Horton Plains National Park
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Horton Plains National Park is a national park in the highlands of Sri Lanka. It lies at a height of more than 2000m in the central highlands, and 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 rather than the 26°C of the coasts.
In the winter months it is cold at night, and there can even be frosts, although it rapidly warms up as the tropical sun climbs higher in the sky.
The park covers 31.60 km², and is a mixture of highland forest and wet grassland. It can be accessed by travelling from Nuwara Eliya.
This is a key wildlife area. Species found here include Leopard, Sambar and the endemic Purple-faced Langur. All six highland endemic birds are found here, including Dull-blue Flycatcher, Sri Lanka White-eye, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, and Sri Lanka Bush Warbler. Yellow-eared Bulbul and Dark-throated Munia are widespread throughout the highlands.
The park also has a well-visited tourist attraction at World's End, a sheer precipice with a 1050m drop. The return walk passes the scenic Baker Falls. Early morning visits are essential, both to see the wildlife, and to view World's End before mists close in during the later part of the morning.