The Hill Resorts of Tamil Nadu

Hill resorts of Tamil Nadu are major tourist attraction in India. Tamil Nadu is a traditionally and culturally prosperous land land and 11th widest state in India.

It was once the home of four famous Tamil Kingdoms like Chola, Chera, Pandya, including Pallava. Tamil Nadu is an alcove for numerous Spiritual Pilgrim Centres, Hill Resorts, Shiny Beaches Tourist destinations and wild life, bird sanctuaries etc.

Ooty(Otagamund) Kodaikanal, as well as Yercaud, are the three renowned hill resorts in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu situated on the southern part of the Indian peninsula, surrounded by the water bodies Bay of Bengal in the east side, Indian Ocean in the south, the states of Kerala including Karnataka in the west side, and Andhra Pradesh in the north side.

Tamil is the spoken language here. It is the sixth sizable densely populated area in the Indian Union, and leading producer of Agricultural outputs.

Tamil Nadu is also renowned for its hospitality and well-known for its tourist destinations and hill resorts.

Map courtesy: mapsindia

Photo Source: Flickr under creative commons lisence.

To feel the touch of nature, Ooty is a exact place for the lovers of nature. Ooty is one of the most admired tourist hill resorts in India. Ooty also mentioned as Udhagamandalam in native language Tamil. It is the "Queen of hill stations" and the head quarters of Nilgiris district. Nilgiris stands for "Blue Mountains". It is a land of enjoyable picnic spots and used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the Englishmen during the British colonial days. It excels with fresh vegetation and sceneries. It is placed at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. It magnetizes the tourists by its charming flowers, Lofty mountains, dense forest, acres and acres of green tea estates etc. This beautiful hill resort, drags quite a number of tourists from all over the world. The natural beauty of this province is outstanding and unforgettable. Apart from the natural splendors, Ooty has many more enticements that are worth a visit.

A summer festival is held each year during the month of May in the Botanical Gardens. The Flower Show is the best part of this festival. There are many Cultural programmes prearranged for those interested in traditional classical arts. Adventure sports like trekking also forms branch of the festival. The annual "Tea and Tourism Festival" renowned in the month of January, is a festival drawing quite a number of tourists.

An added interest for the tourists to Ooty is the mountain train voyage on a ratchet and pinion track which begins from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-pin curves and beautiful tunnels and chugs along beside deep narrow valleys full of luxuriant vegetation, splashing streams and tea gardens.

Photo Source: Flickr under creative commons lisence.

" Places of Interest"

Botanical gardens, cross shrine, lamb's rock and Dobabetta peak, Kalhatty fallskandal, Mini garden and Rose garden, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park are still more entertaining places in Ooty and its surroundings. Ooty lake boating is a outstanding spot which highly entertains the tourists.

Photo Source: Flickr under creative commons lisence.

Photo Source: Flickr under creative commons lisence.

The important place to visit is the Botanical Gardens sprawled over an area of 50-acre. It was established by Marquis of Tweeddale in the year 1848. These gardens lie on the lower slopes of the Doddabetta peak - the highest point in Ooty.

Photo Source: Flickr Page - 1, Page - 2, under creative commons lisence.

By Road:

Ooty is well connected with various cities of South India like Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Mysore and various other cities like Trichy, Madurai, Thanjavur etc.

By Rail:

An exciting little hill train links Ooty and Coonoor to Mettupalayam which is connected in turn on the broad gauge route to Coimbatore and Chennai.

By Air:

The nearest airport is located at Coimbatore which is about 100 kms.

Back To The Top

Photo Source: Flickr under creative commons lisence.

Kodaikanal is one of the most admired hill resorts in India. It is positioned at an altitude of about 2,133-m high and covers an area of 21.45-sq-km. It is a pleasant hill resort, stands amongst sylvan beauty on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. With its rocks, woods, lovely lake and refreshing air, Kodaikanal is a perfect hill resort for the tourists. The hill town is well-known for its educational institutions of international repute. The hill-plantain fruits and plums are acknowledged for their freshness and taste. The Berijam lake, one of the beautiful lakes of South India, spreads over an area of 24 hectares.

Kodaikanal is known for its gorgeous and ancient churches. Kodaikanal's rich Christian culture and tradition, still stands apart. One of the olden churches is the "Mother Salette" church, which is 133 years old. Every year on the 14th and 15th of august, an exclusive carnival takes place at this church. This brings about the conclusion to a Nine-day festival.This festival attracts a worshippers of people from all over south India, irrespective of religion, creed or faith. The festival is marked by special services and a special procession.

The matchless flowering plant 'Kurunji'(Strobilanthus Kunthanus) is nature's gift to Kodaikanal that last bloomed in 2004. Kodaikanal situated amidst the folds of the verdant Palani hills is one of the most popular peaceful hill resort in India, which mesmerises any tourist and is frequented all through the year.

" Places of Interest"

Lake, Kurinji Andavar Temple, Falls, Dolphin Nose,Trekking Routes, Parks, Physical Observatory, Kukkal Caves,Vembadi Peak, Shenbaganur Museum, Coakers Walk, 40 Miles Rounded, Pillar Rocks, Palani Hills, Boat House

Photo Source: Flickr Page - 1, under creative commons lisence.

By Air:

The Airport to Madurai is 135 kms, Coimbatore 170Kms and Trichy 195 Kms.

By Railway:

Many Passenger trains pass through Kodaikanal road. Kodairoad Station is nearly 80 kms.

By Road:

Kodaikanal is connected by Road with all important towns. Regular bus services are available from Kodaikanal to Madurai, Palani, Kodai Road, Theni, Dindigul, Trichy, Kumuli, Bangalore and Coimbatore.

Back To The Top

Photo Source: Flickr under creative commons lisence.

Yercaud Positioned 1,515 metres high in the Shevaroy Hills, in the state of Tamil Nadu. Yercaud is quiet little hill resort on the Eastern ghats is the only one of its kind in northern part of Tamil Nadu. While the rest of this area is normally dry, Yercaud presents a difference with its cool climate where temperature never rises above 30 º C and dip below 13 º C. It is also a less costly place than either Ooty or Kodaikkanal the peaceful hill station of Yercaud cuddle up among coffee plantations and thickly forested slopes and is a good place for trekking and boating. Once you get into this comforting, lake-centred, quiet and uninterrupted green place, you don't have to do anything but unwind. The town gets its name from the lake situated at its center. InTamil language, "Yeri" means "lake" and "Kaadu" means "forest". Yercaud is acknowledged for coffee plantations and orange groves. It also has an orchidarium proceeded by the Botanical Survey of India.

" Places of Interest"

You can wander around leisurely, or do a pushbike tour of the lake in a pedal boat, or hire a taxi to 'do' the sights. 3 km away is the rocky escarpment overlooking the plains. It is known as Lady's Seat and some wag has named one more viewpoint as Gent's Seat.

Pyramid point, 3 km away, has cairns of stones and was once a Stone Age fortress temple before the new temple was built. 7 km from the lake is the Servaroyan Temple with a modern, stripy, smokescreen leading to an old cave temple.

Road: Frequent bus services and taxi services link Yercaud with Salem that is thirty km away. Other important places linked with Yercaud are Madras, Trichy, Madurai, Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore.

Rail: The closest railway stations are those of the Salem junction and the Salem town.

By Air: The airport at Trichy (TRZ) is the nearest to Yercaud. Though the other options are the airports at Coimbatore and Bangalore.

Back To The Top

Where there are tourists, there are people seeking to exploit them, with travel website TripAdvisor coming up with a list of the top 10 places worldwide to be especially aware of pickpockets.

To Top ⇑