Trip to Kolli hills
A best place for weekend tripDistance: Approx 350 km (from Chennai)
Total tolls: 5 (from Tambaram)
Preferred transport: Car and Bike
Travel time: 5.5 hours
This hills has the highest hairpin bends
If people doesn't like travelling in hairpin bends, then u can choose the other way from Attur via Malliakkarai, Thammampatti, mullukuruchi to Semmedu which is the shop stop for tourists in kolli hills.
This way has good sight seeings for day travellers with untouched nature's fresh, but takes more travel time.
Hill roads are laid good as on Feb 2016.
Mobile networks are not reliable hence use offline maps for navigation.
Vodafone survives among other networks but not on all areas.
Many resorts, lodges and hostels available across semedu but below resorts are among the best to stay.
1. Nallathambi resort
2. SKGV lodge
3. Youth hostel
We preferred SKGV lodge as the best because of the atmosphere its located and for its reliable price.
Best time to visit is from November to February. Temperature may fall upto 14 degrees in the night.
Places to visit:
Above is the location map from Arapaleeshwarar temple.
People mostly visits Aakash ganga falls, Arapaleeshwarar temple, Maasila falls, Boat house, Botanical garden and Ettukai ammam temple.
Aagasa ganga falls is one of the deepest falls path which has merely 1300 steep steps which feels very difficult for aged peoples to get to the falls.
But once you reach the base, you will forget all the way and start enjoying the great shower.
After the shower, shall get to the temple (அரப்பலீஸ்வரர் ஆலயம்) just opposite to the Falls entry. The Temple with Lord shiva has many historic findings hidden from regular devotees.
Entrance of the temple
Temple premise
The temple also has a classic huge bell.
The next Falls is just 6 kms from the temple named Maasila falls ( மாசிலா அருவி ). This falls may be suitable for all aged peoples as its path were well maintained. It may not seem to be as high as aagasaganga falls, but still feels good for shower.
The entrance of the falls has a big parking lot with herbal soup ( மூலிகை சூப் ) and Kuzhi paniyaaram ( குழி பணியாரம் ) sold by the village peoples. There were no much shops available here but may find peoples selling fruits harvested locally in this hills.
There after can visit boat house which also covers within 10 kms from semmedu. The boating is within the park which also has entry tickets and boat tickets. Only pedal boats and rowing boats available. Its not a big lake hence gets over soon.
Kolli also has many view points which are not more interested by many but still good to visit.
Ettukai amman temple was village peoples old temple and has fruit stalls outside the place where you can purchase for taking home bcoz its the last stall to sell hill grown fruits in kolli hills and if you missed it you can also get everything after getting down from the hills in solakkaadu.
You can get everything here including spices and millets.
Finally Kolli hill is one of my favorite hill station with nearest distance from chennai. Visit at least once to enjoy the untouched ambiance.
