| TREKKING ROUTES IN Kodaikkanal |
| 1. Periyakulam – Adukkam- Kodaikkanal (Toughest ) |
| Start from the Bus Stand of Periyakulam; follow the road to take a diversion the right to follow the Adukkam road. You will be seeing mango groves before entering the Reserved forest. Continue trekking along the path which is of very gentle slope. On your right roaring river Chezhunghu flows down. Cross the river-silk cotton trees and coffee plantations welcome you. Climb up through a mixed deciduous forest by following a zia-zag path, fairly steep, Reach Adukkam village – cross it climb up to the ridge - very steep - toughest. On your right is palamalai Estate. Follow the earthen road. Grass land, Savannah forest, you will be seeing. Reach Batlagundu – Kodaikkanal Road. Get into a bus. Alight at Kodaikkanal. |
| Trekking distance : 18 Km. Bus 14Km Trekking time : About 7 hours |
| 2. Periyakulam – Kumbakarai – Shenbaganur – Kodaikkanal (fairly difficult) |
| As said in route (1) trek through karattur village and follow periyakulam – kumbakarai road to reach kumbakarai falls on Pambar river. Take a bath . Spend some time. Come back on the same path a little and follow the zia-zig bridle path leading to Shenbaganur. This is the old coolies Ghat Road which was used when the bus route was not formed and slope is 1/5 to 1/10. Mile stones on the path, will direct you. Trek through deciduous forest – later you see Cardamom cultivation under semi – evergreen and ever green forest Continue trekking, You see vertical cliffs, Hear the sound of rippling river Pambar. How many variety of birds you could see ? Reach shenbgagnur- see the museum of Sacred Arts College – Follow concrete path viewing UKATTHE NAGAR and MOTHER THERASA UNIVERSITY. Reach Bus stand through munjikal. |
| Trekking Distance : 27 Kms Trekking Time : 7 Hours. |
| 3. Kumbakarai- Vellagavi- Kodaikkanal |
| This is the main path, the villages of Vellagavi follow. From Kumbakarai falls, trek along the West by following the path, Join the earthern road along the river Vannathi odai. Deciduous forests, You will be seeing. Look for sign boards remembering you the "KURINCHI PATTU", an old Tamil literature, written about 2000 years ago; some of the flowers out of 99 mentioned in the literature have been named. Earthern road ends and follow foot path. The terrain is gentle till you cross the river. Then fairly steep. On your right. You can hear the noise of rolling waters of Vellagaviar. Cross the most deciduous forest- coffee plantations – Reach Vellagavai village, the oldest village even before Kodaikkanal was formed. You find paved streets. Have a view from Muruga Temple. Follow the bridle path through Cardamom plantations to Kodaikkanal. Wild boar you can see. Pockets of Sholas, Extensive meadows, Savannahs occur. Reach DOLPHINS NOSE, a rock perch – spend few minutes – trek – meadows can see – Pear plantations – hear the thundering noice of Pambar. Follow the road to pambar bridge and then to church; Have an aerial view over the plains and the route you have trekked. Follow the road through T.V. Tower, Coaker’s walk to Bus stand. |
| Trekking Distance : 8 Kms Trekking Time : 5 Hours. |
| 4. Palani- Vilankombai R.F. – Ganguvar odai (Toughest) Vilpatti – Kodaikkanal |
| From Palani, take a bus leading to Kodaikkanal and get down at the foot hills. Take along the earthern road on your right. You reach a pipeline, Passing through the R.F go along with pipe line, reach the bridle path with mile stones, leading to Kodaikkanal. Down below is palar- Porundalur Deciduous forest you will crossing, in a zig - zag path, which is along with the river palar (kallar) and very steep. Bampo brakes you have to cross, be careful. Reach Ganguvar odai Forest Bungalow. View the raising landscape on East, South and West climb up through vegetable gardens to Vilpatti, cross it. Trek to over come a short distance through forest to reach Glen falls. Spend some time. walk along the road viewing Presentation Convent, one of the oldest school in Kodaikkanal, Lake and reach the bus stand. |
| Trekking Distance :16Km Trekking Time : 6 ½ Hours |
| 5. Kodaikkanal – Berijam (Easy walk ) |
| From bus stand go along the lake, Bryant park, Bombay shoal to suicide point. Have a view over the green valley below; follow the route to pillar rock point. Have a view of the precipitious mountain ranges; continue trekking along the road; at the 10th K.M. have a look of Moir point. Continue trekking. Look for old forest bungalow " Green hut ". It will be renovated soon At 13th KM. You find the wattle powar with little sun light falling on the ground. Moving ahead you will find the yellow blossom the "Citisus" broom. Nearby the fire watch tower has been erected. Climb up and have an aeriel view over the Berijam lake and water catchment basin of many river. Proceed further, you reach "Mathikettan Shola" a name given, as if one who entered into shola may loose his way back. Observe the natures gift-variety species, rare and threatening; watch for Gaur, Come out to Berijam lake sluce point, where water is drawn for Periyakulam Town. Follow road to reach Berijam. Forest Rest House is available for shelter. |
| Trekking Distance : 23 Km. Trekking Time: 5 Hours. |
| 6. Berijam to Marianshola (Easy Walk ) |
| Start from Forest Rest House go to sluce point of the lake and follow the old bridle path that leads to Marianshola. You find shoals alternating with grasslands, vertical cliffs, are common . If you are lucky enough you can see lbex and Barking Deer also; wild boar and Gaur will be common . At Marianshola old forest bungalow is available for shelter. |
| Trekking Distance : 12 Kms Trekking Time : 4 Hours. |
| 7. Marianshola to Vandaravu ( Fairly Difficult) |
| Continue in the old Bridle path, Same meadows, Pockets of shoals. You can see the Bodi varai, a vertical cliff and Bodinaickanur Town, down below. Ibex peak, Ibex cliff are formed by Forest Department; reach the Kodaikkanal – munar Ghat road the highest motorable road South of Himalayas – Altitude is 8229’ – Turn towards Kodaikkanal and trek for about 2 K.M. You see a forest road leading to kilavarai; within a k.m. Forest labor lines are available for shelter. Beware of Panther. |
| Trekking Distance : 14 Kms Trekking Time : 4 Hours. |
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