Vathalmalai or Vytla Hills
Vathalmalai is a Village in Dharmapuri
taluk and Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu having an area measuring nearly 225
km². Most of the native flora and fauna of Vytla have disappeared due to severe
habitat fragmentation resultant from the creation of the plantations. However,
some species continue to survive and thrive in several protected areas nearby,
include Shervarayan Hills (Yercaud).
These protected areas are especially
known for several threatened and endemic species including Nilgiri Tahr, the
Grizzled Giant Squirrel, the Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, the Gaur, wild pig, the
Nilgiri langur, the Sambar, and the Neelakurinji (that blossoms only once in
twelve years). It is a small village situated at 3600 ft height (MSL). It is 25
km away from Dharmapuri Town (17 km to reach bottom of the hill and 8 km to
hill top).
Vathalmalai or Vathal Hill
is recently announced as Tourism spot by Tamil Nadu Government. It is an
emerging tourist spot so don’t expect much tourism facilities over there. It is
a great spot to experience the beauty of Mother Nature.
