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Trail to World’s End from Belihuloya via Non Perial [Download as PDF] Trail Difficulty: Easy | Moderate | Strenuous | Tough Trail Head: Ihala-Galagama, Belihuloya Nearest Town: Galagama Nearest City: Balangoda Access to Trail head: Paved road. Public Transport is available
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Trail End: World’s End, Horton Plains Total Length: 9 km Elevation Gain: 1350m (Elevation at Trail Head: 800m | Elevation at Trail End: 2150m) Approximate time: 6 - 8 hours Hiking Season: Best: January to March (Possible: July to August | Avoid: Monsoon Months) Permit Required: NO This is a trail with remarkable diversity of terrain, weather and vegitation. It starts off with a stretch across beautiful paddy fields. You will then be walking (and of course climbing) through pines plots, grass lands, montane forest patches, tea estates and finally through a cloud forest to reach world’s end. Weather can change dramatically through out the day. The breath-taking views of plains and mountains get covered with thick mist in a matter of minutes. Sometimes you will be struggling to see few meters ahead of you due to thick mist and moments later every thing will clear up to the horizon. Journey to world’s end is a single climb with occasional relatively flat sections. Trail does not go over smaller peak as in the cases some other trails such as the Palabathgala – sripada trail. Its one continuous climb from trail head to world’s end over 9Km tracks. There is a section of approximately 2km from 2.7km to 3.7km which is by far the steepest and the most difficult section to pass. 0 to 800m: Trail starts off at 3.5 km from Belihuloya. From Ihala – Galagama road, take the right turn on to the jeep track (way point: BH01). Walk 200m across paddy fields and take a left turn (way point: BH02) from the “T” junction on to a narrower jeep track. There is narrow irrigation canal carrying water to the fields below. As you walk about 200m you have to make slight right on to a foot path. Walking about 100m along the foot path observe the pines plantation on to your right. As you walk about 400m from the start of the foot path you will reach a point where you can climb in to the pines plot (way point BH05). You have two options at this point, either continue on the foot path or climb across the pines plot. We decided to climb through pines trees since it is shorter than going around the plot (a steeper climb though) and it’s always fun to climb though pines. 800m to 2.2 km: The first 400m through pines is a steep climb. At the end of this section you will merge on to the foot path and the track continues through pines trees on a relatively flat terrain for another 500m (way point BH08). While on this section you will most probably experience the climate change. Atmosphere can be cool and may even be foggy. You will now observe some undergrowth and few native plat species competing with pines. In next 400m, pines will completely become absent and the track will enter a grass covered hill (way point BH 09). Climb the hill (about 100m) and enter a dense submontane forest ahead (way point BH 10). 2.2km to 2.7km: This section of the trail is a walk through submontane forest. As you come out from the forest patch (way point BH 11) a mountain range can be seen in front. On top of those mountains lies the plateau which is known as Horton plains. 2.7 km to 4.5 km: As you come out from the forest patch you will immediately start a hard climb. For nearly a kilometer it will be a real stress test for the body. After the first 1000m (way point BH12) the climb eases off. Next 800m will be an easy climb with occasional flat sections at the end of which you enter the upper division of the non perial estate way point BH14). 4.5 km to 5.8 km : Once you enter the tea estate, you will have to climb some stone steps and get on to the estate jeep track. As you continue your climb along the jeep track, approximately 300m from the point you entered the estate, you should merge on to the main estate road (still a jeep track) going towards the managers’ bungalow at way point BH 15. Continue to walk uphill along the road until you reach the managers’ bungalow (way point BH 17, approximately 1 km from the junction where you merge on to the main road. Enter the Horton plains nature reserve from behind the managers’ bungalow. 5.8 km to 9 km: From the manager’s bungalow the trail becomes a foot path through the dense cloud forest of the Horton plains nature reserve. You will have to walk through the dense undergrowth of “Nelu & dwarf bamboo. Even though the inclination is negligibly small in this section, walking through the dense undergrowth is an extremely challenging exercise. One thing you will most regret will be a big back pack. Quite frequently you will have to crawl on all four legs to go underneath “nelu”. This is where a back pack or (any bag for that matter) becomes a big burden. Continue until you hit the edge of the plateau. You are now at the edge of the Horton plains. Enjoy the exciting drop of nearly 800m to the balangoda. You can walk further along the edge until you reach the world’s end observation point (Way point BH 19). Tips, Notes & special remarks:
Way Points
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