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Horton Plains Highest Platue with the only Montana forest in Sri Lanka! |
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The planter Thomas Farr "discovered" these plains of thirty square kilometres in the nineteenth century and called it after Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, the British Governor from 1831-1837. Located at an elevation of 7000 feet, this is one of the most awesome and forbidding regions of Sri Lanka. This plateau is windswept misty grassland, with tree ferns and scraggly dwarf trees some native only to Sri Lanka. | ||||
| Three major rivers originate from Horton Plains. Here the Belihul Oya is a vital small stream tumbling over a cliff in a spectacular waterfall that can be seen from the top of Mount Kirigalpothe. The forlige of Horton Plains includes species such as Rhododendron and mangolia. The underlayer of forest has smaller trees and plants of the montana forest.The miniature dwarf bamboo flourishes near streams. The quaint moss growing on trees called old man's beard is a feature of this place. The only variety of red algae found in Sri Lanka is to be seen here. |  The plains are wild and beautiful in its loneliness, yet exhilarating. Majestic Sambur roams freely in the grassland with the occasional Leopard. Also there are Flora unique to the World found only in this area. These Plains have an unpredictable mountainous microclimate. The walk is safe for a single (female) hiker, and well worth the visit. |
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