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Treasures of Nature at Pollachi, Tamil Nadu

By Anusha

The lovely town of Pollachi is located 40 km from Coimbatore city in Tamil Nadu. It is an agricultural town, with coconut farms, fields and plantations making the town look picturesque. It also boasts of one of the biggest markets in the country. The town apparently also has the largest jaggery market in Asia!

Located close to the Western Ghats, Pollachi enjoys sublime climate all through the year and attracts tourists to enjoy the beauty surrounding the town. The nearest entry point to the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Park, the town also boasts of many other scenic getaways and picnic spots.

Here is a look at some of the popular places to visit in Pollachi. Our travel guide details the key tourist attractions in and around the town.

Topslip

Topslip

Located in the scenic Anamalai hills at an elevation of 800 ft, Topslip is one of the most popular places to visit in Pollachi. It falls as a region located within the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Park. At a short distance of 37 km from the city of Pollachi, Topslip can be easily reached by private or public transport. Among the major attractions is the Elephant Training Camp, which also requires a permit. You can explore activities like trekking, elephant safari and photography in Topslip.

Photo Courtesy: Thangaraj Kumaravel

Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park

Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park

Among the places to visit in Pollachi is the Indira Gandhi Sanctuary, located in the Anamalai hills, it lies partially in Pollachi. The dense forests are home to a variety of flora and fauna. It is home to some of the endangered species such as the Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, Dhole, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur and the Giant Indian Squirrel. Travellers wanting to visit the park and sanctuary have to obtain permission first from the Wildlife Warden's office in Pollachi. It remains open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Photo Courtesy: Bikash Das

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

Located near the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is another place to visit in Pollachi, the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. Spanning an area of over 285 sq.km, it is on UNESCO's tentative list for the World Heritage Site status. Though it is a part of Kerala, entry is possible only from Pollachi. The many attractions here include; staying at the tree house, guided safaris into the jungle and bamboo raft trips across the Parambikulam lake. Another noteworthy feature is the large Kannimara Thekku (teak) tree that is speculated to be the largest in Asia!

Photo Courtesy: Prashanth dotcompals

Aliyar Dam

Aliyar Dam

Situated near Pollachi at the foothills of Valparai is a key place to visit, the Aliyar Dam. The picturesque destination pulls in tourists, couples and family with its many options for amusement. The dam has parks, aquarium and even boating facilities. Situated against the backdrop of hills, it is a beautiful place that you must visit.

Photo Courtesy: Pratheept2000

Valparai

Valparai

At an elevation of 3,500 ft, Valparai located in the Anamalai Hills is a must-visit place near Pollachi. The drive to Valparai is considered extremely scenic as you traverse around 40 hairpin bends viewing forests and tea plantations. An ideal getaway to relax and refresh yourself amongst the vivid greenery and unpolluted surroundings. You may also get to sight animals like the Gaur, Nilgiri Tahr, leopards and elephants.

Photo Courtesy: Thangaraj Kumaravel

Monkey Falls

Monkey Falls

The scenic waterfall is located en-route to Valparai and is popular as a sightseeing place near Pollachi. The monsoon season ensures the waterfalls looks its majestic best and travellers come here to enjoy the abundant waters. Monkey Falls can also be reached by trekking; however, this requires prior permission. As the name suggests there are plenty of monkeys in the area, so be careful with your food items and other belongings as they are known to be rather naughty!

Photo Courtesy: Dilli2040

Masani Amman Temple

Masani Amman Temple

Pollachi like any other Indian destination has its share of temples, but one of the most interesting is that of the Masani Amman. The temple is dedicated to the worship of Amman(a form of Durga or Kali), and interestingly travellers will see a large shrine that is horizontal to the floor and not standing. The idol lying down is supposedly because the immense power of the goddess standing is something that an ordinary human would not be able to withstand. Interesting rituals such as animal sacrifice and grinding of chilli also take place here.

Photo Courtesy: Masani Amman Temple

Thirumoorthy Hills

Thirumoorthy Hills

Another tourist place around Pollachi is the Thirumoorthy Hills, it is an extremely scenic part of the western ghats and has many attractions. You can visit the Sri Amaralingeshwarar temple, the Thirumoorthy Falls and Thirumoorthy Dam. The place is also popular in the south for film shooting with many Malayalam and Tamil movies shot here.

Photo Courtesy: Hayathkhan.h

Amaravathy Dam

Amaravathy Dam

The Amaravathy Dam is located in the Indira Gandhi National Park area. Built in 1957 for irrigational purposes and flood control, the scenic place is now one of the popular tourist places around Pollachi. The dam has a well-organised park that offers lovely views of the reservoir as well as boating facilities. Another interesting feature of the Dam is the large numbers of mugger crocodiles that live in the basin area of the reservoir.

Photo Courtesy: Dhruvaraj S

How to Reach Pollachi

How to Reach Pollachi

By Road: Pollachi is well-connected by a network of national and state highways to most major destinations in the country.

By Rail: The Pollachi Railway Station is presently undergoing gauge conversion efforts. You can travel to the nearby Coimbatore Junction (40 km) for trains to all major destinations in the country.

By Air: The nearest airport is in Coimbatore, located at a distance of nearly 60 km. Both domestic and international flights are available to key destinations.

Photo Courtesy: Dhruvaraj S

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