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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 |
Descend to Mool Oya
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| 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
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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 |
 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 |
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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