Megamalai Hill Station - It Is Perfect Place For Nature Lovers

MEGAMALAI HILL STATION

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THENI

Megamalai is the kingdom where the clouds meet the mountains. It is arguably the most beautiful hill station in South India, known to a selective few and seen by even fewer people. This lovely place is bound to capture your imagination. Good place to stay and enjoy a lovely surrounding. One can also watch the animals roaming in the forests, which are close to Megamalai, 

Megamalai, popularly called High Wavys Mountains, is a cool and misty mountain range situated in the Western Ghats in Theni district, Tamilnadu, India. It is a place of natural beauty dotted with cardamom plantations and tea estates. The place is situated at an elevation of 1,500 m above sea level and it is rich in flora and fauna. 

Megamalai a 6000 acre tea plantation is located in Tamil Nadu about 43 kms off Chinnamanoor, on the Madurai - Kumili Interstate Highway. Today Meghamalai has become the cynosure of every tourist. The approach via Chinnamannur is more scenic. Only forest lodges and rest house are available at the hill top. Prior reservation and permission is an absolute must.

It is a cool and misty mountain range and lies at a distance of 130 km from Madurai. A perfect place for nature lovers, its altitude is 1,500 m above sea level. The vegetation of the Meghamalai hills includes scrub forests at the foothills, stretches of tea and coffee estates, spice plantations of pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and the dense evergreen forest cover.

Sightseeing / Tourist attractions

Highwayvs Dam

Highwayvs Lake

Manalar Dam

Deep Cumbum Valley and the villages

Upper Manalar Estate

Vattaparrai

Venniyar Tea Estate

Iravagalar Dam

Maharaja Mettu - A bird's eye view

Magarajothi hill View of Sri Iyyappan temple.

Thekkadi View point

Trekking / Tourist attractions:

Elephant Corridor -amazing point

pothai pull medu

Megamalai rain forest

Manalar Water falls

Thoovanam

Game set Block no 27 - amazing point

Vellimalai

By Air

Nearest Airport - Madurai, Tamilnadu is 130 kilometers, Trichy 190 kms and Coimbatore 290 Kms

By Train

Many trains pass through Dindigul, kodairoad, and Madurai, which is nearly 130-140 kilometers to Megamalai

By Road

Megamalai Road Condition is very pathetic. Travels vehicle /Tour operator they may not travel. You will find gutters in every 2 meters of the road. 

Ana Sagar Lake - It Is Surrounded By Two Popular Attractions Of Ajmer

ANA SAGAR LAKE

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AJMER

Ana sagar Lake was founded by the grandfather of Prithivi Raj Chauhan, King Anaji Chauhan between 1135 -1150 AD, Ana Sagar Lake is an artificial lake. It is one of Ajmer’s most popular lakes and one of India’s largest lakes. Named after its founder, the lake was founded during the 12th century, after a dam was built across Luni River. Ana Sagar Lake is surrounded by Daulat Bagh Gardens and Khobra Behroon temple, two popular attractions of Ajmer.

The best time to visit Ana Sagar Lake is between October and March when the climate is pleasant and the water level is full. The lake dries up in the summer season.

Ana Sagar lake is around 13 km from the main city of Ajmer. You can also spot an island in the middle of the lake. Indulge in water scooter ride or boating here.

There is also an island in the center of the lake. Boat or water scooter could be hired from the east side of the Dault Bagh to easily reach the island. The lake gets dry every summer. A circuit house is there on a hill near the lake that used to be British Residency. This beautiful lake of the 12th century is highly attracted by a large number of tourists every year.

The Ana Sagar Lake is just 1.8 km away from Ajmer railway station. Tourists who are interesting to visit this historic lake can hire a rickshaw or cab or even take a walk to reach the destination.

By Air

Ajmer also boasts a great connectivity through air. The nearest airport is only 135 kilometers away from the city

By Train

Ajmer is easily accessed by train. The main line passes through the city. The main line connects the city to Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Most of the trains stop at Ajmer station. In fact, you can board the super fast train Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Ajmer.

By Road

Ajmer is well connected by roads to a number of major cities. Reaching Ajmer from Delhi will take 9 hours. Moreover, it is also well connected to a number of other cities like Aligarh, Agra, Jaipur, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Barmer, Jodhour, Aligarh, Mount Abu, Jaisalmer etc. A number of buses and taxis ply on this route to connect the city with the various cities. The city bus service, operating between Ajmer and Pushkar is one of the most popular modes of transport. Other popular modes of transport are tongas, cycle-rickshaws, auto rickshaws are other popular modes of transport.

Mullayanagiri Peak - It Is One Of The Best Trekking Place In Karnataka

MULLAYANAGIRI PEAK

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CHIKMAGALUR

Mullayanagiri located in Chikmagalur district is the highest peak in Karnataka with an altitude of 1950 meters. It is regarded as the highest peak between Himalayas and Nilgiris. Mullayanagiri is one of the best treks in Karnataka and among top sites for trekking places to visit in Chikmagalur.

The peak gets its name from a small temple at the summit, which is dedicated to a Tapasvi Mullappa swamy, who is believed to have meditated at the cave near the summit. For adventure enthusiasts, the location offers an opportunity to engage in activities like mountain biking, trekking and road biking. Being the highest peak in Karnataka, it offers some very interesting trails. 

The trek route to the peak begins from Sarpadaari, which is connected with Chikmagalur by road. This is 3 km long moderate level trek which is fairly steep and takes about 1.5 hrs to reach the peak. Direct road access is also available closer to the peak which needs less than 1 km trek and take about 20-30 mins.

The valley views from the top of Mullyanagiri are breathtaking. The landmarks on the trek path are a small stream, a Nandi statue and a cave with a small water source inside. The Sunset presents a spectacular view from the peak.

Other trekking trails from Mullayangiri are Baba Budangiri (12 km), Manikyadhara Falls (9 km) and Deviramma Temple (13 km). The path to Bababudanagiri is quite popular are relatively easy. The path behind the temple on Mullayanagiri peak towards the BSNL Tower on Eastern side leads to Baba Budangiri and Manikyadhara Falls. However, the charm of this trail lies in the Ridge Walk and Blade Walk along the linear hills of the Baba Budangiri ranges. 

The first stretch involves a steep descent downhill to meet the main road. The second part of the trail involves a gentle ascent uphill and a unique ridge walk. Usually, there is heavy fog and visibility challenges as one treks on the ridges.

The next stretch of this trail takes one to the BSNL tower which is a few kilometers before the peak. This trail entails the blade walk if one is able to get permission from the checkpost situated enroute as trekkers cross the main road. Blade walk is a truly adrenalin pumping rocky stretch with scaring drops on either side. 

After more than half an hour trek on a narrow path, one reaches the BSNL tower. A small lake near the tower offers refreshment. The final stretch of the trail takes you to Baba Budan Giri that lies about 2 km away from the tower. The route from BSNL tower to Bababudanagiri is clear and camping is allowed at Baba Budhangiri.

Manikya Dhara Falls is straight from the BSNL tower. Deviramma Temple is further 4 km trek from Manikya Dhara Falls. The best time to trek Mullayangiri is from September to February. There are no shops at the summit. Packed food and water is necessary for trekking. Temple authorities can help in camping and cooking. 

Incase of large crowd, vehicles to Mullayanagiri are stopped at Seethalayanagiri. From Seethalayanagiri, Mullayanagiri is 3 km and it is a simple trek.

Fees & Reservations: Rs. 250 to Rs. 300 at Forest Dept checkpost

Agumbe Hill Station - It Is Home To Several Rare Species Of Medicinal Plants

AGUMBE HILL STATION

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SHIMOGA

Agumbe is known for its scenic beauty and bio-diversity. Nestled on a plateau on top of Someshwara Ghat, it is located at a distance of 380 km from Bangalore. Situated in Shimoga district of Karnataka, Agumbe gets its sobriquet because it receives 7,640 mm of mean annual rainfall, the second highest annual rainfall in India.

Agumbe is surrounded by rich biodiversity and the hill station borders one of the last surviving lowland rain forests. Since Agumbe is home to several rare species of medicinal plants like Garcinia, Myristica, Listsaea, Diospyrous, Hoiligarna, Eugenia and Ficus among others, it is also called ‘Hasiru Honnu’ which means ‘green is gold’. 

The whole area and the reserve forests around Kundapur, Shankaranarayana, Hosanagara, Sringeri and Thirthahalli are collectively referred to as the Agumbe Rainforest Complex and form one of the largest contiguous forest stretches left in India. During rains, Agumbe and the surrounding region come alive with several waterfalls; Kunchikal Falls, Barkana Falls, Onake Abbi Falls and Jogigundi Falls are some of the popular ones.

Most tourists visit Agumbe to trek through its forests or to visit the waterfalls. Trekking to the Kudlu Theertha Falls or Nishani Gudda offers a once in a lifetime experience. (But also beware of the leeches that infest the forests.) The high points of the treks are the visual treats that Agumbe offers. Sunset Point, a gallery erected to view the sunset, offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and even the Arabian Sea on a clear day. Remnants of temples dating back to the Hoysala Empire are also worth a visit.

Agumbe served as the setting for India’s most popular fictional town, Malgudi in the TV series Malgudi Days (that itself was based on the eponymous book by R K Narayan). Doddamane or the Big House, which Swamy lives in, is over 100 years old and still stands proudly here.

India’s sole permanent rainforest research station is based at Agumbe. It is also equipped with India’s first automatic weather station. The station exclusively monitors changes in rain forests. Agumbe is also called King Cobra capital because of the high number of snakes of the species being found here. Interestingly, despite the high density of King Cobras in the region, incidents of snake-human conflict are rare. The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station has pioneered the world’s first radio-telemetry project on the King Cobra. Insights gained from the ecological study are being put into practice into King Cobra management.

The best time to visit the place is during monsoon, when the hill station is full of sparkling streams and several waterfalls.

By Air

Mangalore is the nearest airport, 100 km away. Taxis and auto-rickshaws are available at the airport.

By Train

Shimoga, 90 km away and Udupi, 55 km away are the nearest railway stations to Agumbe. Taxis and auto-rickshaws are available at both railway stations.

By Road

Buses are available from Bengaluru and other places to Agumbe and Theerthahalli which lies on the National Highway NH-13 and then towards Agumbe

Rishop Hill Station - It Has A Great View Of Snow Capped Himalayan Mountain Rage

RISHOP HILL STATION

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DARZELLING

Rishop is a tourist village in the Lava – Lolegaon Circuit in Kalimpong sub-division. This used to be an inaccessible village with few households and step farming dependent on monsoon rain till tourists discovered this hidden treasure of Eastern Himalaya.

The main attraction of staying at Rishop is the serene environment and great views of snow capped Himalayan mountain range from here. The surrounding destinations of Lava, Lolegaon, Pedong, Rishi, Aritar are all within close distance and can be visited as part of a day sightseeing tour.

During the initial days, one had to trek about 5 kms from Lava to reach here. Today you can drive to Rishop (9 kms) through a motorable road from Lava. The village is full of small resorts that offer basic rooms and amenities.

Tiffindara View point – Less than 2 kms from your hotel is the hilltop of Tiffindara. The sunrise view from the hill top is a major attraction. Parts of Nathula and Jelepla that connects India with Tibet are visible from here. On a clear day you can see Kanchenjunga range of snow capped mountains in its full glory from here.

Lava – The famous tourist destination of Lava is just 9 kms away. There is a trek route through which the distance is just 5 kms. You can visit the Lava Jamgyong Kongtrul Monastery.

Kolakham – A relatively new destination, this is the hill station just across the hill from Rishop. The aerial distance could hardly be 3 kms but the road from Rishop to Kolakham travel through Lava and the total distance is about 21 kms. The village is adjacent to Neora Valley National Park and the famous Changey falls is about 5 kms further from Kolakham.

Lolegaon – About 34 kms from Rishop, Lolegaon is a picturesque village that can be visited on a day tour from here. You can visit the forest guest house or take a walk amongst the heritage forest with its Canopy walk. There is another sunrise point in Lolegaon known as Jhandidara.

Pedong – 23 Kms from Rishop, Pedong can be part of your day tour itinerary. Here you can take part in adventure activity such as rock climbing, mountain biking and archery. You may drive further downhill to the Bengal Sikkim boarder at Rishi and spend some time besides Rishikhola, a small stream that acts as a boundary between Bengal and Sikkim.

By Air

Nearest airport is Bagdogra. It is a domestic airport under Indian Army. All major air services are available from all over India. Distance between Bagdogra and Siliguri is 13 km. You can find out various vehicles from Siliguri to Rishyap.

By Train

Nearest railway station to Rishyap / Rishop is New Jalpaiguri. After you arrive at New Jalpaiguri or Siliguri, you should follow the road journey to reach at Rishyap / Rishop. New Mal Jn. Station is the nearest, though availability of vehicle is not that proper like NJP or Siliguri.

By Bus

National Highway No.31 between Siliguri and Guwahati passes over Chalsa. From Chalsa to Rishyap / Rishop via Lava have district road. Journey time from Siliguri to Rishyap / Rishop is about 3 hours.