If you are planning to spend your next vacation away from the hustle and bustle of city life, a serene village atop a hill awaits you in Tamil Nadu.
Sorry folks, I’m not talking about the much-popular destinations such as Ooty, Kodaikanal or Yercaud but a lesser known rural area where natives engaged in farming activities lead a peaceful life. With waterfalls, reservoir for boating and panoramic view points, Kolli Malai (Kolli Hills) beckons the visitors to spend some quality time in the lap of nature.
You might have heard of Namakkal. This is one of the places from where the poultry birds and eggs are brought to Kerala. If you are travelling by train, alight at Salem and take a bus. Those opting car, bus or motorcycle can travel reach Namakkal via Coimbatore. From Namakkal, you need to negotiate 70 hairpin bends to reach Kolli Malai.
The uphill journey during the daytime will allow your eyes to feast on the lush greenery on the foothills. On the other hand, the city lights as well as the magnificent hill ranges make it a sight to behold at night.
Given the risky hairpin bends numbering 70, some used to refer the hills as the hills of death. But, don’t lose your heart. For those who depend on limited stop private buses in Kerala for daily commute, it is not at all a frightening experience.
Jeeps, the main source of travelling for the locals in this area, can be seen here in plenty. The labourers serving in farmlands here are depending on jeeps. Coffee, pepper, yam and pineapple are the main crops cultivated here. The main habitations here are Cholaikad and Semmed, where the shops too are located. Cholaikad has a market which sells the fruits like banana and pineapples and also vegetables grown in Kolli Hills.
The view from Seeku Para view point is spectacular with the green topped hills and the vehicles making their way to the top. An authentic Tamil Nadu lunch is served in the small restaurant nearby the fire station here.
Another tourist spot in Kolli mala is the boating centre. You can see lot of families spending time at the garden and boating. Parks, waterfalls, boating and viewpoints -- all these are spread across the village. Most of the travellers come here to enjoy the thrill of the trip passing having 70 hairpin bends. Even adventure lovers opt for motorcycles.
Another main attraction in Kolli Hills is the ‘Akashaganga’ waterfall. Arapaleeshwara Temple is situated on the way to the waterfalls. The locals believe that there exists is a hidden pathway from Arapaleeshwara Temple to the Shiva Temple in Rasipuram. There are lot of small shops surrounding the temple selling flowers, items for the pooja, toys and fruits.
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You need to further climb down nearly a thousand steps to reach Akashaganga’. En route, there a few viewpoints too.
It would certainly be a heavenly experience if you could spend a night atop Kolli Hills.
For accommodation, travellers can depend on Nallathambi Resort (04286 247463) and Lakeview Resort (07373493330).
