HORTAIN PLAINS


Hortain plains is a exiting place to observe the natural beauty of sri lanka.Hortain plains is the coldest and windiest location in the country.It consist of many eco systems such as montane evergreen forests,grasslands,marshylands and aquatic eco systems.it is located at an altitude of 2100m above the sea level and it is spreaded over3169 hectares of the highest table land of the island.The UNESCO declared Hortain plains as a world heritage site on 30th july 2010 because of large number of endemic flora and founa species.


Ecological importance

Hortain plains,Sri Lankas very important catchment area for all major rivers and this area is consist of forests and adjoining peaks.Hortain plains is a area with outstanding scenic beauty and containing mast of the habitats and endemic plants and animals,representative of the country’s wet and montane zones.The westrn slopes supports the most extensive area of montane cloud forest surviving  in the island.Hortain plains is famous not only among the the nature tourists but those who engaged in educational activities and also in researches because of the high bio-diversity exist there.It is a responsibility of all sri Lankans to protect it.

Climate of Hortain Plains


The climate of hortain plains is that of a wet montane forest.The average temperature is about 14-16 degree celcius and humidity all over the area in the morning.Annual rainfall is about 5000mm.In the dry season,the temperature falldown around 5 degree celcius and the powerful winds and frost is fairly common.



Terrain

Hortain plains is one of the main plateaus in southern area of central highlands sri lanka.This area has a network of streams and channels.The montane forest in the hortain plains is the source of three major rivers in sri lanka.The Sri lanka’s  2nd and 3rd highest mountain peaks are there,kirigalpottha and thotupalakanda peaks also in there.The world’s end wit a escarpment of 900m and the Baker’s fall are popular among tourists.

History

Hortain plains was first discovered by the planter Thama Far in the early 19th century.In 1834 it was named as HORTAIN PLAINS in honour of the Ceylon governer at that time,Robert Wilmot Hortain in the year 1969.And it declared as a nature reserve in 1998.

Location


This is located at the ridge of the central highlands between NuwaraEliya and Haputale.The tourists who visits from NuwaraEliya, must reach entrance at pattipola and those who from Haputale find an entrance point at Ohiya.And after 3km drive from the entrance leads you to the newly built tourist centre.Visitors centre exhibits interesting displays on the history of flora and founa of hortain plains.The main trip  taking a circular route can be enjoy within 3 hours.The trial opens up with an expensive view of flora and founa,grasslands and densly wooded cloud forest.After you passed bare pating grassland you must go 2km and you reach cloud forest there.In it there are many valuable and endemic flora and founa can  be seen.


World’s End


On the southern edge of the Hortain Plains at an altitude of 2140m is famous world’s end,an escarpment that fall sheer 900m.The man made modern irrigation system within the Udawalawe brings in a lovely view of low lying plains of the southern sri lanka.If the morning sky is clear,you can see the southern coast too.

Wild Life In Hortain Plains


Strip necked mongoose,long tailed giant squirrel,wild boar,endemic bear monkey,torque monkey,fishing cat,otter etc can be seen commonly all around Hortain Plains.And also lanka bush warbler,dull blue fly catcher,sri lanka’s wood pigeon,sri Lankan white eye spot winged thrush,scaly thrush,sri Lankan spur fowl,sri Lankan whistling thrush,brown copped babler and sri Lankan jungle fowl can be seen rarely in specific locations.Other highlights are Himalayan migrant pied thrush,kashnir fly catcher,Indian pitta,Blackbird,mountain Hawk Eagle.