Trips & Travel
Kolli Hills or Kolli Malai is a small mountain range located in central Tamil Nadu in Namakkal District of India.The mountains are about 1000 to 1300 m Above the sea level and cover an area of approximately 280 km². The Kolli Hills has 70 hair pen bends to reach the top of the hills. Climbing these hairpin bends by itself is fun as you are surrounded by the forest and as you reach the top of the hills, view is something that you have to experience. Another enjoyable fact about kolli hills is its natural beauty as it is mostly untouched by commercial tourism. So you have lot to explore apart from what is mentioned as tourist locations.
The Hills is situated in the Eastern Namakkal, part of the Trichy & Namakkal Forest Division in the state of Tamil Nadu. With a pleasant cool climate (Kolli hills temperature never rises above 30ºC or falls below 13ºC. This is one hill station where one does not feel the biting cold of winter) kolli hills can be visited round the year, clouds are seen round the year- its another amazing scene in south India. The Kollihills is a sub taluk and forms a part of Namakkal district. Semmedu is the headquarters for the Kolli hills and Semmedu is connected by road to Namakkal and Salem. There is also one Horse track used by the Britishers connecting Semmedu to Chinna Pallamparai at plains through Vasalur Nadu.
History
The Kolli Hills are featured in several works of classical Tamil literature such as Silappathigaram, Manimekalai, Purananuru and Ainkurnuru. The region was ruled by Valvil Ori around 200 A.D., who is praised as one of the seven great philanthropists of ancient Tamil Nadu. His valor and marksmanship are sung by several poets, and his exploits are a popular part of folklore. The hills are said to be guarded by Kollipavai, the local deity. According to legend, the sages chose Kolli hills when they were looking for a peaceful place to do their penance. However, the demons invaded the hills to disrupt the penance when the sages began their rituals. The sages prayed to Kollipavai, who according to the myth, chased away the demons with her enchanting smile. The Kollipavai is still worshiped by the people here and her smile is revered. The mountains have several mythological legends associated with them, and often come across as an eerie place in contemporary tales due to the unexplored and less traveled terrain.
Religious
The mountain is a site of pilgrimage, because of the Arapaleeswarar temple, which is believed to have a secret path to the Shiva temple in Rasipuram. This Shiva temple is said to have been built by Valvil Ori in the 1st or 2nd century when he ruled this area. “Arappaleeswara sathakam” is the poem which praises the Lord Arappaleeswarar. It is believed that this temple exists during the Sangam period itself.
Things to do
Kolli Hills has to be explored in a leisure space. Kolli Hills has been the top choice for nature lovers, hiking enthusiasts, trekking clubs and meditation practitioners among hill stations in Tamil Nadu. In comparison to other hill stations in Tamil Nadu, Kolli Hills is not commercialized, less polluted and offers unique mountain ranges. tips_KolliHills Some of the famous locations that you can visit while you are at kolli hills are * Agaya Gangai Waterfalls * Siddhar caves * Mini Falls * Arappaleeswar Temple tips_KolliHills* Ettukai Amman Temple * Masi Periyasamy Temple and falls * Selur View Point * Boat House * Botanical Garden * Seekuparai viewpoint * Sandana Parai * German swami’s ashram * Puranikadu Sat Dharma sangam ashram tips_KolliHillsFor gangs who would like to do something different at kolli hills can do * Trekking * Nature Walk * Rock Climbing * Rappelling * Bird watching * cave exploration * star gazing * Camp fire * Watching local folklore/Folk dance with campfire.
Namakkal Periya Gounder Estate, Semmedu, Kolli Hills, Namakkal.
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Gateway of Yelagiri
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Namakkal Periya Gounder Maligai No.16/24, U.I.Colony, First main Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai – 600 024.
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