Horton Plains is located on the central highlands of Sri Lanka and The Horton Plains are the headwaters of three major Sri Lankan rivers, the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Walawe. In Sinhala the plains are known as Maha Eliya Plain
At an altitude of 2,100 meters above sea level, the Horton Plains extends over more than 3,169 hectares of the highest plateau of the island. The great plains of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka was discovered by the planter Thomas Farr in the early 19th century. These great plain named Horton plains (1834) as a honor of governor of Ceylon Sir Wilmot Horton. The visitor center is significant in the sense it has become the starting point for the 9 km main hike from the Horton Plains. The main trek taking a circular route can be enjoyed within 3 hours. The path opens with an extensive view of the flora: naked meadow patina here; Densely wooded cloud forest out there. Once the meadows have passed, the trek leads for about 2 km through a thin stretch of cloud forest. Cultivated in the forest among nellu shrubs and keena trees are spices grown in nature: pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and lot of endemic trees and animals
