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 A5 road.

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