Sirumalai Hills, Dindigul
Sirumalai is a region of 60,000 acres
(200 km2) situated 25 km (16 mi) from Dindigul and 40 km (25 mi) from Madurai, Tamilnadu, India. There are many high hills in the
area. Hillock International School is located in Sirumalai. Sirumalai is a
dense forest region with a moderate climate throughout the year. With an
altitude of 1600 metres above sea level, it contains diversified flora and
fauna. The hill has 18 hairpin bends.
The Ghat section begins with a forest check post and the
area is surrounded with many farms. Over the uphill drive of 14 kms, the
atmosphere changes slowly from dry deciduous forest to semi-green forest. The
hairpin bends offer a panoramic view of the hills and one can have a full view
of Dindigul town and the rock fort from the third and fifth hair pin bends. The
temperature starts falling as one climbs up further and after 10th hairpin
bend, the change is palpable.
A watch tower on 17th hairpin bend provides a spot to
halt for a while and relish the scene of lush green forest cover below. The
18th hairpin bend leads to a sleepy village called Sirumalai Palaiyur and one
can also glimpse posh bungalows on the way. The hill contains a small waterfall
as well.
After reaching this place, Entry Fees are levied for
Bikes and Cars entering Sirumalai. For Bikes – Rs 10 and Car – Rs 25 are
charged. Best time to visit – 3pm to 6pm. At that time you can feel the
coolness of the air better. There are No petrol bunks available at the
Sirumalai. Since the journey is short, two wheelers itself are more comfortable
to travel, rather than travelling through the car. It is better to travel
through bike and enjoy the environment and open air. Sirumalai is famous for
Jackfruit and Sirumalai Banana (Malai Vaazhaipazham in Tamil) cultivation.
The cool air makes Sirumalai a perfect hill retreat and
the mild fragrance of wild flowers and the forest is truly an enthralling
experience. Sirumalai consists of the villages of Anna Nagar, Sirumalai
Palaiyur, Sirumalai Puthur, Agasthiarpuram, Thenmalai Ooradi, Kadamankulam,
Velanpannai, Thalakadai, Thavittukadai, and Ponnurukki. People here are
involved in agricultural activities mainly with crops like lemon, coffee,
pepper and plantain cultivations.
Man-made fires on the hills have destroyed medicinal
plants and threatened the fauna habitat. Fires are often set to promote
vegetation growth used for animal fodder, clear land for cultivation, or
improve access to timber.
As the hill retreat is yet to develop fully, travellers
are advised to take necessary provisions uphill. Besides, the place also offers
a perfect trekking experience. Sirumalai is home to more than 5,000 families
live on these hills. They use country horses as a source of transport in order
to bring produce to the villages, from where they are then moved in small
trucks and buses to the nearby Dindigul town.
The climate is special here and suits most people. It is
a pleasant place, facilities like hospitals or boarding facilities for tourists
are scarce. There are a few proposals to create a park and boarding facilities
for tourists. The inhabitants, mostly people from various tribes speak Tamil.
It's sad that 500 acres belonging to the Horticulture
Department remain under-utilized. Only one-fifth of the area has been used to
raise eucalyptus, silver oak, lemon and black pepper.
Climate
Sirumalai Weather is tropical in nature. Summers are dry
and hot and the temperature reaches upto 40 ºC. Sirumalai Weather during
winters is generally cool and the temperature is around 20 ºC.
History
The hill finds mention in the Tamil classics such as the
Silappadikaram. Kannagi is believed to have stayed here when she came to
Madurai. Sirumalai is also mentioned in the Ramayana.
Legend has it that when Hanuman returned from Sri Lanka,
carrying the Sanjeevi Hill, a piece of it dropped here and it came to be known
as Sirumalai. Ancient books on Ayurveda cite Sirumalai as being home to many
medicinal plants. Siddha medicine is said to have been developed in these hills
by the sages a thousand years ago.
Places of Interest
For brief details, please refer below link;
Sirumalai Banana
The Sirumalai plantain is famous in the locality. The
famous Sirumalai banana is slowly disappearing due to disease, which scientists
have been unable to prevent. The famous Sirumalai banana, popularly known as ‘Malai
Vazhai' and used in the ‘Panchamirtham' made in the Palani temple, is grown
here. Sirumalai hills bananas are exported to Foreign countries from past.
Activities
The salubrious climate round the year makes Sirumalai a
perfect heat-buster for city-slickers. The hill is divided into three main
regions — Sirumalai, Sirumalai Pudur and Agasthiar Malai — inhabited by 5,000
families. Walk along the periphery of the forest in Agasthiar Malai and you
discover it's a storehouse of herbs. There is ample scope for trekking here.
For adventure-seekers, trekking routes are marked through the forests that are
home to a variety of birds and animals. The Selvi Koil Point offers a beautiful
view of Dindigul and the Chinnamalai town below.
The farming methods are completely organic here on these
hills. The place is cheap and convenient compared to other hill stations. It is
1,200 metres high and spreads over 60,000 acres. A third of this greenery is
private revenue land on which they grow coffee, cardamom, black pepper, banana
and lemon. Sirumalai will be declared a reserved forest area soon, which means
restricted entry. Rosewood trees, besides silver oak, nellikai and katakai
trees, grow in these thick forests. Another important thing to be noted is
many rare herbs are available in Sirumalai hill. Hence, Sirumalai hill is very
popular among the Siddha medical practitioners.
In the region of Sirumalai, the Agasthiarpuram is a holy
place & people believe that the siddhas (monks) are living since ancient
days. Also the area surrounded with lot of medicinal herbs and plants. The
famous Lord Murugan temple (Vellimalai Murugan Temple) is located in the
mountain which can be reached within 45 minutes climbing over the valley. Thenmalai
is yet to be connected with road. Bisons, Deer (Kada Maan) and forest goat
(kelai adu) and so many birds and small animals can be seen in this jungle.
Boating on the Sirumalai Lake is one activity within the
area. Since there are mountains, hiking, mountaineering and trekking are also
encouraged. This place is also a haven for bird watchers. You can spot more
colourful flowers and herbs in the wilderness than within the gated property. In
the land belonging to the Sericulture Department, Mulberry is raised on 10
acres, and two lakh tonnes of cocoons are produced annually.
It's impossible to miss the sounds of Nature — the
chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects keep us company as we walk down a
winding road that takes us to a privately constructed artificial lake where
boating is being promoted. It is noon, and suddenly the place is enveloped in
fog and the lake and the horizon seem to merge. There is a chill in the air,
reducing visibility to 50 metres.
Best time to Visit
The climate is moderate throughout the year because of
the height and the dense forest. It is generally misty in the mornings and
evenings.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Sirumalai is limited to only two
resorts, though economical. However, there are hotels in Dindigul and Madurai
that will suit every pocket.
For Hotel Details, Please refer below link;
Travel tips
- One can travel 25 kms from Dindigul to reach Sirumalai
and from Madurai; the place can be accessed through Natham
- The 14 km Ghat section has 18 hairpin bends and every
bend offer a panoramic view
- There is a small private boat club in Sirumalai
Palaiyur, open on weekends and in the evenings on week days
- Visitors can travel across the quaint villages and
small hotels offer food and fruits like Sirumalai plantain and jack fruits
- Make sure to carry necessary medicines as there are no
medical shops or hospitals facilities here
- Vehicles should be refueled either in Dindigul or in
Natham as there are no petrol bunks on top
- A Shiva temple at Agasthiarpuram and a Pandian-era
temple at Thenmalai are special attractions.
- Most of the area is used for cultivation of plantain
(banana) which is famous all over Tamil Nadu and foreign countries for its
special taste.
Connectivity
Sirumalai is 25 kms from Dindigul by road and 40 kms
from Madurai and 401 kms from the state capital, Chennai. There are buses and
taxies from Madurai and Dindigul.
By Train:
The nearest railway station is at Dindigul which is
about 20 km away from Sirumalai. Dindigul is well connected to the rest of the
state.
By Road:
Sirumalai is located at a distance of 25 kms from
Dindigul by road and 40 kms from Madurai. The place can be accessed through
Natham Private Taxis for Sirumalai Sightseeing is easily available. Sirumalai
Hills are well connected to Madurai & Dindigul by Bus.
By Air:
Nearest Airport is at Madurai which is 86 Kilometers
from Sirumalai and is connected to major Indian cities.
