Thotapala Kanda
Thotapala Kanda in the Horton Plains is the third highestpoint in Sri Lanka (2360 metres above sea level). Toclimb to the top is quite easy and a good starting pointfor a young hiker. When you travel from Nuwara-Eliya to Horton Plains via Pattipola-Ohiya Road, the trailentry point lies about 400 metres from Pattipola mainentrance of the Horton Plains. The entire hike to the topwill take about an hour and the total climb will be lessthan 200 metres. The fi rst bit will be through tall shrubsand then you will come to an open terrain with shortershrubs. You cross a mini peak before the Thotapala mainpeak. The top of the mountain is full of thick vegetationso it is bit diffi cult to see a panoramic view but still theview is splendid. You can clearly see a good half ofthe plain from the peak. Since this peak is within thenature reserve you need to get prior approval from theDepartment of Wildlife Conservation.
