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Trip Reports Archive » By Length » One Day » One day hike to Chariot path, Perattasi Mountain and Gerandi Ella falling point.

One day hike to Chariot path, Perattasi Mountain and Gerandi Ella falling point.

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Tags & Author Archive

Ayer Estate, Chariot Path, Frotofot, Gerandi Ella, Hewaheta, Mool Oya, Perattasi, Perattasi Mountain, Ramboda, Ramboda Oya Upper Falls, Sita tear pond, One Day, October, Wet Zone, Mountains, Hiking, By Location, 2019, Forest Reserve, Photograhy, Trekking, Waterfalls

Author: Niroshan (269 Trips)

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Year and Month 2019 Octomber 18th

2019 November 22nd

Number of Days Two Days
Crew Day one-04-Keshan, Isuru, Kasun Lakmal and Myself

Day two-02-Nuwan and Myself

Accommodation N0t applicable
Transport By bus and hiking
Activities Hiking, Waterfalls seeing and Photography
Weather Excellent
Route Day 01: Colombo->Ramboda-> Frotofot estate ->Chariot Path->Perattasi Mountain->Frotofot estate->Ayer estate->Gerandi Ella falling point->Thawalanthenna->Nuwera Eliya

Day 02: Colombo->Ramboda->Frotofot estate->Chariot Path-> Mool Oya estate-> Hewaheta->Rikillagaskada-> Kandy->Colombo

Tips, Notes and Special remark
  1. Start the journey early morning. Then only you can do all these things in one day.
  2. No Leeches.
  3. Get directions from locals to Gerandi Ella falling point situated at Ayer estate.
  4. Don’t camp at tea estate closer to Chariot pathway. Estate workers have strong objections for campers due to this reason as they pollute water sources.
  5. Nearest village to the trail head of Chariot path is the Perattasi line houses. A bus operates from Pussellawa to Perattasi line houses. First bus leaves Pussellawa at 8am on weekdays. No 8am bus on weekends.
  6. Alternative way to reach Perattasi division is walk from Upper Ramboda Falls. (What we did)
  7. There is no water source till you reach top of Chariot path. Better carry at least 500ml per person. We have noted a water stream closer to Sita tear pond. Can’t recommend to get water from Sita tear pond.
  8. Attitude gain from trail head to Chariot path is about 250m.
  9. There is a foot path from Ayer estate (closer to Gerandi Ella falling point) to Thawalanthenna. It joins with A5 road about 500m before Thawalanthenna town. We took about 45minutes to descend along this path.
  10. There is no clear foot path from Chariot path to Perattasi Mountain. Use Google maps.

Descend to Mool Oya

  1. There is a clear foot path from Chariot path to Mool Oya.
  2. Mool Oya estate management doesn’t like to see visitors coming from Chariot path to Mool Oya estate. Mainly their guards at tea factory. Therefore make sure to avoid the tea factory when you cross the estate. The second superintendent said they don’t allow visitors to come from Chariot path side to Mool Oya following Easter attack.
  3. It took about 2 hours to descend from Chariot path to Mool Oya estate. There is a considerable walk from estate border to Hewahata road.
Related Resources Chariot path of Rawana and Sitha on top of Piduruthalagala range and James Taylor’s Loolecondera!
Special thanks to Shashi for his excellent support.
Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

  • One day hike to Chariot path, Perattasi Mountain and Gerandi Ella falling point.

Chariot path is one of the famous travel destination among locals. It is a plain which is situated at Piduruthalagala forest reserve surrounded by hills in two sides. It slopes to Pussellawa (පුස්සැල්ලාව) in one side and Mool Oya (මූල් ඔය) in other side. Chariot path is a loving place among campers and it is not hard to see at least a single group is camping at this plain in every weekend. The breath taking view over the plain is a good source for snaps. Folklore said King Rawana has brought Sita from his capital city Lankapura (ලoකාපුර) to Asoka Vatika (අශෝක වතිකාව) along Chariot Pathway. King Ravana is believed to have taken this passage on top of these hills to show Sitadevi the beauty of his Kingdom.
Frotofot estate / Perattasi (පෙරට්ටාසි) is situated at base of the hills of Chariot Pathway, which is accessible from Pussellawa by public transport. We selected an alternative way to reach Frotofot estate to hike Chariot Pathway.
Our plan was to hike from Upper Ramboda Falls to the trail head of Chariot pathway. Early morning we got down at Ramboda and followed steps to the observation point at Upper Ramboda Falls. Upper Ramboda Falls was in her maximum beauty with last night rain. Kotmale reservoir appeared at Kotmale valley behind us. There is a line houses and a gravel road situated above the fall. We have hiked through bushes to connect with this gravel road and ended up at cement steps starting from Ramboda.

Upper Ramboda Falls –View from observation point

There are few minor cascades above Upper Ramboda Falls

Cascades above Upper Ramboda Falls

Karunagala / Kattarawala (middle)

Unknown cascade

When we reached a set of line houses.

Next part of the journey was to Perattasi division of the estate where trail head to Chariot path is situated. Here we have used Google maps to follow short cuts through tea estates. Weather was perfect on that day. Kotmale Valley with Kotmale reservoir is margined by Peacock Hills in one side and Karunagala in other side. Some of the peaks of Piduruthalagala range were seen clearly. There were some unknown waterfalls, might be seasonal in nature.
It was around 8.30 am when we reached the trail head of Chariot path. As Isuru and Kasun have been here before, it was not difficult to find the starting point of the foot path.

Along estate road…..

Isuru….

Kotmale Valley boarded by Peacock Hills (right) and Karunagala (left)

Peacock Hills with towers

Kotmale reservoir and Mahaweli Maha Seya

Kotmale reservoir

Kotmale reservoir

Karunagala

Another seasonal fall

Clouds are moving up….

Kotmale Valley

Golden hills…shined by sun rays

Still early morning…

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Some of peaks of Piduruthalagala range

Some of peaks of Piduruthalagala range

Landscape……

Reaching Perattasi division

Trio at beginning of the journey

Chariot pathway is situated amid hills of Piduruthalagala range. Frotofot estate / Perattasi division is situated at base of Piduruthalagala forest reserve. The pathway along tea estate is a nice place to enjoy the surrounding view including Peacock Hills, Kotmale Valley, Sri Pada range, Great Western Mountain, Karunagala etc.

Hills of Piduruthalagala range where this plain is situated

Frotofot School

Landscape….

Estate road towards hills

Along estate road towards Piduruthalagala hills

When we looked back….

Order

Estate road towards Ayer division…..

Closer to forest-estate border

Clouds are coming up…. Kabaragala in Dolosbage

Close to the forest-estate border

The sacred peak

Chariot pathway is called as “Pittaniya” (පිට්ටනිය) by locals and the foot pathway from Frotofot to Mool Oya is situated along this plain. Therefore it is not surprise to have a clear foot pathway to Chariot pathway from the estate. It got clearer by visiting travelers over last few years. Initially this foot path follows flat terrain and gets acute ascend to reach the plain situated at 1900m attitude. There was another view point on our way up to the Chariot Path.

Get into wild.

With our official drink…Mount Dew

Window view

Clear foot path

Some of the hills of Piduruthalagala range

Towers at Uda Radella. Towers can be seen.

Karunagala-one end of Kikiliyamana range

Towards Great Western and Pundalu Oya area

Nelu

Nelu are main bushes covering the foot path

Reaching the view point on our way up…

Reaching the view point on our way up…

The drop

View….

The highest point situated at the plain. This hill is unnamed.

This mountain is situated behind the plain. It is a part of Piduruthalagala range.

Reaching the plain

We have met a group of travelers who camped there last night. This passage is covered by grass and margined by short bushes (dry Nelu bushes and Bamboo bushes) on either side. Chariot path ends with drop of the mountain range where you can have beautiful view of Ramboda area and Sri Pada peak. There was a nice slab rock next to this drop, which is also good for camping. Other side of the view was occupied by Hewaheta, Rikillagaskada, Kukulagala and Randenigala hills. The small water pocket situated next to the shrine is called as Sita tear pond. It has been formed by the tears of Sitadevi and has not dried up since, even during severe droughts when adjoining rivers dry up. There was a water stream next to Sita tear pond, seems suitable for drinking.

Chariot path

Camp site of Chariot pathway…. The mountain overlooking the camp site is also a part of Piduruthalagala range.

Path to the edge…..

Most popular picture of Chariot pathway with Sri Pada

Towards Rikillagaskada and Hewaheta

Towards Rikillagaskada and Hewaheta

Kukulagala is covering…..

The mountain situated behind the plain….

Photographers are busy with sceneries…

Dry Nelu bushes and Bamboo

Other side of Chariot pathway…Towards Mool Oya and Hewaheta side

Nawenagala??

The plain spreads over acres…..

The plain spreads over acres

The foot path in Chariot pathway

The view towards Ramboda and surrounding

Ayer estate….

The drop….

Piduruthalagala summit gets clear

Perattasi Mountain

Perattasi Mountain

Arched….

Small slab rock situated next to the edge of the path….

Most viewing point….

Sita tear pond

Shrine….

Flowering…..

Flowering…..

Small water pockets closer to Sita tear pond…

Drone pictures of Chariot path

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Mountain range continuing along the Chariot pathway exceeds 2000m altitude. When you carefully analyze the terrain map, there are two or three peaks next to Chariot pathway with height more than 2000m. Our next target was to hike to one of these peaks situated next to Chariot pathway. There are no names for these peaks, but as it situated above Perattasi division, better name it as Perattasi Mountain.

Chariot path to Perattasi Mountain (2080m)
It is not the highest of the range. We have walked along the path towards Mool Oya and entered into the forest according to Google map. The forest we have passed was not that much difficult and consists of dry Nelu bushes and few Bamboo. Therefore we were able to get a clear view over bushes with ascend. Within about an hour time we have reached top of Perattasi Mountain. This range continues with the edge of Chariot pathway in one side. And it makes a significant gap between the next mountain with >2100m height. You have the same view like Chariot pathway on top of this Mountain. It took about 1-1.5 hours to reach Perattasi Mountain from Chariot pathway.
In our return journey we followed the edges of the range to reach the Chariot pathway.

Walking towards Mool Oya side…. Then we turned right to get into the forest.

Chariot path and the mountain situated behind the path.

View of Chariot path over bushes when we ascend…

There was no clear foot path through bushes.

Ascend to Perattasi Mountain

Kukulagala and Rikillagaskada

Bushes of mountainous forest

Boundaries of Victoria reservoir….

The path we have passed

Spiky edges of the mountain extending to Chariot pathway

Reaching the edge of the mountain

On top of Perattasi Mountain

On top of Perattasi Mountain

The mountain with >2100m height. There is a significant gap between Perattasi Mountain and this peak.

Mountainous forest

Estates of Upper Ramboda area

Small water pocket on top

Lonely man….

Different rock formation

Looked back where we were

Ridges…..

Through bushes….

Chariot path….

View of Chariot path when we descend…

In Goggle map

We had a marathon from Chariot path to Perattasi estate when coming back. As it was a weekend two groups were on their way to Chariot path for camping. Our last destination of the day was the falling point of Gerandi Ella.

Ramboda Gerandi Ella consists of few cascades. Its falling point became popular recently among travelers. We moved from Perattasi division to Ayer estate and followed the estate road behind the school of Ayer estate. Falling point of Gerandi Ella can be nicely captured in it’s right side.
This place was another good viewing point.

Where Gerandi Ella origins….

Where Gerandi Ella origins…. This place is surrounded by vegetable plots

Where Gerandi Ella origins….

First few steps of Gerandi Ella

Close up….

View of Puna Hela Ella and Ramboda area

Close up of Puna Hela Ella. Note it has some lower cascades. A5 road can be seen on side of Puna Ella.

Karunagala gets cover with mist.

Another evening to Kotmale

This silky waterfall was seen on the other side. Might be seasonal.

Getting closer to Gerandi Ella.

While we were capturing Gerandi Ella, it was covered by mist. It ends another long day with beautiful places. We have followed the foot path from Ayer estate (It is situated closer to Gerandi Ella falling point) to Thawalanthenna to reach A 5 road.

Back to Chariot Path and trekking to Mool Oya side

Mool Oya estate is situated at other side of Chariot Path and villagers descend to that side via Chariot path. Mool Oya estate is situated in Kandy district while Frotofot estate is in Nuwera Eliya district. The main objective of this journey was to trek from Frotofot to Mool Oya estate along Chariot pathway.

This was my back to back journey to Chariot path and I selected the same approach from Upper Ramboda falls to Chariot path. Here Nuwan joined with me for the journey and we started from Ramboda in early morning. Weather was not that much good as I expected and surrounding was gloomy when we reached Frotofot estate. Surrounding was completely misty when we reached the Chariot path. As it was a weekday nobody was at Chariot path. Nuwan was able to enjoy the view during mist free times.

We came to top of Upper Ramboda Falls

Top of Upper Ramboda Falls

Towards Kothmale

Towards Kothmale. We have taken photographs while on top of this rock situated closer to vegetable plots on our way up. But an estate worker said it is their local shrine and not to get on.

Breakfast

Frotofot Estate

Paved path…

The view….

Sri Pada from Frotofot estate

Into the path

Into the path

On our way to Chariot path

On our way to Chariot path

On our way to Chariot path

Surrounding was completely covered with mist when we reached there

Mist also creates better view….

The Chariot Path

The drop….

The view from Chariot path

The view from Chariot path

Mist is getting clear…. Towards Kothmale Valley

Sri Pada from Chariot path

The mountain behind Chariot Path

The view

Nuwan enjoying the view from Chariot path

It’s me….

Towards Perattasi Mountain

Some drone shots taken in this journey

Some drone shots taken in this journey

Some drone shots taken in this journey

It was a descend from Chariot path to Mool Oya estate. We had no difficulty in finding the foot path as it was clear. This journey took another two to two and half hours and we have passed few shrines and water streams. The main obstacle was the drizzling and slippery rocks over the path. We have reached the upper border of Mool Oya estate and followed short cuts to reach a mortable road at estate. Mool Oya is a beautiful and well maintained estate. While in the journey we noticed a small canal which brings water from upper part of the estate to lower parts.

Acute descend at beginning. We were wonder whether it is a water stream or a foot path.

Fairly flat area and a shrine were placed here.

The shrine….

Ferns….

Here we have crossed the district border. The path was more like an abounded estate road rather than a foot path.

Crossing the stream.

Streams are active following the rain.

Under Eucalyptus trees….

Under Eucalyptus trees….

Coming out of the forest

Two men team

A stream at Mool Oya estate

Tea den at estate

Gravel road….

The canal brings water

Reached the mortable road at Upper division if Mool Oya.

We were looking for a three wheeler at above mentioned junction and got a lift to Mool Oya tea factory. It was another walk from the factory to Hewaheta road and we started to get some snaps of the factory. While getting some photos of the factory we were called by the watcher and questioned by second superintendent of the estate. According to them the road is closed from Frotofot estate to Mool Oya, even for villagers after Easter Sunday attack. But we were able to get released from this local arrest and reached the end of the estate. It was the time to finish the journey by having a bath but unexpected wasp attack happened while at the stream. We were another two victims of wasp attack targeted to locals. These two incidents would never forget this journey.

Mool Oya tea factory

Small reservoir at Mool Oya

Small reservoir at Mool Oya

End of Mool Oya estate

Thanks for reading 

 

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