Trekking the Trails

King Ravana is a central figure in the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. He is portrayed as a formidable demon king of Lanka who abducted Sita, the wife of Lord Rama. Ravana was a highly intelligent and powerful ruler with ten heads, symbolising his immense knowledge. Despite his villainous role in the epic, Ravana is also acknowledged for his devotion to Lord Shiva and his unparalleled musical talent. The story of Ravana serves as a timeless narrative exploring the triumph of good over evil. According to legend, King Ravana had six "airports" to land his flying machine, Dandu Monara (Peacock Flying Machine) in Sri Lanka. Today we hike to one of these locations, a giant slab of flat rock on the ridge-crest between the Maskeliya and the Bogawantalawa Valley. First we zig zag up the mountain to the ridge passing a small community of estate workers. We then saddle onto the other side of the valley which offers beautiful views of the Maskeliya Reservoir and Adam's Peak. Ravana's Airport is a place of contemplation and reverence stepped in mythology best visited in the early morning.

This short walk takes you in a loop up and around the tea fields immediately behind Summerville Bungalow. It is one of two short loops we offer around the property, both easily done in under 2 hours. Take a left turn onto the main road as you leave Summerville and walk for a few hundred metres on the main road. Soon the GPS will prompt a hard right dog-leg as you leave the road and head up the mountain on a tea estate road. We zig-zag up the mountain and soon reach the abandoned Tea Factory which offers magnificent views of the valley and the reservoir below. The trail gracefully descends, providing a delightful morning or late afternoon stroll.

This is a short loop around the tea fields surrounding the bungalow. We walk down towards the Dunkel Tea Factory and then zig-zap back up. The entire walk is easily done in one hour or a little longer at a slower pace. This is the same route you will be taking when visiting the Dunkel Tea factory where our resident Tea Planter shows you what goes into creating the perfect cup of tea. The view over the lake are spectacular all along this short walk.

A challenging yet rewarding 5-kilometre hike from Tientsin Bungalow to the scenic Kew Gap. The trail winds uphill with a gentle gradient. Along the way, the journey is adorned with small local shrines, village homes and lots of verdant tea fields. We pass by The Kew Catholic Church and Kew Tea Factory. At the summit, a lovely panorama of the Maskeliya Valley unfolds crowned by the iconic silhouette of Adam's Peak.

A rewarding 2.5-kilometer trail from Norwood Bungalow up and over the ridge weaving through the heart of Norwood's tea estates. The trail leads to a hidden gem-a breathtaking viewpoint that offers panoramic vistas of the Maskeliya Valley. From this elevated perch, the landscape unfolds revealing the undulating hills and valleys below, with the iconic silhouette of Adam's Peak gracing the horizon.

A lovely early morning or late evening 6-kilometre loop around Castlereagh Bungalow. First, the village road winds through the heart of the community, passing a few shrines, temples, the local school, and a few local shops. As the path gracefully ascends, the landscape transforms into a quilt of lush tea fields. The trail saddles up, revealing panoramic views of the Castlereagh Reservoir where the shade of a few impressive trees offering respite as you meander back to Castlereagh Bungalow.

This is a short and easy trail that meanders through the lust tea fields surrounding Norwood Bungalow. We exit the bungalow and follow a foot path that connects with the main 'tea trail' linking Norwood with the Stockholm Estate on the other side of the ride. The trail then loops back towards Norwood at a higher elevation. At its highest point the trail offers fabulous views of the valley below.