Moon Plains ("Sandha Thenna")
Nestled 6,200 feet above mean sea level, Moon Plains offers visitors a spectacular 360 degree unique picturesque view of surrounding mountain ranges such as Pidurutalaga (8,281 feet), Single Tree Mountain ((6,890 feet) Kikiliyamana Mountain (7,339 feet), Great Western Mountain (7,257 feet), Konical Hill Mountain (7,116 feet) Kirigalpoththa Mountain (7,835 feet), Thotupola Mountain (7,737 feet), Hakgala Mountain (7,110 feet) and Namunukula Mountain (6,667 feet).
Moon Plains is a landscape with a grandeur view and is gaining in popularity as the "second world's end". Moon Plains is surrounded by cloud forests and unique diversity of flora and fauna and has similar characteristics to that of Horton Plains. Unlike the excursion to Horton Plains, which takes 6 to 8 hours, the excursion to Moon Plains can be completed in 2 hours. Thus, if you have a tight travel schedule the excursion to Moon Plains would be a good alternative experience to Horton Plains.
Access to Moon Plains is from the Seetha Eliya Farm, which is a 15 minutes drive from Spring Acre. From the Farm specially authorized safari jeeps are available for hire to travel the 3 km distance to the Moon Plains viewing point.
Click below to get driving directions on Google Maps
Moon Plains is a landscape with a grandeur view and is gaining in popularity as the "second world's end". Moon Plains is surrounded by cloud forests and unique diversity of flora and fauna and has similar characteristics to that of Horton Plains. Unlike the excursion to Horton Plains, which takes 6 to 8 hours, the excursion to Moon Plains can be completed in 2 hours. Thus, if you have a tight travel schedule the excursion to Moon Plains would be a good alternative experience to Horton Plains.
Access to Moon Plains is from the Seetha Eliya Farm, which is a 15 minutes drive from Spring Acre. From the Farm specially authorized safari jeeps are available for hire to travel the 3 km distance to the Moon Plains viewing point.
Click below to get driving directions on Google Maps
Fauna and Flora
Moon Plains is well recognized for rich bio diversity, its flora to high level of endemism. Keena (Calophyllum walker, Calophyllum trapezitolium), Alikan ((Actinodaphne speciosa), Maharathmal (Rhododendron arnorium), Wal Kurudu (Cinnamomum avalifolium), and Gal weralu (Elaeocarpus coriaceus) are the notable endemic tree species. Improtant shrubs are Sitha pera (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) and Wal kapuru (Galutheria Rubius), the tree fern Maha Meewana (Cythea spp) dotes the forest opening. Couples of Strobilathes spices are endemic and have beutiful flowers. Bovitiya (Osbeckia Walkeri) is another plant with strikingly pretty flowers.
Fauna
A total of 105 bird species are recorded in the area of which 16 are endemic to Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Galluus lafayetii), Sri Lanka Spurfowl (Gallo perdix bicatcarata), Sri Lanka Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus), Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (Columba torringtoni), Sri Lanka Yellow-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus), Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornate), Sri Lanka Spot-winged Thrush (Zoothera spiloptera), Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush (Zoothera imbricate), Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (Myophonus blighi), Sri Lanka Dull Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordida), Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus melamurus), Sri Lanka Orange Billed Babbler (Turdoides rufescens), Sri Lanka Brown Capped Babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillus), Sri Lanka Bush Warbler (Bradypterus palliseri), Sri Lanka White Eye (Zosterops ceylonensis), Sri Lanka Chestnut Backed owlet (Glaucidium castanotum). In addition you can also see Indian Pea fowl (Paro cristatas) in the plain.
Although large mammals can seldom be seen at Moon Plains; Sambar, Deer (Rusa unicolour) is common sight in the early mornings and evenings. Bear Monkey (Rusa unicolour) is common sight in the early morning and evenings. Bear Monkey (Semnopithecus vetulus monticola), Barking Deer (Montiacus muntjak), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Indian Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) and Black nape hare (Lepus nigicollis) can be seen in the forest and the plain.
Moon Plains is well recognized for rich bio diversity, its flora to high level of endemism. Keena (Calophyllum walker, Calophyllum trapezitolium), Alikan ((Actinodaphne speciosa), Maharathmal (Rhododendron arnorium), Wal Kurudu (Cinnamomum avalifolium), and Gal weralu (Elaeocarpus coriaceus) are the notable endemic tree species. Improtant shrubs are Sitha pera (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) and Wal kapuru (Galutheria Rubius), the tree fern Maha Meewana (Cythea spp) dotes the forest opening. Couples of Strobilathes spices are endemic and have beutiful flowers. Bovitiya (Osbeckia Walkeri) is another plant with strikingly pretty flowers.
Fauna
A total of 105 bird species are recorded in the area of which 16 are endemic to Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Galluus lafayetii), Sri Lanka Spurfowl (Gallo perdix bicatcarata), Sri Lanka Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus), Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon (Columba torringtoni), Sri Lanka Yellow-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus), Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornate), Sri Lanka Spot-winged Thrush (Zoothera spiloptera), Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush (Zoothera imbricate), Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (Myophonus blighi), Sri Lanka Dull Blue Flycatcher (Eumyias sordida), Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus melamurus), Sri Lanka Orange Billed Babbler (Turdoides rufescens), Sri Lanka Brown Capped Babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillus), Sri Lanka Bush Warbler (Bradypterus palliseri), Sri Lanka White Eye (Zosterops ceylonensis), Sri Lanka Chestnut Backed owlet (Glaucidium castanotum). In addition you can also see Indian Pea fowl (Paro cristatas) in the plain.
Although large mammals can seldom be seen at Moon Plains; Sambar, Deer (Rusa unicolour) is common sight in the early mornings and evenings. Bear Monkey (Rusa unicolour) is common sight in the early morning and evenings. Bear Monkey (Semnopithecus vetulus monticola), Barking Deer (Montiacus muntjak), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Indian Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) and Black nape hare (Lepus nigicollis) can be seen in the forest and the plain.
Moon Plains Operating Hours & Contact
- 7.00 am to 5.00 pm (early morning and evening excursions are the best time to experience Moon Plains)
- Moon Plains Contact Telephone Number: +94 52-305 7042
Source: Brochure of Department of Agriculture, Moon Plains, Nuwara Eliya