Off the Beaten Path: Kolli Hills

Kolli Hills ('Kolli malai') is a small mountain range located in central Tamil Nadu, mostly in the district of Namakkal. The mountain ranges are about 1000 to 1300 meters in height and cover an area of approximately 280 square km. Kolli Hills is part of the Eastern Ghats, which is a mountain range than runs mostly parallel to the east coast of South India. The mountains are relatively untouched by tourism and still retain their natural beauty. In the first in a series of articles about lesser-known regions of Tamil Nadu and India, we give you a guided tour of the Kolli Hills mountain range.

Kolli Hills is featured in several works of classical Tamil literature such as Silappathigaram, Manimegalai, Puranaanooru and Ainkurunooru. The region was ruled by Val Vil 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. Ori is said to have killed a lion, bear, deer and a boar with a single arrow. The hills were guarded by ‘Kollippavai’, a female statue with magical powers. It used its charming smile to mesmerize and deter anyone who set foot on the mountains with bad intentions. 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.

Apart from its historical significance, the mountains are covered with evergreen forests, but increasing areas of forests are cleared for farming. Important farm products of the mountain ranges include coffee, tea, jackfruit, pineapple, black pepper and other spices. Rice and other minor millets form the staple food of the tribal people who inhabit these mountains. The jackfruit grown on these mountains is well known for its delicious taste and fragrance and is best savored by soaking in wild honey that is also harvested from these mountains. The mountains are covered by lush green vegetation in the spring and monsoon, and are streaked with streams which add to its pristine beauty.

The most popular attraction on these mountains is the Agaya Gangai (Ganges from the sky) waterfalls. Reaching the waterfalls requires an hour long hike through a steep trail, and hiking back uphill is not recommended for those who dislike physical workouts. They can however take a dip in the river near the beginning of the trail. The mountain is also a site of pilgrimage, the important destination being the Arapaleeswarar temple located nearby. The end of the trail is separated from the base of the waterfalls by a body of flowing water, and is just an easy swim away. Adventurous hikers are recommended to follow the course of the river down from the base of the waterfalls where it flows through large rocks and provide serene solitude as well as a good workout.

The government also maintains a pineapple research farm where hybrid varieties are created. Research about medicinal plants is also pursued on these mountains. The government holds a tourism festival in August, and mountains can be reached by road easily from Namakkal (50 km) or Salem (100 km). The drive is scenic and is a steep climb through 72 hair-pin bends.

-Senthil Nachimuthu.