau early in the morning, when the sun is shining here and all living creatures come out of their shelters. Organized tours, at best, arrive by ten in the morning, and at this time the weather deteriorates, fog falls, and you can not see all the beauties. And, of course, visiting on your own will cost less.
Entrance to the territory and route
For tourists, entry is made through two checkpoints. There is also a payment for the visit and entry of transport. Travelers move from the checkpoint to the headquarters, wherethere is a small museum of the Horton Plateau. From here the main tourist route begins. It is circular, so no matter which way you go, you will still see the same landscapes, just in a different sequence. The ring has a length of 9.5 kilometers. It will take at least three hours to complete the entire route, but it is better to allow more time for the walk. On the way, you will come across various viewing platforms, among which the “End of the World” deserves special attention. The Horton Plateau also abounds with streams, lakes and rivers, and if you're lucky, you can see animals.
Waterfalls
On the main tourist trail of the park, on a tributary of the Belihul River, there is an amazing waterfall named after the explorer Samuel White Baker, who discovered it in 1845. This is a two-level water stream falling from a height of twenty meters.
The most powerful waterfall in February. In Sri Lanka, at this time, the rivers are as full as possible due to the previous heavy rains. Water falling from the top spills into a long pool, which creates a breathtaking scenery. By the end of March, the water comes down from the mountains, the reservoirs turn into streams, and you will not see such a bewitching spectacle. By the way, swimming in the Baker Falls pool is prohibited! This prohibition must be observed. There are various traps in the water, falling into which many people have lost their lives.
If you visit the park during the rainy season, please note that the ascent and descent to the falls can be very slippery. Around the falling water stream you can seenumerous rhododendrons and ferns. Special viewing areas and places with the best angles for photographs have been created near the attraction.
Besides the main route, there are several other trails in the national park. Tourists rarely visit them, because there are no iconic sights. However, if you have time and desire, you can go along such separate paths to Aggra Falls and Slab Rock Falls. They are also quite beautiful and deserve attention.
"Edge of the Earth" (aka "The End of the World")
This is one of the most famous natural places in Sri Lanka. On the Horton Plateau, many tourists come only to visit this attraction, which is a sharp vertical cliff, first at 328 meters, and then another 1312. An unsurpassed view opens from here, which is simply breathtaking! The earth ends right under your feet, and it is difficult to understand whether you are standing on its edge or, on the contrary, looking from the edge of the sky to the earth. Directly in front of you is only air, and a solid surface is somewhere far below. In case of good weather, you can see the blue of the Indian Ocean from a cliff among the mountains.
The most beautiful at the "Edge of the Earth" at dawn, when due to the evaporation of moisture, numerous heavy and low clouds rise up a kilometer and a half and are directly under the feet of a person. It seems that there is no earth below at all - only the sky. When the clouds part, a beautiful view opens up, the best in Sri Lanka.
When visiting an attraction, you should be careful: what you see out of habit can make you dizzy. Although falling off a cliff is almost impossible: observation decks are equipped with all the necessary safety and protection equipment.
Best season to visit
Perhaps the best time to visit the plateau is from December to February. In Sri Lanka, during this period, the rains stop and there is no exhausting heat. In addition, the monsoons stop blowing throughout the island, and there are more chances to catch good weather on Horton. A good season is also from March to May, when the vegetation is at its most luxuriant.
A visit to the national park in June-September can be overshadowed by strong winds, which make it very cold on the plateau. Although there is still little rain during this period. The peak of precipitation is in October-November. These two months are considered the worst time for a holiday in Sri Lanka in general and for a trip to the Horton Plateau in particular.
Tourist Tips
As already mentioned, it is better to come to the park at the opening, at six in the morning. In the morning, the temperature here can drop to twelve degrees, so it will not be superfluous to dress warmly. It is also advisable to bring a raincoat with you. You will need comfortable hiking shoes, since the route is not uniform: somewhere you will have to climb a hill, somewhere you will have to jump from stone to stone or make your way through green bushes. Shoes or beach slippers are not suitable for such a walk. Stock up on water. According to the rules of the Horton Plateau, drinks cannot be brought into the territory inplastic packaging and some food. These restrictions are in place to ensure that tourists do not feed the animals that live here. Do not throw away waste in the park area, but take it with you.
Pay and opening hours
The National Park is open to visitors daily from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. The sale of entrance tickets is carried out only until four o'clock in the afternoon. Foreigners pay to visit the plateau in rupees, but based on the estimated price in US dollars. For adults, a ticket will cost fifteen dollars, which is about 2,300 rupees (850 rubles). For children of six to twelve years old, they charge a fee of eight dollars, approximately 1,250 rupees (460 rubles). Children under the age of six visit the park for free when accompanied by an adult. A service fee of eight dollars is added to the indicated cost. Those who wish can stay overnight on the Horton Plateau, but in this case they will have to pay double the price.
For entry by transport, a fee is charged per vehicle unit: for an SUV or minivan - 250 rupees (90 rubles), for a car - 125 (45 rubles). If you want to take a walk along the park route with an individual guide, it will cost another 750 rupees (280 rubles). By the way, residents of Sri Lanka visit the attraction at much lower prices. The above price is for foreigners only.
How to get there
On the Horton Plateau, it is best to organize a trip from tourist cities located in the center of Sri Lanka: Ella, Nuwara Eliya,Kandy, Badulla. It is unlikely that you will be able to get to the national park and see all the sights from coastal resorts in one day. The easiest way is to go as part of a tour group, then the care of transportation will not lie with you, but with the organizer. But still it is better to visit the plateau on your own.
To get here early in the morning, it is better to leave in the evening and stay overnight at a hotel in the town of Ohiya or some other place in the area. Then, after waking up early in the morning, you can get to the Horton checkpoint by tuk-tuk. Those who do not have their own car can get to Ohiya by public transport. Trains run from Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Colombo on this route.
Trip cost
Wherever you get from on your own, at the last stage you still need to hire a tuk-tuk or rent a car, because public transport does not go directly to the national park. A trip from Nuwara Eliya by tuk-tuk in two directions will cost about 3,500 rupees (1,295 rubles), while the one-way trip will take about two hours. For a jeep or minivan, you will have to pay from 4,500 rupees (1,665 rubles), but if you are traveling with a large company, this is beneficial, since payment is taken entirely for the car.
You can save money if you go to the Horton Plateau not from Nuwara Eliya, but, for example, from Haputale or Bandarawela. From Ohia, getting to the checkpoint by tuk-tuk is the cheapest way - 2000 rupees (740 rubles) in both directions.
Reviews
The Horton Plateau attracts millions of tourists every year fromdifferent parts of the world. Visitors to the park rave about the gorgeous views and bizarre exotic landscapes. Many note that it is both surprising and scary to be on the observation deck near the cliff: there is a solid white wall in front and it really seems that you are standing on the edge of the earth. As for the tourist route, visitors to Horton find it very interesting and exciting. People love that the track can be started from either side.
Among the shortcomings, tourists note a large crowding of visitors in the afternoon. During these hours, not only independent travelers come to the plateau, but also buses with schoolchildren. Many people consider the cost of entrance tickets overpriced and unreasonably expensive. Be that as it may, all tourists who visit Horton return from there with pleasant memories. Of course, there is also a feeling of fatigue, because walking a route of almost ten kilometers is not an easy task. However, what you see is worth it! Those who have been to the "Edge of the Earth" return from there with a great impression, which they then keep for the rest of their lives.
