Kodaikanal – Theni – Megamalai

Silver Cascade Falls: Enjoy a perfect stopover at the Silver Cascade Falls, where the excess water from Kodai Lake surges down in the form of a roaring 180 ft high waterfall. The breathtaking falls can be enjoyed by bathing under its spectacular shimmering waters. Green Valley View: It is located a little over 5 km from Kodaikanal and close to the golf club. One can have a magnificent view of the vaigai below. The Pillar Rocks: stand 122 meters high. It is located at 7th Km from Kodai lake. Moier Point: It is also the site of a monument of Sir Thomas Moir. Moir Point provides a lovely view of the valley. Silent Valley View: It is a very silent zone, just a little away from the pillar rocks and the Berijam Lake Road, which provides a breathtaking view of Silent Valley. It suits its name because it is a very silent zone. Children should be accompanied by elders only. Berijam Lake View: This viewpoint is 21 Km South West of Kodaikanal Lake. The Forest Department has restricted entry into the Berijam Lake area only between 9.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. for visitors. Dolmen Circle: Located at a distance of 18 km from the lake, near the Apple Research Station. Pre – Historic remains can be seen here. Original burial urns that were unearthed in this region during archaeological excavations and models of dolmens are exhibited for public viewing at the Shenbaganur Museum. Kukkal Caves: Kookal, at an altitude of 6200 ft, is a village of terrace farmers at the far western end of the Palani Hills, 40 km from Kodaikanal. The caves are overhanging slabs of different types of metamorphic rocks called charconite and granulite. The Kukkal caves are ancient rock shelters that show the existence of traces of the erstwhile home of the descendants of the original Leaf-Clad paliyans. Poombarai Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple was consecrated in the 5th century BC by Bhogar, a Tamil siddhar. he built one more Navabashanam idol in the middle of Palani and Poombari Western gates. Mannavanur Lake is nestled deep inside the forest and the path goes through reeds and marshes, past billowing meadows and thickets of pine. The thick forest surrounds this lake. The best time to trek up to the lake will be early in the morning when the forest and lake come alive with barbets and woodpeckers heralding the new day with loud calls while the brown owls return to roost.

Vaigai Dam: The Sylvan Garden here deserves to be called “Little Brindavan”. The Garden, Play area for children make it a place to spend peaceful time for both Elders and Children. Mavoothu: Vellappar temple, built by Kandamanur zamindar, is located atop a peak in Varusanadu Hill at Mavooththu [this means “spring of the mangrove. Bathing in this spring is believed to cure the most incurable diseases. During heavy rains, there will be a gush of rainwater from this hill to the foothill. Arulmigu Balasubramanya Temple: This is a 2000-year-old temple said to have been built by Rajendra Chola. The legend goes like this: Once Rajendra Cholan went hunting on the banks of Varaha River. He accidentally killed the mother pig feeding its siblings. Lord Murugan descended and fed the hungry piglets. Rajendra Cholan who witnessed this miracle dedicated this temple in memory of this divine event. Bathing in the Bramma Theertham is believed to cure all diseases. Kumbakkarai Falls: It is a feast of nature and yet another tourist attraction for all. The origin is from the Western Ghats, passes through the rocky zones and pastures to flow down as Kumbakkarai falls. This takes a Two Stage fall. The first collects the water in a rock recess named after wildlife animals. In the second stage river Pambaru flows for an initial stretch of a few kilometres and drops down as Kumbakkarai Falls and it is a perennial source of water. A five centuries old temple of Goddess Thadagai Nachiamman is near the falls and is visited by devotees in large numbers. Sothuparai Dam: This is built across the Varaha river and it is 12 Km from Periyakulam. It is another tourist spot. Veerapandi: Gowmariamman temple, a 14th Century Temple built by King Veerapandi of the Pandya Dynasty is the most famous temple here. Mullai River, a perennial source of water flows Close to the temple. Suruli Falls: That drops from a height of 150 feet gathers into a pool, flows for a short distance and again drops to a depth of 40 feet, offering a spectacular sight of nature’s raw and wild beauty. This is a ‘round the year’ fall which attracts tourists throughout the year. Kailasanathar Temple: It is near the Suruli falls. There are 18 caves in and around Suruli Falls. The temple is located about 800 mts above the fall. The spring here has curative powers.

Bodinayakkanur is at the foothills of the Western Ghats. It is popularly known as “Cardamom City”. It is a marketing zone for cardamom, coffee, tea, pepper, and silk cotton. Bodi Mettu is a hill resort situated at a height of 4500 feet and it is the main cardamom growing area. Tiger Falls is a dainty waterfall en route to Munnar. the perfect place for picnics and spend a nice time with mountain views and chill weather at a hill station, a lot of developments are going to promote this place for tourists who comes to visit Munnar, Chinnakanal and nearby hill & tea gardens. Kurangani is a hill station, atop the Western Ghats. It has estates growing coconut, mango, coffee and all spices. A rivulet of mountains passes between the Kurangani Mountains in the east and the Kolukkumalai Mountains in the west. There are many trekking trails to the popular destination of Kurangani Hills, such as Kolukkumalai, Meeshapulimala, Top Station and Rhoda Valley. Varusanadu Valley is one of the beautiful regions in the Theni district. Surrounded by Sathuragiri, Meghamalai, Elumalai hills and it is the Origin place of Moola Vaigai. It has undisturbed pristine nature. The western and Sothern hills range height reaches 1700 to 2000m. The Northeastern hills have heights of 400 to 1350m. Vaigai River originates near Vellimalai Murugan temple. Chinna Suruli Falls is a picturesque destination, set in the lap of lush, green forests. In the foothills of the mountain, it cascades all the way down from Megamalai to create a pool of cold, sparkling water.

Megamalai: Megamalai is also called "Paccha Kumachi", During the British period this was popularly called High Way Mountain. Since the peak is covered with clouds always, locals call it Megamalai. Megamalai is a mountain range in the Western Ghats in the Theni, Cardamom plantations and tea estates dot it. The mountain range, which is rich in flora and fauna, is 1,500 metres above sea level. Access is restricted to a large degree and contains mostly untouched remains of evergreen forests. Vegetation varies from the foothills of scrub forests, ubiquitous expanses of tea and coffee estates, to plantations of spices (pepper, cardamom, cinnamon) and finally to the top of thick evergreen forests. A view of the entire mountain range of Varusanadu Hills is offered by the Highways. A manmade lake offers plenty of space for leisurely walks. The heart of Megamalai is the Vellimalai (Silver Mountain, 1,650 m) zone. On green hilltops, silver-lined clouds seem to rest gently; the place where the river Vaigai originates is nestled in this area. This place provides an opportunity to see tea gardens that are aesthetically and scientifically managed by wild animals.

Maharajamettu View Point: You need to take a trip to Maharajamettu View Point to take in all the beautiful beauty of the place at once. This place gives the entire place a bird's eye view and you'd be surprised to see endless greenery complimented by the Rocky Mountains.

Murugan Temple: Murugan Temple is a pious place on a hilltop in the Meghamalai mountain range from where people not only come to seek blessings but also to see the picturesque beauty of the place as the temple sits on a hilltop. This is a famous temple that must be visited and pristine.