The sudden rain atop Kolli Hills recently has resulted in abundant water flow in both Agaya Gangai and Masila Falls as tourists throng the hills station and enjoy the scenic beauty.
Located near the Arapaleeswarar temple, tourists has to climb over 1,000 steps to enjoy the Agaya Gangai falls, where water cascades from a height of around 300 feet. “It is believed that the water mixes with rare herbs through its journey and flows. Taking bath will rejuvenate us”, said M. Kannan, a tourist. Though water cascades from less than 100 feet in Masila falls, tourists, especially women, enjoy taking bath in the falls.
The pleasing climate and availability of fresh fruits grown hilltop is great experience, said the tourists.
Locals said that both the falls received water only through last week’s rain and tourists have started flowing. “We expect increase in inflow of tourists during Pongal season for a week. Tourists from nearby States also visit to enjoy the beauty”, said shopkeepers.
But tourists complain of lack of basic amenities including absence of changing room, drinking water facility, toilet facilities and direction boards to visit places. “It is not affordable for every family to book rooms in hotels at hilltop.
Basic facilities in tourist spots would help more tourists”, said Shajahan from Erode. “There is lot more in the hill station to explore. The administration should promote more tourism”, he added.
Tourists who depend on government buses to visit the hill station have to depend on cabs and private vehicles to reach tourist spots and spend time.
They demanded that shuttle service connecting all tourists spots in the hilltop are in place so that the poor and the downtrodden need not spend on private cabs. Due to soothing climate in the hilltop, tourists visit Kolli Hills throughout the year. But the abundant water in the falls has increased the flow of tourists this year.