Chariot Path of King Ravana is a challenging hike; it is a popular destination for many dedicated hikers.

Chariot Path is given its name because it appears as a wide pathway on grassland and also it was the mountain top landing strip King Ravana used for his ‘Dandu Monara’ aircraft. Flying out to Chariot Path in Dandu Monara was one of King Ravana and his daughter Sitha’s favourite family outings. There is Sitha Pond on the plain, a red coloured Sitha flower that is only found in the Piduruthalagala range, an area called Sitha Eliya at the Piduruthalagala foothills, Sitha waterfalls, and many other things became eponymous from Sitha.

Chariot Path is a scenic open plain and lies on the Pidurutalagala mountain range at around 6500 ft (1980 m) to the west of Pidurutalagala mountain forest reserve. There are easily accessible high viewpoints of 7000 ft (2133 m) bordering Chariot Path.

Scenic and scenic is the theme of this treeless grassland of phenomenal beauty residing in an exceptionally unspoilt environment surrounded by pigmy forest, breath-taking views and landscapes of mountainous jungles.

Hike around to the viewpoints. You will enjoy the enthralling panoramic views around you, Ramboda area, Peacock Hills, Kotmale Valley and Kotmale Reservoir, Sri Pada Mountain range, Great Western Mountain, Nuwara Eliya, Hewaheta, Rikillagaskada, Kukulagala and Randenigala hills, and Deltota.

Mountain leopards, stags, wild boars stay within the thick forest, sometimes a stag can be spotted in the open but only occasionally. Montane bird species specific to the terrain have made the plain their habitat. There are no elephants, no leeches.

Chariot Path is popular among campers. Expect your tent can get freezing cold and lashed down by the heavy rain. There are several water streams originating from Piduruthalagala providing ice cold water good for drinking. Trekking and camping in the Pidurutalagala hills is suitable for experienced hikers and not the fainthearted. Go there with experienced guides.

How to reach Chariot Path

Chariot Path can be reached from the southern slope of the Pidurutalagala range starting from Pussellawa or from the northern slope where the ascent starts from Hewaheta.

The southern route is the popular one. Take the A5 road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and get off at Pussellawa. The first leg of the trek starts with a bus ride from here. There is a morning bus from Pussellawa to Perattasi at around 8 am. The bus will enter Delta Estate from the A5 to take a winding slow ascent for one and half hours through Delta Estate and Helboda Estate and then to Frotoft Estate. The bus route terminates at the unused old Frotoft Hospital at Perattasi. This is a scenic bus ride in itself through a green and lush region carpeted with the glowing green of the tea plantations and a breath-taking full view of the Kothmale valley. A 4-WD jeep or a rugged motorcycle can also do this hill trip. All transport stops at old Frotoft Hospital at Perattasi and the walk begins from there.

From the old Frotoft Hospital there will be about one km walk through the tea estate to the trail head. From there begins a two km hike up the hills before reaching the Chariot Path top. There is no source of drinking water before Chariot Path so you may need to carry enough drinking water in your pack.

There is another entry point to the Frotoft division of Delta Estate from the A5 at Tawalantenne, 12 km from Pussellawa towards Nuwara Eliya. An enjoyable footslog from Tawalantenne through Ayer Tea Estate for one hour will take you to Perattasi, a shorter route than the one from Pussellawa.

A 4-WD transport can also take you from Tawalantenne to Perattasi. It will take you along the A5 towards Nuwara Eliya and exit the A5 at Ramboda, enter the tea estates, reach Blue Field Tea Factory – a fitting stop for a fresh cup of tea, pass the stunning views of Upper Ramboda falls, proceed along Frotoft Road from Frotoft Tea Factory to Perattasi, a 15 km drive which takes about one hour.

Some hikers prefer to get off the A5 at the Ramboda Tunnel instead at Tawalantenne, enter the tea estates, expedite the beautiful Upper Ramboda falls and walk along Frotoft Road to Perattasi. For those who like a ride from Ramboda, they can still do the same 4 WD transport from Tawalantenne described earlier, this time altered to one that starts from Ramboda.

The northern slope approach begins at Hewaheta.

Easier to start the journey from Kandy. Take the A1 from Kandy to Peradeniya University Junction and turn to the B364 which starts as Galaha Road and goes all the way to Deltota. Continue the journey from Deltota along the B364 towards Rikillagaskada. Get off the B364 at Hewaheta.

There are buses to Deltota, Hewaheta and Rikillagaskada from Kandy.

There are no busses to Mooloya Tea Factory which is the trek head, so look for an alternative transport from Hewaheta to the tea factory. This is a pleasant journey through tea plantations passing the scenic Dunugolla Falls and Mooloya Falls on the way.

Mooloya Tea Factory is sited in the district of Upper Hewaheta at 5000 ft (1524 m), established in 1870 alongside the Lool Kandura (Loolecondera) Tea Factory of Lower Hewaheta which is the first tea plantation in the country established in 1840, marking the birth of the tea industry in Ceylon. Take a break here and enjoy a cup of wonderful mellow tea from the highlands at the Mooloya Tea Factory.

The hike starts from the Mooloya Tea Factory. The route is longer than others and the hiking to the top will take about 4 hours, first through the Mooloya Estate and then an enduring trudge in a thick montane forest. It is a narrow foot path but detectable even in thick mist. You are now accomplishing a gradual ascent to the top of Chariot Path along the northern face of the Pidurutalagala range.

You will certainly need an experienced hiking guide for the Chariot Path adventure.