Horton Plains National Park is located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, near Nuwara Eliya. It was designated as a protected National Park in 1988 and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010. This park is a unique and diverse place in Sri Lanka, offering rich wildlife and great hiking opportunities. Visitors can explore popular sites such as Bakers Fall, Mini World’s End, and World’s End. The Horton Plains hike is considered one of the most beautiful and varied treks in this incredible country.
World’s End in Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful and diverse treks you will come across on your journey to Sri Lanka. Arriving at daybreak in the early morning mist, with the sunlight kissing the plains and spotting deer grazing silently in the long grass, you will feel as though you have stepped into a different country. World’s End is the name of one section of the trek in Horton Plains. Although World’s End is the highlight for most, the national park has a range of other interesting and beautiful sights too. This is a trek that is more accessible than some, due to the well-maintained paths and the slightly less strenuous hill walking. If you are considering missing out on this hike, then consider it again; it does have something for everyone.
How high is World’s End in Horton Plains?
World’s End is a sheer cliff with a drop of about 1200 meters. Also, it has to be a clear day if you want to have the best view. Clouds can easily cover the area, which won’t give you a view.
How long is Horton Plains trek
The Horton Plains trek abruptly ends at the peak of World’s End, offering an impressive view of the surrounding landscape that drops 1200 meters. The hike to World’s End is 4km, then the trail loops back to Bakers Falls, which is 2km and continues to the entrance for another 3.5km. The total roundtrip is 9.5km, taking about three hours in total, depending on the time spent at World’s End or Bakers Fall.
What to see in Horton Plains
During the hike in Horton Plains National Park, you will discover a diverse landscape with wild grasslands, cloud forest, different types of rocks, beautiful waterfalls, and misty lakes. There is also a wide variety of wildlife. You will see many birds, sambar deer, and even leopards living in the National Park. There are many different species of plants and trees. You can see more than half of Sri Lanka’s mammals, more than half of the flowering plants of the island, as well as many different trees and shrubs.
On your way to the big World’s End, you will first pass the so-called Mini World’s End, which is a 300-meter drop and also offers a very impressive view. After this lower viewpoint, you can continue the hike to the ‘real’ World’s End.
To see World’s End, it’s best to start your hike before sunrise so you won’t be disappointed with a huge blanket of mist obstructing the beautiful view. Standing on the edge of World’s End is a very special experience, but be careful. There are plenty of horror stories with fatal outcomes, so you must take the usual safety precautions. There are numerous spots to get great photos, but always be careful near the edge, especially when there is a lot of wind.
The extraordinary view of tea plantation villages in the valley and the view towards the southern coast is just incredible. On a clear day, you can see the ocean, which is 80 kilometers away on the horizon of World’s End. Horton Plains is simply one of the best nature reserves in Sri Lanka and eco-tourism venues in the world!
