The Horton Plain Plateau, is a secluded wilderness sanctuary 2130 m high and offers one of Sri Lanka’s most unforgettable views.  Here the land plunges down a dizzy gorge to the southern foot hills and on clear days, even a glimpse of the sea more than 80 km away.  The Horton Plains are the habitat of giant Rhododendron (an evergreen shrub with large clusters of trumpet shaped flowers), tree fern primrose and daffodil orchids and birds such as the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush and Arrenga, the Shaggy Bear monkey and the blue mormon butterfly and many other endemic and endangered montane species.

Traditionally called ‘Maha Eliya’ the Horton Plains was founded by Sir Robert Hortain, the British Governor in 1831-37. and established as a nature reserve in 1969 and a National Park in 1988.