The Chariot Path and Seetha Tear Pond

High above the Kandy–Nuwara Eliya road, on the mist-wrapped ridges of Ramboda Hills, two sites draw pilgrims and curious travellers alike: the Chariot Path and the Seetha Tear Pond. Both are rooted in the Ramayana epic, one of South Asia's foundational texts, and both remain genuinely difficult to reach — which is part of what makes them compelling. This page covers what to expect, how to get there, and what you will find when you arrive.

What is the Chariot Path?

According to Ramayana tradition, King Ravana transported Sita Devi by chariot from Sita Kotuwa to Ashoka Vatika (his royal garden) along a ridge route that now forms the Chariot Path. The route runs across the top of Ramboda Hills, and legend holds that Ravana chose this elevated passage deliberately — to show Sita the breadth and beauty of his kingdom from a single vantage point.

What strikes visitors immediately is the vegetation, or rather the absence of it. While the surrounding hill-country is densely forested, the strip of land that marks the Chariot Path supports only grass, with no canopy growth. Local communities regard this as physical evidence of the path's ancient use, and the site is sometimes called the Ravana Grass Pathway because of it.

Scattered along the route are trees bearing bright red flowers with an unusual petal, stamen, and pistil arrangement that, when viewed closely, resembles a human figure carrying a bow. Villagers call them Sita flowers (or Sita mal in Sinhala) and say they grow exclusively in this area of Sri Lanka. Whether or not that claim can be verified botanically, the flowers are a distinctive feature of the landscape here.

What is the Seetha Tear Pond?

Set along the Chariot Path itself is a small pond that local tradition attributes to the tears of Sita Devi, shed during her captivity. The pond's most cited curiosity is its resilience: it reportedly does not dry out even during prolonged droughts, at times when rivers and smaller water bodies in the surrounding area have run low or stopped flowing entirely.

The pond sits at high elevation within the central highlands, and on clear days the surrounding views extend across a full 360 degrees — tea estates, forest, and distant valleys in every direction. The combination of the mythology, the unusual hydrology, and the panoramic setting makes this one of the more atmospheric stops on any Ramayana-focused itinerary in Sri Lanka.

Where exactly is the Chariot Path located?

The Chariot Path and Seetha Tear Pond are located on the upper ridges of Ramboda Hills in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, within the Nuwara Eliya District. The closest significant landmark for orientation is Labookelle, near the Nuwara Eliya end of the Kandy–Nuwara Eliya A5 highway.

How do I get to the Chariot Path and Seetha Tear Pond?

Access is challenging, and this cannot be overstated. There are two main approach routes:

• Via Pussellawa (recommended): Turn left approximately 2 km from Pussellawa town on the Peradeniya–Nuwara Eliya road. From that junction it is a further 17 km uphill to Frotoft Tea Estate. The road surface on this route is the better of the two options.
• Via Labookelle to Frotoft: This approach requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle or an estate tractor throughout. Road conditions are significantly rougher than the Pussellawa route.

From Frotoft Tea Estate, the journey continues on foot along an estate road and through jungle. The full drive from Labookelle to Frotoft takes around two hours; the trek from Frotoft to the summit adds roughly two hours (and around one hour for the descent). Plan on a minimum half-day commitment from the time you leave the main road, though a full day is more realistic if you want to spend time at the sites rather than simply reaching them.

Is the trek to the Chariot Path difficult?

Yes. The trail is steep and passes through jungle terrain that is not maintained as a formal tourist track. It is not suitable for young children, elderly travellers, or anyone with limited mobility. Sturdy footwear, sufficient water, and ideally a local guide from the Frotoft area are strongly advisable.

Weather in the central highlands can change rapidly. The area receives both monsoonal rain and significant morning mist, which can make the trail slippery. Starting early in the day is recommended to maximise clear views at the summit and return before afternoon cloud closes in.

What is the best time of year to visit?

The driest and most accessible periods for the central highlands are typically between January and April and again from July to September, when the monsoon rains ease. During the southwest monsoon (roughly May to July) and northeast monsoon (October to January), the trail becomes significantly muddier and the views are frequently obscured. Visiting in a dry window maximises both the accessibility of the route and the panoramic views from the ridge.

How does the Chariot Path fit into a broader Ramayana tour of Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka is home to dozens of sites associated with the Ramayana narrative, spanning the western coast, the hill country, and the far north. The Chariot Path and Seetha Tear Pond sit within the cluster of hill-country sites that also includes Sita Eliya (near Nuwara Eliya), Sita Kotuwa, and Hakgala Botanical Garden — traditionally identified with Ashoka Vatika. Travellers planning a dedicated Ramayana circuit often combine these sites over two to three days based in Nuwara Eliya or Kandy.

Because of the remote access involved, the Chariot Path is best approached as part of a planned itinerary rather than a spontaneous day trip. Arranging local transport and a knowledgeable guide in advance makes a significant difference to both the logistics and the context of the visit.

Practical summary