Kodai Palani Hills Trek

It is also home to the main temple of Murugan, which is worshipped as a significant deity in Tamil Nadu. It is surrounded by hills on all sides hills that climb right out of our camping grounds. There are some lovely trekking trails within walking distance of our campus. One can hike to the summit of a nearby hill, watch the sunrise from behind the mounds, or take a dip in a nearby waterfall. You can also savour a cup of fresh coffee grown in the nearby plantations as you take in a panoramic view of the Elephant Valley. 

• History of Palani Hills 

• Entry fee and timing 

• Nearby place 

• Location/how to reach 

STORY/HISTORY OF PALANI HILLS: 

The Palani Hills derive their name from the ancient temple town of Palani, located at the northern base of the hills. The Palani Hills are formed of pre-Cambrian gneisses, charnockites, and schists; they are among the oldest mountain ranges in India. The park is an eastward extension of the Western Ghats hills formed by the separation of the India-Madagascar-Seychelles blocks of East Gondwana in the Early Cretaceous period about 120 million years ago. 

It is surrounded to the north, east, and south by the Deccan Plateau. It was formed later in the massive Deccan Traps eruption 66 million years ago as India drifted over the Reunion Hotspot. 

In 1906, the tremendous undulating plateau on top of the Palanis comprising four forest ranges was consolidated under the Indian Forest Act and designated by the British Government as a single reserve forest from  Kodaikanal town to the Kerala state border in the west and the  Bodinayakkanur town limits to the south, and given the name of the Ampthill Downs. It was over 140 square kilometres (53 sq mi) in extent, and about one-quarter of it then consisted of sholas, and three-quarters were open, rolling, grassy downs. 

On 13 August 2012, in an apparent change away from plans for notification of parts of the Palani Hills as a separate wildlife sanctuary, the Tamil Nadu Gazette notification attached parts of Kodaikanal and Dindigul divisions of reserve forests to the buffer zone of Annamalai Tiger Reserve. About 5155.42 hectares of forest land belonging to Palani Hills Northern Slope, Andypatti reserve forest, 4,344.53 acres in Kudraiyar block forest, and 5,548.49 hectares in Mannavanur Range in Kodaikanal will be included in the buffer zone. The villages and hamlets that now form part of the Palani Hills buffer zone are Poondi, Munavvanur, Kilavarai, Polur, Kavunchi, Kumbur, Kilanavayal, Kukkal, Pazhamputhur and Puthurpuram.  

The increasingly crucial economic role of Eco-tourism, including trekking, hiking, camping, mountaineering, rock climbing, and bird watching, may help the local populace welcome this new Protected area. It remains to be seen whether the Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park will stimulate or stifle commercial development and tourism. The decision to finally establish the park must balance the short-term financial benefits of the status quo versus the long-term stability of the natural and human community.  The western extremity of the park is contiguous with the Manjampatti Valley core area of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park and with The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. The Kurinjimala Sanctuary in Kerala borders the southwestern corner of the park. These Wildlife Sanctuaries are adjacent to the recently established Eravikulam National Park. The park area includes only reserve forest land, including Palni Hills Northern Slope East, Kallar, Palni Hills Southern Slope East, Upper Palni Shola, Allinagaram, and Palni Hills Northern Slope West Reserve Forests in the Dindigul and Kodaikanal Forest Divisions. Rainforests give way to shola-grassland mosaic, made up of frost-tolerant montane grasslands interspersed with pockets of stunted shola forests. The hills extend into Kerala as Pampadum Shola National Park. 

ENTRY FEE AND TIME: 

• For entry, there is no fee; for special darshan, it ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 300  

• Timing: 4:30 AM to 9:30 PM 

NEARBY LOCATIONS:  

1. Kodai Lake: Nestled in the heart of the Western Ghats, Kodaikanal is a charming hill station in Tamil Nadu, India, renowned for its picturesque landscapes and tranquil environment. At the centre of this idyllic town lies Kodai Lake, a stunning artificial reservoir that has become a focal point for visitors and locals alike. 

2. Dolphine Nose: An ideal spot for those interested in trekking, the trail to the Dolphin's Nose covers a distance of 3 km in the Palani Hill Range. This viewpoint is a favourite among the tourists who come to adore the glory of the Princess of Hill Stations. 

3. Devil's Kitchen: Guna Caves, initially named  Devil's Kitchen, are notorious for their dangerous history, as many people who entered to explore them disappeared without a trace. As of 2016, police have recorded 16 disappearances in connection with the cave without bodies being retrieved. 

4. Kodai Palani: The Palani Hills are a mountain range in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Palani Hills are an eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges, which run parallel to the west coast of India. 

5. Pambar River: The Pambar River, located in the southern part of India, is approximately 64 kilometres (about 40 miles) long. It originates from the Western Ghats, flowing through the Tamil Nadu state before merging with the Kottakudi River. 

6. Kurinji and Navara temple: Lord Murugan is the deity of the Kurinji region. The name Kurinji Andavar, which is used for Lord Murugan in the Kurinji Andavar Temple in Kodaikanal, symbolizes the connection between the hill region and the God of the hill. 

LOCATION/HOW TO REACH: 

• Airway: Palani is located equidistant from Coimbatore; Trichy and Madurai Airports are nearby 

• Railways: there are sufficient trains from Bangalore to Palani, which is the nearest railway station to PalaniPalani Hills 

Still confused about how to go? You can join us at escape2explore. You will get a safe journey with us with transportation facility, the best&tasty food availability, accommodation and much more. You will get the best experience and beautiful memories with us. 

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