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| Year and Month | 2019 November 10th and 11th |
| Number of Days | Two |
| Crew | 07-Ashan, Anupama, Chamara, Sampath, Wikum, Sashi and Myself |
| Accommodation | Camping at unnamed mountain |
| Transport | By bus and hiking |
| Activities | Hiking, Trekking and Photography |
| Weather | Showery at evening of Day 01 |
| Route | Colombo->Ramboda->Perattasi->Chariot Path->Perattasi Mountain->unnamed mountain and three plains->Back to Ramboda |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
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Chariot pathway is a grassy land situated at 1900m attitude at Piduruthalagala forest reserve, related to Rawana legend. Though it is a popular travel destination, my first visit happened one month ago. Here we have moved further to reach Perattasi Mountain which is situated next to Chariot pathway. When we were at Perattasi Mountain, noted another giant above 2100m next to Perattasi Mountain and kept it for next visit. It was unnamed mountain. (Exact height is 2133m)
The main objective of this journey was to hike this unnamed mountain. Apart from that, we wanted to reach another three grassy plains situated between this unnamed mountain and Ramboda. These grassy plains are surrounded by thick forest of Piduruthalagala forest reserve.
Ramboda short cut is the easiest way to reach Frotofot tea estate from A5 road. You will get beautiful view of Upper Ramboda Falls and Kotmale valley when you ascend along these steps. All others except Shashi and Myself were new for this route.
We got together at Ramboda and started the journey around 6am.
 Good morning Ramboda… |
 Upper Ramboda Falls…. |
 Beautiful morning…. Karunagala |
 Upper Ramboda area….. |
 Reaching estate road from Ramboda short cut…. |
 Kotmale valley…. |
 The team…. |
 Following estate road |
 Water streams get refreshed by rain |
 Entering to Frotofot group |
 Gravel estate road |
 Foot pathway connecting two estate roads…. |
 Meeting estate people at foot pathway… |
 Frotofot line houses ….. |
 Bus is coming…… |
 Lush green….. |
 Path to heaven |
 Get turn to Chariot Path |
Though lower area had clear weather, it was changed to gloomy and misty when we ascend along foot pathway. It was completely misty at Chariot path. There were considerable crowd at Chariot pathway might be due to long weekend.
 Ascend along foot pathway. Now we are in Piduruthalagala forest reserve. |
 Checking for leeches. It is unlikely to have leeches at this attitude. |
 Misty environment…. |
 Clear foot path |
 Decorated with Nelu….. |
 Reaching a lower view point |
 It’s nothing other than mist |
 Heading to Chariot path |
 Crowded Chariot Path |
 The drop covered with mist |
 The drop covered with mist |
 The drop covered with mist |
 . |
 . |
It was around 11am when we reached this barren land. After enjoying the misty view we started to move towards Perattasi Mountain along the edge of the drop.
 Heading to Perattasi Mountain along the edge…. |
 Heading to Perattasi Mountain along the edge…. |
 Towards Ramboda |
 Hands up…. |
 At the edge…. |
 . |
 Group photo |
 At ground level |
 On top of Perattasi Mountain |
 On top of Perattasi Mountain |
The unnamed mountain was appeared on left side of Perattasi Mountain. We have passed a dry Nelu area to reach the base of this mountain. Hewaheta and Rikillagaskada side were seen on one side. It was about 30minutes hike from base of unnamed mountain to it’s top. As we noted from far, it’s summit has number of slab rocks. It was about 2pm when we reached the summit of this giant with 2133m height. Here we decided to halt the journey for first day as this slab rock was ideal for camping. A water stream was running on side of the camping area. The rain was started around 4pm and lasted about 2hours. Even after rain, surrounding was gloomy and misty. Night was extremely cold to remind us we are at above 2000m level. We didn’t try to make a bone fire and nobody had good sleep in the night due to chilling cold.
 Passing dry Nelu area between two mountains… |
 Small water pocket |
 Path of Elk |
 Squeeze through Nelu bushes…. |
 Now we are at base of unnamed mountain |
 Now we are at base of unnamed mountain |
 Towards Hewaheta and Rikillagaskada |
 The slab rock covering this unnamed mountain |
 The slab rock covering this unnamed mountain |
 Just below the summit of the mountain. We decided to camp there. |
 The water stream was on side |
 Surrounding was gloomy when we reached there |
 Towards Chariot path….. |
 Camp site |
 Camp site |
 Spongy bushes on top of the rock absorb water and forms a stream. |
Day 02
Morning was brightened following gloomy night. After having morning tea we have moved to the top of the rock to enjoy the beauty of morning. It was a good view point with 360 view including Kukulagala, Hewaheta, Rikillagaskada side, Chariot path, rest of Piduruthalagala range, Ramboda area, Karunagala, Great Western, Hills around Ginigathhena, Rilagala / Pasmale, Nuwera Eliya side, Kikiliyamana, Uda Radella, Sri Pada and highest of Piduruthalagala with towers. We have noted Randenigala hills and Alagalla as well.
 Sun rise over the summit |
 Sun rise over the summit |
 Going to the top….. |
 Flora over the top |
 Kukulagala and Rikillagaskada area. We have noted Randenigala hills beyond this line. |
 Beautiful morning…. |
 Towards Nuwera Eliya side and surrounding hills |
 Some known peaks…. |
 Shashi in action |
 The drop covering with mist |
 Towards Chariot pathway |
 Perattasi Mountain |
 Kotmale reservoir |
 At ground level…. |
 Aerial view of spiky mountains |
 Aerial view of spiky mountains |
 We are on top….. |
 The drop… |
 Front view |
 Misty top |
 . |
 . |
 Rest of Piduruthalagala forest reserve. |
 Our rest of the journey lies along this valley and we wanted to reach the plain seen in this picture. |
 කොක්මොටේ |
 Approximate height |
Our next target was to reach three plains situated at Piduruthalagala forest reserve. It is situated at 1900m attitude, closer to upper tea estates of Ramboda area. First we descend from top of this unnamed mountain. We have noted evidences of some human activities at the base of this unnamed mountain, like gem mining.
After certain distance we entered the forest with Nelu bushes and covering of large trees. It was a 2-3 hours descend through this forest cover and at the end we have reached the first plain.
 The descend… |
 The descend… |
 We followed the least steepness of the mountain |
 Lost among flowery bushes…. |
 Lost among flowery bushes…. |
 Evidences of human activities within forest reserve |
 Evidences of human activities within forest reserve |
 At the base of mountain |
 On our way to the plains…. |
 We followed our way along the ridge of the mountain to reach those three plains… |
 Small break |
 Forest covering |
 Forest covering |
 Reached 1st plain |
When you closely observe the Google map, you may notice few plains situated at Piduruthalagala forest reserve. Chariot pathway is one of them, might be the most popular one. All these plains are situated at 1900-2000m attitude. I have been at another one situated closer to lovers leap falls. Most of these plains are marshy lands and act as a sponge in absorbing water. It is common to have water stream runs through these plains.
 Three plains situated at Piduruthalagala forest reserve |
First plain was almost a dry plain and there were few water streams running across it. Second plain was kind of a marshy land and we entered the forest to reach third plain from second plain. Third plain was the largest out of all and we spent much time there. We have noted enough evidences for human visits at these plains: Gem mining and water pipes.
 The first plain we have reached…. |
 The first plain we have reached…. |
 Path…. |
 Where we came from…. |
 Posing…. |
 My team… |
 Our team…. |
 It was one of my dreams to reach these plains… |
 . |
 First plain was fairly dry….. |
 Moving to second plain ….. |
 Second plain was almost a marshy land… |
 බිනර |
 Second plain…. |
 Plains are good water sources…. |
 Moving to forest…. |
 Third plain was the largest out of all… It was almost dry…. |
 Third plain |
 Third plain |
 Third plain |
 Small pond situated at third pond… |
 Third plain…. |
 Third plain…. |
 Moving out of the plain |
 Third plain and towards Rikillagaskada side…. |
 Third plain ad towards Rikillagaskada side….. |
 . |
 When we are at plain-3 |
 Plain-3 |
 Shrine situated at side |
From third plain we have descend to Upper Ramboda estates and followed the estate roads to get back to short cut road to Ramboda. We were able to get back to A5 road by 3pm. It was another successful journey with beautiful memories.
 Wild beauties…. |
 Descend to Upper Ramboda estate |
 Successful team at the end….. |
 Upper Ramboda estate |
 Back to foot pathway to Ramboda |
 Points of our journey |
Thanks for reading