Though it is hard drive to pass through 70 hairpin bends to reach atop the Kolli Hills, tourists come in large numbers to escape from the scorching sun and to enjoy the beauty of nature. The recent rain has refreshed the vegetation with three water falls that course their way through rocky landscapes attracting more tourists.
Located about 1,300 metres above the sea level in the Eastern Ghats, Kolli Hills is about 56 km from Namakkal with the hills alone covering 28 km. Though commercial tourism is yet to gather full momentum, spots like Arapaleeswarar Temple, Boat House, Botanical Garden, Seekuparai View Point and water falls like Agaya Gangai, Namma Aruvi and Masila Aruvi attract tourist in large numbers, both from nearby districts and from other States.
The other important place is the tribal market located at Semmedu where one can get fresh fruits grown at the hilltop.
While many tourists say that reaching the Agaya Gangai waterfalls by talking 1,050 steps is like a sport, many say that it is like a holy trip. “After taking bath in the waterfalls, performing puja in the Arapaleeswarar temple is a God’s gift and makes our trip a holy one”, says M. Sivaramakrishnan from Karnataka.
Many tourists say that getting seasonal fruits like pineapple, variety of bananas and jack fruit from the market makes them happy. “Millets and spices can be purchased easily”, says K. Vaishnavi from Tiruchi.
But many tourists felt that the hilltop lacks basic amenities including toilets, protected drinking water, quality food or hotels and communication facility.
“There is no mobile tower coverage in the entire Kolli Hills right from the first hair pin bend. It makes difficult for tourists to contact family members or others during emergencies”, said S. Palaniappan from Dharmapuri.
Tourists said that improved amenities in each spots will bring in more visitors to enjoy the natures beauty that is yet to be explored.
