Manjolai Hills, Thirunelveli

Manjolai Hills, Thirunelveli

Manjolai Hills is a lovely hill station tucked away deep in the magnificent Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats. The hills rise to a height of 1000-1500 meters and are covered here with tranquil tea gardens. Manjolai Hills is above the Manimuthar Dam and the picturesque Manimuthar Waterfalls and is 70 Kms from Tirunelveli. Manjolai Hills is famed for its lovely weather, which is such a blessing after the searing heat of the plains. It is also known for its awesome scenic beauty and the serenity of its surroundings.

Manjolai Hills will offer you some well-deserved R&R (rest and relaxation). Just looking out at the panorama of emerald green tea gardens laid out like a welcoming carpet can soothe you. There are some nice viewpoints from where you can relish some stunning views of the surrounding hills and forests. Gushing waterfalls, grassy meadows and dense forest make this a nature lover’s dream comes true. Enjoy the serene tranquility and glorious beauty of Manjolai Hills. Take longs walks in the quiet tea gardens or trek into the nearby forests.

Head to Manjolai Hills and savor the peace and quiet and enjoy some great views. You could trek into the forest and spot some wild animals. It’s definitely a must-visit destination of you want to recharge and refresh your city-weary batteries. Manjolai is a hill station, at a height of around 1162 m. This place is famous for its tea plantations, amongst which the Bombay Burma Tea Estate is the most prominent. Due to its scenic beauty, this place is compared with Udhagamandalam (Ooty). Other important tourist spots near Manjolai are the Kakkachi and Nalumukku.

The area around Manjolai hills comprises tea plantation, Upper Kodayar Dam, a view point named Kuthiravetti and small settlements. One can spot three tea estates within the Manjolai area. A trip to Manjolai is worth the visit. There are many small waterfalls amidst lush greenery all the way to the top. The place has not been, however disturbed by mankind and the birds with their cries and chirps welcome all visitors to the place. Manjolai is also called the poor man’s Ooty.

Trekkers can have good time trekking amidst of thick plantations. You should also visit the Manimuthar Falls. A dam was built across the fall and it is named as Manimuthar Dam. One can also catch the breathtaking view from the windy view point called Kuthiravetti. It is essential to get permission from forest department while travelling in private vehicles. Government buses are also available to reach this lovely hillock.

En route to Manjolai from Manimuthar, do stop at the pretty Dasan Pool (called Tarzan Pool by the locals!). The pool has crystal clear fresh water and is surrounded by lush greenery. It is a lovely place to breathe in some chilled, fresh mountain air.  Check out both the Manimuthar Dam and Papanasam Dam. Enjoy a boat ride at Vana Theertham. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is a lovely place and will fascinate wildlife lovers. You may also be lucky to catch a glimpse of elephants, bears, bison, wild boar and Sambar deer.  However, do remember that this is a reserved forest so you will need permission from the Forest Department.

General Information

Area	16.41 Sq. Kms
Altitude	1162 Meters
Climate	Winter: 10°C - 20° C Summer: 16°C - 25° C
Average	13°C - 20° C
Rainfall	800 mm
Season	Beast Season - November - March
Clothing	Light Woolen in Winter & Cotton in Summer
Calling Code	+ 91 - 462

Places of Interest

Places of Tourist Interest in Manjolai Hills are listed below;

Dasan Pool (Tarzan Pool):

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/dasan-pool-tarzan-pool-manjolai-hills.html

Mini Golf Course, Kakkachi:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/mini-golf-course-kakkachi-manjolai-hills.html

Kakkachi Lake:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/kakkachi-lake-manjolai-hills.html

Kuthiravetti:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/kuthiravetti-manjolai-hills.html

Kuttiyar Dam:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/kuttiyar-dam-manjolai-hills.html

Manimuthar Tea Estate:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/manimuthar-tea-estate-manjolai-hills.html

Manjolai Tea Estate:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/manjolai-tea-estate-manjolai-hills.html

Nalumukku:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/nalumukku-manjolai-hills.html

Oothu Tea Estate:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/oothu-tea-estate-manjolai-hills.html

Singampatty Zamin Palace, Zamin Singampatty:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/singampatty-zamin-palace-zamin.html

Vanapetchi Amman Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/vanapetchi-amman-temple-manjolai-hills.html

Varakkattai View Point:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/varakkattai-view-point-manjolai-hills.html

Manimuthar Falls:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/manimuthar-falls-kallidaikurichi.html

Upper Kodayar Dam:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/upper-kodayar-dam-manjolai-hills.html

Nearby Places of Interest

Places of Tourist Interest nearby Manjolai Hills are listed below;

Banatheertham Falls, Papanasam

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2015/09/banatheertham-falls.html

Agasthiyar Falls (Papanasam Falls), Papanasam

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2015/09/agasthyar-falls.html

Papanasanathar Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/03/papanasanathar-temple-papanasam-thirunelveli.html

Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2015/09/kalakkad-mundanthurai-tiger-reserve.html

Nearby Dams

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.in/2015/09/dams-in-around-tirunelveli.html

Food & Accommodation

This place is not often visited and as such there is only an estate teashop where snacks and tea are available. This tea stall caters to the local estate employees and to the wander lust that arrives in the place in trickles. Accommodation at the base of Manjolai estate is provided by the State Tourism department in a place called Singampatty Zamin. There is a guest house in Kuthiravetti which has to be booked in advance. The place behind the Guest house is a great place to view elephants, bears, Sambar deer and wild boars.

The ideal place to stay is the Forest department guest house in Kuthiravetti, TNEB quarters in Kothaiyar and Police quarters in Manjolai Estate. But these places are to be booked in advance and it is extremely off to the tourists as these accommodations are often occupied by the respective department bigwigs.

Hotel Alankar and Annai Chicken are some of the good places to eat near Manimutharu because Manjolai Hills does not have any good restaurants or accommodation options. Tourists have to carry fruits and water with them when they go for a trekking trip to Manjolai. Local specialties like Vatha Kuzhambu, Padaneer, Ambai chicken Kuzhambu etc. are must-eat dishes here.

Few Staying Options near Manjolai Hills are listed below;

Singampatty Zamin Palace Guest House:

Thiru T. N. S. Murugadoss

Rajah of Singampatty Zamin, 

Zamin Singampatty – 627416,

Ambasamudram Taluk,

Thirunelveli District

Phone: +91 – 4634 – 250209

Mobile: +91 – 9443351762 

Baskar Lodge:

Kallidaikurichi,

Ambasamudram Taluk,

Thirunelveli District

Phone: +91 – 4634 – 251008 / 252652 / 252653

Mobile: +91 – 9842150924

Travel Advisory

Permission from the Forest Department is required for going to Manjolai estate and Kuthiravetti. This can be arranged with the State Tourist Department. There are monkeys at Manimuthar Falls and visitors have to be careful of their belongings. Plastic carry bags are frowned at and it is better to carry food in packing containers that can be destroyed after the adventure. To visit Kodayar Dam, permission has to be availed from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board officials.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/manjolai-hills-connectivity.html

Banatheertham Falls, Papanasam, Thirunelveli

Banatheertham Falls, Papanasam, Thirunelveli

Banatheertham Falls located inside the picturesque Karaiyar Dam in Thirunelveli district is a natural cascading waterfalls situated at Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. The medicinal property of the water is acclaimed and it is believed that the legendary sage Agasthiyar wandered here in search of rich herbs found in this forest. It is a great place to take herbal bath flowing from the healing waters of Agasthiyamala Biosphere Reserve.

Don’t miss to take a shower in this natural treasure unfolding from great height and also enjoy the boat ride on the Dam surrounded by breath-taking mountains. A 20-minute boat ride takes one from the dam across the lake. A 10-minute trek takes one to the magnificent waterfalls. Not many people knew about the waterfall as it was inside the forest. Bana Theertham Falls shot to fame after the super hit song ‘Chinna Chinna Aasai’ from the mega hit film ‘Roja’ was shot here in 1992. Since then they are popularly known as Roja Falls.

Unlike Courtallam, which is season-oriented, the Banatheertham fall is perennial, with December and January being the peak season. Surrounded by dense forests, the waterfalls present a magnificent sight when viewed from the lake. The boat ride also offers a breathtaking view of the adjoining hills. This range is also known for its plant diversity. The Thamirabarani River meets the Karaiyar Dam at Banatheertham Falls. The waters of Thamirabarani River are believed to have traces of copper in it, thus giving the river its name.

The best season to visit these perennial falls is from December-January as the temperatures are highly pleasant during this time and one can escape the humidity. Bana Theertham Falls is also called Vaanatheertham Falls or Karaiyar Falls. It is worth noting that visitors are charged entrance fee to the falls and the visiting time is from 6 am to 6 pm. Banatheertham Falls can be reached from Papanasam to Karaiyar Dam Road. Karaiyar Dam is located at about 15 Kms from Papanasam.

To visit the falls, head to the Karaiyar Dam and park your vehicle there and walk to the boathouse – a distance of one kilometer. The walk is refreshingly beautiful as you meander along a forested road. To reach this magnificent falls, you will need to take a boat ride from the Karaiyar Dam, across the lake. This scenic boat ride takes about 20 minutes and as you wind your way through the dense forest, the sight of the magnificent waterfall thundering down is mesmerizing. The mist-soaked hills cloaked in green form a serene backdrop to the deafening waterfall. Once you alight from the boat, it is a ten-minute trek up a small hill to Banatheertham Falls.

You will reach the bathing area at the falls’ mid-level. You can enjoy a refreshing shower here at the edge of the falls. However, do not try to swim here as the waters are deep and many people have lost their lives. Papanasam is located at about 52 Kms from Thirunelveli, 16 Kms from Ambasamudram, 34 Kms from Tenkasi, 215 Kms from Madurai and 140 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is located at Ambasamudram and Nearest Airport is located at Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.

Agasthiyar Falls (Papanasam Falls), Papanasam, Thirunelveli

Agasthiyar Falls (Papanasam Falls), Papanasam, Thirunelveli

Agasthiyar Falls (also called Papanasam Falls) is located close to Papanasam in Thirunelveli district in the South Indian state of Tamilnadu. The falls is located on the Western Ghats and to the south of Papanasam Lower Dam. As per Hindu legend, it is the place where sage Agasthya got a view of Shiva in his marriage costume.

Papanasam is a small town, yet popular tourist destination situated in the Ambasamudram Taluk of the Tirunelveli (Nellai) district of Tamilnadu. The nearest towns are Ambasamudram, Vickramasingapuram and Kadayam. The place is also styled as Papavinasam. Papanasam Falls in Papanasam is located at 8°42'14.9"N 77°21'49.0"E or 8.704151, 77.363622.

Agasthiyar Falls is present on the path of the river Thamirabarani and the waters of this falls are believed to possess medicinal properties as the waters come from the hills of the Western Ghats where they come in contact with several medicinal plants. Importantly, you can find water flowing down in this falls for all twelve months a year. As it is not crowded, you can spend your own time without any hassle or disturbance.

The Thirunelveli district administration organizes Chittirai Vishnu festival every year during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April - May), during the Tamil New Year day. The falls is a prominent tourist destination in the region and usually frequented by devotees of the Papanasanathar Temple and Sabarimalai.

Legends

As per Hindu legend, during the divine wedding of Shiva and Parvathi, there was heavy crowd at Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Sage Agasthya could not view event and prayed to Shiva at this place to get him a view of the event. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva appeared to the sage and his wife Lopamundra along with Parvathi in his marriage attire. Shiva made the place his abode and came to be called Papanasanathar and the falls nearby the temple got the name of Agasthiyar as Agasthiyar Falls.

Geography

Agasthiyar Falls is located in Western Ghats to the South of Papanasam town and to the north of Papanasam Lower, the first lake in the descent of Tambiraparani River. It is located 52 Kms from the nearest city Tirunelveli. The waters from the falls meanders the stream in the river to Papanasam hydroelectric project and reaches the catchment area to the Papanasam Dam, which has a storage capacity of 142.15 ft. (43.33 m). The place is frequented by animals like Tiger and Panther, which are frequently spotted in the route from Agasthiyar Falls to Papanasam as both are located close to Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. 

The falls receives its waters during the South-west monsoon from May to September, but the maximum amount of rainfall is received during the North-east monsoon during October to December. But the falls is commonly said by the nearby locales as 365 days falls as people can go there any day because the water is from the dam hence the water flow will not be affected by the monsoon to a large extent. There is a small temple of Agasthiyar near the falls, where devotees worship after taking a holy dip in the falls.

Waterfalls

Papanasam Falls drop down from a 120 meter high place, conjoined with the rocky walls of Pothigai Hills. The river Tambiraparani (Tamirabarani), which flows from the Western Ghats of the Pothigai Hills, reaches the plains at Papanasam. You can find a shrine of Agasthiyar Munivar at the falls and every year his idol is brought out as a procession to the Papavinaseswarar Swami temple to witness the marriage anniversary of Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvathi.

The water of the falls is believed to have healing powers and get rid of sins of the people, who take a drench in it. The Papanasam Falls are believed to cleanse the sins of those who bathe in their holy waters. They are rightfully called Papanasam, which means the destruction of all sins. The Pothigai Hills beautifully provide background to the Agasthiar Falls. These falls are created by the River Tambraparani.

The best time to visit the Agasthiar Falls is in the morning, at the time of sunrise. One can bask in the beauty of the hills surrounding these falls, along with friends and family. However, one needs to be careful of the monkeys inhabiting the area and attacking the tourists occasionally. The falls have a stable flow of water all year round; therefore, one need not wait until the monsoons subside, to visit this cascade.

The entire region is extremely beautiful; it is completely surrounded by Western Ghats hillocks; the ultimate sound of waterfalls and the divine feel due to proximity of temple. It is an ideal destination for those who love nature. It is not very popular like Courtallam waterfalls and other similar places in South India. It is little known and located in a remote and serene location.

Other Places of Interest

Agasthiyar Munivar Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/agasthiyar-munivar-temple-agasthiyar.html

Sadhu Krishnaveni Amma Mutt:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/sadhu-krishnaveni-amma-mutt-agasthiyar.html

Kalyani Theertham:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/kalyani-theertham-agasthiyar-falls.html

Kodeeswarar Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/05/kodeeswarar-temple-agasthiyar-falls.html

Thalaiyanai Dam:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/thalaiyanai-dam-papanasam-thirunelveli.html

Servalar Dam:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/servalar-dam-papanasam-thirunelveli.html

Papanasam Dam:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/papanasam-dam-thirunelveli.html

Karaiyar Dam:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/karaiyar-dam-papanasam-thirunelveli.html

Papanasanathar Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/03/papanasanathar-temple-papanasam-thirunelveli.html

Banatheertham Falls:

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2015/09/banatheertham-falls.html

Culture

The Tirunelveli district administration organizes Chittirai Vishnu festival every year during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April - May), during the Tamil New Year day. The falls is usually frequented by devotees of the Papanasanathar Temple, who take a holy dip in the falls before visiting the temple. The falls is also frequented by tourists to Sabarimalai during the November - December season in a religious circuit in the region and Kutralam falls. Flood warning is issued during North-east monsoon when excessive rain results in overflow and the falls remain closed for the visitors.

Connectivity

One can reach the Agasthiyar falls by trekking a distance of 3 Kms from Papanasanathar Temple. Papanasam is around 52 Kms from Thirunelveli, 16 Kms from Ambasamudram, 34 Kms from Tenkasi, 215 Kms from Madurai and 140 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is located at Ambasamudram and Nearest Airport is located at Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.