Nandi hills

60 kms north of Bangalore is the summer resort called Nandi Hills. Also known as Nandidurga, it was one of the summer retreats of Tipu Sultan.

Nandi Hills was popular with the British too who built bungalows and laid out gardens here.

Today of course, it's a hot favourite among Bangaloreans who find this an ideal get-away for weekends. The 1478-m high Nandi Hills is the originating point of many rivers.

And the forests surrounding the hills, abound with wild animals. Around the Nandi Hills are several smaller hills, which can be visited on foot.

Biodiversity

The vegetation of the hills is typical of high hills. Inside the fort at the summit, many of the large trees are planted exotics such as Eucalyptus and the undergrowth consists of Coffea arabica along with some native species. The forest acts as a substrate for cloud condensation and every morning the trees are covered in water. This allows for many moist forest species of plants and animals. The hills are very rich in birdlife making it a very popular location for birdwatchers and bird photographers. The evergreen forest patch on top of the hill being a favoured wintering location for many migrant species of warblers, flycatchers and thrushes. The forest patch is also home for a relict population of the Nilgiri Woodpigeon. A breeding pair of Shaheen Falcon, the resident race of the Peregrine Falcon is also often seen at the Nandi Hills. The Malabar Whistling Thrush, Uropeltid snakes and Pill millipedes which are otherwise known only from the Western Ghats ranges are also found here. The hill slopes are the home of the Yellow-throated Bulbul, a species endemic to the hills of peninsular India.

Best Time to Visit

Tour to Nandi Hills You may plan your visit to the Nandi Hills any time of the year. The Nandi Hills experience pleasant and moderate temperate all the year through. The Nandi Hills is the perfect hill resort as the summer temperature varies between 29 and 23 degrees. During the winters the temperature at the Nandi Hills hovers between 21 and 11 degrees

Tourism.

Aag Arrow Web magazine.

April 2008 issue.

http://www.aagneyam.com/arrow

Do You Want To Fly Like An Eagle

Wagamon,often known as the Scotland of Asia, is a hill station located about 64 km from Kottayam and 65km from Idukki in Kerala. Situated at an elevation of about 1100 meter above the sea level, with a warm and friendly place with cool climate as the temperature between 10 and 23 degree Celsius during a summer midday. It is famous as a trekker's paradise. A tourist spot surrounded by the greenery of tea gardens, beautiful meadows and valleys it provides its visitors a unique experience. Hills beautifully covered with green grasses, velvet lawns and the cool mountain air make Wagamon a perfect holiday retreat. Wagamon comprises of stunningly beautiful series of gentle hills, valleys, waterfalls and green slopes and truly a scenic spot for tourists.
You can enjoy trekking and climbing this 1100m high hill. The chain of three hills - Thangal Hill, Murugan Hill and Kurisumala - makes Wagamon a place worth visiting. The place is also famous for its unique rock formations at Thangal Para. A chain of three hills - Thangal hill, Murugan hill and Kurishumala - represents the three major religions and stand as lasting monuments of religious harmony. The dairy farm managed by the Kurisumala monks is worth a visit.
Wagamon provides you unlimited holidaying fantasies all the year, except the monsoons when rains are very heavy here. A perfect place for tourists if you ever desired to rejuvenate yourself and you would always cherish the memories of this enchantingly beautiful land.
You can enjoy activities like boating and walking in and along the banks of numerous beautiful lakes around Wagamon. The area abounds in with numerous exotic and beautiful waterfalls hanging from the steep and sloppy hills. Wagamon hills in Kerala, South India offer adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers endless opportunities for pure fun filled and pleasure tours.
One of the prime attractions of the tourist visiting Wagamon is its famous Kurisumala Ashram located in the heart of the Sahyadri Mountains, which run parallel to India's south west coast. You can enjoy here a cool and soft breeze, which blows across the valley leaving an imprint on your soul, a perfect place to meditate. If you are willing to experience peace of mind then Wagamon provides you the perfect conditions

Kurisumala is also known for milk and honey it produces, the means by which the monks make their livelihood. Honey is found in the rocky clefts of this mountain, where bees make their hives. The place where the monks have been deeply involved in meditation is situated on highest part of the land, called "Resurrection Garden".

Wagamon hills in Kerala, South India are dotted with delightfully attractive meadows, tropical forests, It is a very ideal tourist spot surrounded by the greenery of tea gardens, beautiful meadows, deep puzzling valleys and dales. The enchanting hill station dotted with tea gardens will soon be one of India's foremost eco-tourism projects. If you have not been to Wagamon you have not seen God's Own Country.

Trekking and Paragliding at Wagamon
All the trekking enthusiasts will enjoy climbing this 1100 metres tall hill. Vagamon is an emerging international paragliding destination. A venue to bring in the paragliding enthusiasts in India and abroad was very much the need of the hour and Wagamon was obviously the ideal choice. With its 10 km long ridge and over 3,000 feet in height from top to bottom and carpet take-off from anywhere in the ridge make Wagamon the gem of Para Summits in India.

Do you want to fly like an eagle without any gasoline?
Want to be like a bird and fly into the clouds? If you are the kind that cannot see the point in running off a slope and be held up to a canopy-like thing with some strings, this is not for you. But, if you have ever wondered what it feels like to be a bird up in the sky buoyed by air, unfettered by man-made contraptions, you will discover, paragliding is just your kind of thing. Imagine the wind on your face, the adrenalin rush while taking off into the air and soaring into the skies. Dangerous as it sounds, it might be a tad safer than driving on potholed roads. Take that walk in the clouds, a glide in the sky...
The nearest to this experience is paragliding and Wagamon is the ideal place to do it. Wagamon is the only place in Kerala where paragliding facility is available. With an altitude of 3000 metres above sea level,
Adventure-sports enthusiasts from across the country will get a chance to paraglide or "pillion ride" a paraglider at the international paragliding festival to be held at Wagamon. Youth will get attracted to the sport, once the fear element is removed. Power gliders too will be made available. Although there are several paragliding spots in Himachal Pradesh, Wagamon is one of the few in south India. For the moment Vagamon is the only paragliding spot in Kerala.

Paragliding made its official debut in Kerala with the International Paragliding Festival, which was held in the verdant hills of Wagamon, at Kolahalamedu, 4 kms from Wagamon. The festival, organised by the Adventure Sports and Sustainable Tourism Academy (ASSTA) and the Department of Tourism, drew a lot of attention from Indian and foreign paragliding enthusiasts.

The official paragliding Festival of Kerala is Done Every year at Wagamon. So many paragliding enthusiasts come from all over India to Kerala for the International Paragliding Festival in Kerala. The International Paragliding Festival is held mostly in Wagamon. Situated at the border of Kottayam and Idukki districts, Wagamon is a hill station which has green valleys and mountains dotted with tea plantations. On these hilly regions of Wagamon, the International Paragliding Festival is held. International Paragliding Festival in Kerala attracts a number of adventure tourists to Kerala during this time.

The place is more known as a spot for adventure tourism. If you get time, you can trek down the valley or the Mundakayam Ghat. The place called Mundakayam Ghat 4 Kilometers away from Wagamon town gives a breathtaking view of the sunset and the surrounding Hills.
This Article is published in.
Aag Arrow webzine Tourism.
March 2008 issue.
http://www.aagneyam.com/arrow

Munnar

Munnar, also known as the Kashmir of South India is a peaceful hill station with its impeccable beauty has become the most sought after destination for a holiday. Munnar was the erstwhile 'Summer Capital' of the British Government in South India. It is the luxuriant gift of nature to the Western Ghats, the eastern border of Kerala and an adjoining parts of Tamilnadu. Sprawling Tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town
.The very name 'Munnar' means three rivers and there are actually three of them, confluence of three mountain streams-Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala
Munnar consists of vast sloping areas of tea. Coffee and cardamom plantations give it a simplistic and smooth appearance. Munnar is a perennial favourite of Indian honeymooners.
Dense forests, wildlife sanctuaries and major cash crop plantations cover most of the region. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji. At that time, the hill side will appear bluish in colour. Neelakurinji bathes the hills in blue once every twelve years, will bloom next in 2018AD. For those in Munnar, the blooming of Kurinji flower is a reminder that their lives have gone past another twelve years, and for those from far off; may be it is reminder to witness a once in a life time rare sight of the Kurinji flowers covering the slopes and ravines of Munnar in a blanket of blue.
The hill station of Ooty is known for its orchards of peaches and plums, terraced tea plantations, eucalyptus and pine trees. Ooty hills changes its moods in different seasons, but its different moods provide similar hospitality to the tourists. The hill station sprawling along a picturesque plateau, with its green valleys and natural beauty offer a close affair with nature. Besides its pristine charm, Ooty hills offer several adventure options like trekking, hand-gliding and angling etc.
Ooty is famous for its Tea and Tourism festival, which is held in the month of January. In the festival the visitors can know much about the different flavours of their favorite drink tea. Makar Ponagal is another important festival celebrated in the month of January. One can notice a marvellous change in vegetation, as one goes from Kallar to Coonoor. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers.
The Main attractions in Munnar
Anamudi, the highest peak (2695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth, the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque, leopards, tigers, etc.
An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi.
Mattupetty
Mattupetty is known for its highly specialised dairy farm. -The Indo Livestock Project. Over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle can be seen here. Mattupetty has a beautiful rose garden. The Mattupetty lake and dam is just a shot distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic sport. The sprawling tea plantations and the Kundala lake are other attractions in the vicinity. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities in the Mattupetty dam. Speed launch, slow speed boat and motor boats are available for hire. The famous Eco point is very near and this scenic place gets its name from the natural echo phenomenon here. The Shola forests in and around Mattupetty are ideal for trekking and are habitat to a variety of birds. Rivulets and cascades crisscross the terrain here, which again adds more attraction to the place.
Eravikulam National Park / Rajamala (15km from Munnar)
Eravikulam National Park lures the travellers with its irresistible grace and beauty. The 97 sq km park is situated in the Devikulam Taluk is a home to the Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, sambar and the Lion-tailed Macaque. A sanctuary for the endangered mountain goat of South India, the Nilgiri Tahr the Eravikulam National Park stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Rajamalai hills. Rajamala is the natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr. Half the world population of this rare mountain goat is found here, which is fast becoming extinct.
Potheamedu (6km from Munnar)
Pothamedu offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The rolling hills, the cool mountain and the breathtaking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks.
Devikulam (7km from Munnar)
This small hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna and the cool mountain air . It is a beautiful place with lot of tea plantations. The Sta Devi Lake with its mineral waters and picturesque surroundings is a good picnic spot. The lake is also ideal for trout fishing.
Nyayamakad, Chithiripuram and Lock Heart Gap
Nyayamakad, Chithiripuram and Lock Heart Gap are other most attractive places located around 10-12 Kilometers from Munnar. Located beween Munnar and Rajamala, Nyayamakad is a land of scintillating waterfalls. The waters cascade down a hill from a height of about 1600 meters. The enchanting surroundings makes an excellent picnic spot and ideal trekking point..
A small village with sleepy little cottages, bungalows, old playgrounds and courts. That is Chithirapuram. Chithiripuram still reminds us of an old world charm. Home of the Pallyvasal hydel power project, this hill town is also famous for its picturesque tea plantations.
Lock Heart Gap is an ideal place for adventure tourism and trekking. The fresh mountain air, the mist clad hills and panoramic view make it worthy of a visit.
Anayirangal a lush green carpet of tea plants. A trip on the splendid reservoir is an unforgettable experience. The Anayirangal dam is surrounded by Tata Tea plantations and evergreen forests
Aagarrow Tourism
Feb.2008 Issue

OOOOOOTY.!!

Ooty also known as Udhagamandalam is the "Queen of hill stations" and the capital of Nilgiris district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiris means "Blue Mountains". Bordering the Karnataka and Kerala states, the Nilgiris or Blue mountains is a veritable fairyland. It has hill stations at various altitudes and is a very popular travel destination. There are cloud-kissing peaks, dense forests, rushing streams, undulating emerald green plains, breath-taking view of sudden drops, valleys and glades. The charming hill station of Ooty, is situated amidst the magnificent Nilgiri mountain ranges. Popularly known as the 'Queen of hill stations' Ooty is one of the favourite summer resort of South India. It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. The best thing about Ooty is that it combines the peace and tranquility of a hill station with the comforts of urban life. The altitudes of Nilgiri mountains varies between 2,280 metres and 2,290 metres. The Doddabetta hill situated at a height of 2,623 metres is the highest peak in Ooty. Other hills are Snowdon, Elk hill and Club hill.
The hill station of Ooty is known for its orchards of peaches and plums, terraced tea plantations, eucalyptus and pine trees. Ooty hills changes its moods in different seasons, but its different moods provide similar hospitality to the tourists. The hill station sprawling along a picturesque plateau, with its green valleys and natural beauty offer a close affair with nature. Besides its pristine charm, Ooty hills offer several adventure options like trekking, hand-gliding and angling etc.
Ooty is famous for its Tea and Tourism festival, which is held in the month of January. In the festival the visitors can know much about the different flavours of their favorite drink tea. Makar Ponagal is another important festival celebrated in the month of January. One can notice a marvellous change in vegetation, as one goes from Kallar to Coonoor. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers.

There is no better holiday mountain resort in India than the Nilgiris. It is here the world's widest valley Ketti is found. Many breathtaking wild gardens in the Western Catchment provide trekking and hiking grounds for the nature lovers. Ooty and Udhagamandalam are various names of Ottakkalmandu which means "the village of a single stone". An important point on the Mettupalayam-Ooty route is the pretty town of Coonoor; and on the Mysore-Ooty route, the high landmark is the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Botanical Garden : Botanical garden is a major attraction for the tourists who visit Ooty. The Botanical garden has more than 650 plant species, including a 20 million years old fossil tree trunk. The garden houses varied fauna, which consists of six sections comprising varieties of tree species, grass, ferns, multi coloured flowering plants, house ferns and orchids. This garden was laid out in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale and is spread over 55 acres. Lush green well maintained lawns, rare tree species (like the cork tree which is probably the only such tree in India, the paper bark tree and the monkey puzzle tree - monkeys cannot climb this tree), a 20 million year old fossilized tree, an Italian-style garden bordering a clear pool, a vast variety of flowering bushes and plants in myriad hues (exotic and ornamental), fern house with a vast range of ferns and orchids, are some of the many highlights of this garden. A flower show along with an exhibition of rare plant species is held every year in the month of May at this garden.

Doddabetta Peak: The 2,623 metre high peak situated 10 Kms away from Ooty, is the highest peak in the Nilgiri range. The peak located at the confluence of the Western and Eastern Ghats, provide the breathtaking view of the Nilgiri hills and its surroundings. The highest point in the Nilgiri Hills, offering spectacular views over the town and district. There is road access to the summit. There is a reserved forest area around the peak. Coonoor : Situated at a distance of 17 Kms from Ooty, Coonoor is beautiful hill station. The 1,839 metres high station is known for its picnic spots and breathtaking surroundings.

The Ooty Lake & Boat House: This is an artificial lake built by Mr. John Sullivan (an erstwhile collector of Coimbatore). The sheer beauty of the lake attracts thousands of tourists to this hill resort. It is a very popular tourist spot in Ooty. You can go boating between 8 AM and 6 PM on all days in this lake. A wide range of boats are available at the Boat House to suit varied tastes and budgets. A Mini Garden with an amusement park for children and a toy train are added attractions here. Apart from boating, simply watching the colourful sunset may prove to be a memorable experience. Pykara falls is 19 km from Ooty. The river has a dam and power plant. There is a breathtaking scenery. The falls, about 6 km from the bridge on the main road, are best in July, but they are also worth visiting from August to December. There is a forest rest House at Pykara. A boat house by the Pykara falls and Dam is added attractions to the tourists.Pykara boasts of well protected fenced Sholas, Toda settlements, undistributed grassy meadows and also a good wildlife habitat. The Pykara Dam, Pykara falls and the reservoir attracts many tourists.

Published In Arrow magazine. December 2007 Issue. For more: http://www.aagneyam.com/arrow

The Fabulous CHIKKAMAGALURU.!

If you are planning to go for an outing with friends or family, you will be appreciated by your companions in selecting Chikkamagaluru. No doubt in that. Chikkamagaluru is the place where coffee was first cultivated in India. As one of the district in Karnataka State, the word Chikkamagaluru literally means “The town of the younger daughter” in the native Kannada language. The town is said to have been given as a dowry to the younger daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakrepatna and hence the name. As one can guess, there is indeed a town called Hiremagaluru which means “the town of the elder daughter” which is about five Kilometer from Chikkamagaluru city.

The mountains here which are a part of the Western Ghats are the source of rivers like Tunga and Bhadra. Hill stations like Kemmanagundi and Kudremukh and waterfalls like Manikyadhara and Kallathigiri are giving Chikkamagaluru the status of tourist’s paradise. Kudremukh National Park and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary are really interesting to the wildlife enthusiasts.
Coffee was introduced into India through the Chikkamagaluru district when the first coffee crop was grown in the Baba Budan Giri Hills during 1670 AD. According to the article Origins of Coffee, the saint Baba Budan on his pilgrimage to Mecca travelled through the seaport of Mocha, Yemen where he discovered coffee. To introduce its taste to India, he wrapped seven coffee beans around his belly and got them out of Arabia. On his return home, he planted the beans in the hills of Chikkamagaluru, which are now named Baba Budan Hills in his honour.

Kemmangundi: A scenic hill station on the Baba Budan Giri range of hills named Kemmanagundi, 55 km north from Chikkamagaluru town, is really an amusing spot to the tourists. Kemmangundi is also known as K.R. Hills after the Wodeyar King, Krishnaraja Wodeyar, who had made it his favourite summer camp. Kemmangundi, at a height of 1,434 meters, is surrounded by thick forests and a salubrious climate through out the year. It is surrounded by the Baba Budan Giri range and blessed with silver cascades of mountain streams and lush vegetation. It’s beautifully laid out ornamental gardens and enchanting mountain and valley views are a treat to the eye. Spectacular sunsets are a must see from various locations in the district, even from the Raj Bhavan. For the adventurous, Kemmangundi offers many peaks to scale and intricate jungle paths to explore. There is a place called Z-point at about 10 minutes walk from this main place which gives a nice aerial view of the Shola grass lands of the Western Ghats. Just 10 km away from Kemmangundi is Kallahathigiri falls, also known as Kalahasti falls. Water cascades down from the top of the Chandra Drona hill from a height of 122 meters amidst fascinating scenery. There is an old Veerabhadra temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, constructed in a gap between rocks. This temple can be approached after crossing the waterfall. Hebbe Falls, a beautiful waterfall is also over 10 km away from the famous hill station, Kemmangundi. Here water streams down from a height of 168 meters in two stages to form Dodda Hebbe (Big Falls) and Chikka Hebbe (Small Falls). Shanti Falls, a fabulous waterfall is on the way to Z-Point in Kemmangundi.
Kudremukh and Kudremukh National Park: 95 km southwest of Chikkamagaluru town is Kudremukh range (in Kannada Kudure = horse and mukha = face), so named because of the unique shape of the Kudremukh peak. Overlooking the Arabian sea, the broad hills are chained to one another with deep valley & steep precipices. Kadambi Falls is a waterfall located in the Kudremukh National Park.

Mullayanagiri: Mullayanagiri is part of the Baba Budan Giri Hill Ranges here. It stands 1930 meters tall and is the tallest peak in Karnataka. Its height is famous mostly for watching sunsets from. It is 16 km from Chikkamagaluru town. Driving to Mullayanagiri is worth taking a risk. On the way is Sitalayanagiri where the water in the Shiva temple neither increases nor decreases. The road to Mullayanagiri is very narrow with a views from steep cliffs. Driving to the peak is not possible and includes a trek up the hill from the half way point. There is a small temple on top of the hill. From the topmost point of the hill the Arabian sea is visible on clear days. The small hillock in the temple compound is the highest point in Karnataka. It is a great trekking spot in Karnataka.


Published In Arrow magazine.
November 2007 Issue.
For more:
www.aagneyam.com/arrow