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.

✈️ Why should you 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.