Kolli Hills – Namakkal

Kolli Hills – Namakkal

Kolli Hills

Kolli Hills is Located in Namakkal District at an altitude ranging from 1000 to 1300 metres above sea level is the serene mountain range of Kolli Hill Station. To reach this offbeat paradise, one has to traverse through 70 hairpin bends.
The hills are said to be guarded by Kollipavai also called Goddess Ettukkai Amma, the local deity. The mountains come across as an eerie place according to the myth among the locals. Kolli Hills is a perfect blend of natural splendor, pilgrim destination, mysteries and adventures.

Major Attractions in Kolli Hills

Arapaleeswarar Temple

Located at Periakoviloor, in the vicinity of Akasa Gangai waterfall, is Arapaleeswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is said to have been built by the then ruler Valvil Ori in the 1st or 2nd century AD. It is believed that the temple has a secret path to the Shiva Temple in Rasipuram.

Botanical Garden, Kolli Hills

Botanical Gardens is one of the best places to visit in Kolli Hills. Its main highlights are a beautiful Rose Garden, a majestic view point, exo-friendly cottages and a fun-filled Children’s Park.

Tampcol Medicinal Farm

Located on the way to Vaasaloorpatti while returning from Semmadu, is the Tampcol Medicinal Farm in Kolli Hills. The medicinal plants, shrubs and herbs grown in this farm are widely used in the production of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani products. It is run by the State Government.

Ettukai Amman Temple

Ettukai Amman Temple is an ancient temple located at Valapoor Nadu. The deity worshipped here is Kolli Paavai (meaning – ‘Maiden of Death’) or Ettukai Amman (meaning – ‘Goddess with eight hands’). The temple is a hut with a palm leaf roof.

Agasa Gangai Waterfalls

Agasagangai Waterfalls is the waterfall of the river Aiyaru that cascades down from a height of 300 feet. It is located near the Arapaleeswarar Temple. The waterfalls comprises of about 1000 steps descending the base. The trail from Arapaleeswarar Temple to the waterfalls covers a distance of about 1 kilometre.

Siddha Caves

The belief is that, in ancient times, the Sidha’s lived, researched and meditated in the caves practicing traditional medicine and methods of natural healing. The location also serves as an excellent trekking expedition.

Things to do in Kolli Hills

  • Trek to Agaya Gangai Waterfalls
  • Vasalurpatty Boat House
  • Visit viewpoints – Selur Viewpoint, Sirumalai viewpoint, Binnan viewpoint and Seekuparai viewpoint
  • Stay at one of the traditional wood houses
  • Trek to the remote Bogar Caves and Kayanavandhu Caves
  • Tourists can shop for coffee, pepper, rice and honey in Solakkadu, Kolli Hills

Best time to visit Kolli Hills

Kolli Hills can be visited all round the year but the best time to visit Kolli Hills is from February to December.

How to reach Kolli Hills

By road, Kolli Hills can be easily reached from the cities of Chennai and Salem. The nearest railway head is Salem Junction which is located at a distance of 90 kilometres. Trichy Domestic Airport is the nearest airport from the hill station of Kolli Hills.