Adventures in Kovai

Eight ways to get out there, from an easy lake ride and the toy train to forty hairpin bends and a seven-hill climb.

Start the trail
The trail gets steeper as you go

Pick your pace

Each stop has where, when and what to know, with sources. Ratings are ours.

Easyour rating

Boating on Valankulam Lake

A gentle row, pedal or motor-boat ride on one of the city's restored lakes, right off Trichy Road.

What to expect

Valankulam is one of the seven city lakes being revived under the Smart City programme since 2017. Expect calm water, city views and evening light.

Where
Valankulam Boat House, Trichy Road, in the city
Boats
Rowing, pedal and motor boats
When
Roughly 10 am – 6 pm; hours change with season and weather, so check before you go
Our tips
  • Go towards sunset.
  • Boat timings change with the season, so check before you go.
Directions

Sources: Kupi listing · Swarajya: Coimbatore's revived lakes

Easyour rating

Nilgiri toy train

The UNESCO-listed mountain railway climbs from Mettupalayam, at the foot of the Nilgiris, to Ooty.

What to expect

From Mettupalayam the train climbs to Coonoor on Asia's steepest railway track (1 in 12), using rack-and-pinion and X-class steam engines, then runs on to Ooty. Uphill takes about 4¾ hours.

The ride
46 km in about 4½ hours, through 16 tunnels, over 250 bridges and round 208 curves
When
Leaves Mettupalayam at 7:10 am (as reported; check the current timetable)
Good to know
Book on IRCTC; for weekends and holidays book 2–3 months ahead. World Heritage Site since 2005.
Our tips
  • Book early on IRCTC, especially for weekends.
  • Ooty is much cooler than Coimbatore, so carry a layer.
Directions

Sources: Onmanorama · Wikipedia: Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Representative image
Easyour rating

Topslip forests

A day inside the Anamalai Tiger Reserve for forest, birds and, with luck, elephants.

What to expect

Topslip is the main visitor hub of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, home to tigers, elephants, gaur and over 250 bird species. Every year it hosts an Elephant Pongal festival.

Where
Topslip, about 12 km past the Anamalai forest check post near Pollachi
When
Check post open 7 am – 4 pm for day visitors (as reported; check current timings)
Good to know
Overnight stays must be booked and camping isn't allowed. The jeep safari most visitors describe is at Parambikulam, across the Kerala border.
Our tips
  • Go early: day visitors must be out by 4 pm.
  • Book a stay in advance if you want to see the forest at dawn.
Directions

Sources: Wikipedia: Anamalai Tiger Reserve · eNidhi travel blog (2018)

Easy–moderateour rating

Kovai Kutralam forest walk

A short walk through dense forest to Siruvani's main waterfall, about 37 m high.

What to expect

A forest-van ride from the gate, then about a 1 km walk through dense forest to a 37 m waterfall below the Siruvani dam.

Where
Siruvani hills, about 32 km from Coimbatore. Forest department vans run from the gate.
When
10 am – 3:30 pm, closed on Mondays. Best after the monsoon, September to December.
Good to know
About 1 km on foot. Forest department entry at the gate (around ₹50). Plastic is banned; go on a weekday to skip the crowds.
Our tips
  • Go on a weekday.
  • Carry water and snacks, but no plastic.
  • Leave by late afternoon: buses are few after 5 pm.
Directions

Sources: Incredible India: Kovai Kutralam

Representative image
Easy–moderateour rating

Black Thunder water park

Slides, a wave pool and a lazy river at the foot of the Nilgiris, a classic Kovai family day out.

What to expect

A full day out: a wave pool, Surf Hill, a lazy river and 35 water rides at the foot of the Nilgiris.

Where
On the Mettupalayam–Ooty highway, about 40 km north of the city
The park
About 60 acres with 70+ rides and attractions, 35 of them water rides. Open since 1997.
Good to know
Slides are foam-padded. Try the Wave Pool, Surf Hill and Lazy River.
Our tips
  • Carry a change of clothes.
  • It's on the way to Mettupalayam, so you can pair it with the toy train.
Directions

Sources: Wikipedia: Black Thunder

Representative image
Easy–moderateour rating

Go karting

Coimbatore is often called India's motorsport capital. Try a kart on a real circuit.

What to expect

Coimbatore has raced since the 1950s. It is home to the Kari Motor Speedway (2003) and to drivers such as Narain Karthikeyan, so karting here comes with history.

Where
Coastt Kartmania, Karumathampatti
The track
1,012 m, run anticlockwise. Rental karts for every skill level.
Good to know
Under-18s renting without a parent or guardian present need a signed consent form.
Our tips
  • Wear closed shoes.
  • Under-18s: bring a parent or a signed consent form.
Directions

Sources: IAME track listing · The Bridge: Coimbatore, motorsport capital

Tea estates near Valparai
Challengingour rating

Valparai ghat ride

Forty hairpin bends from the Aliyar foothills up into the tea country.

What to expect

About two hours from Pollachi, through the Anamalai sanctuary and past Monkey Falls, up to Valparai's 56 tea and coffee estates.

Where
Aliyar → Valparai ghat road, via Monkey Falls
The climb
40 hairpin bends to Valparai, about 1,060 m above sea level
Stay safe
Narrow road shared with buses. Elephants cross forest stretches, so don't stop inside the forest. Entry is restricted after 6 pm.
Our tips
  • Drive in daylight: entry is restricted after 6 pm.
  • Use low gears and engine braking going down.
  • Mobile signal is weak in the estates; download maps first.
Directions

Sources: Onmanorama: Valparai safety · Wikipedia: Valparai · Photo: Kkdi63, CC BY-SA 4.0

Velliangiri hills
Strenuousour rating

Vellaingiri trek

A pilgrim climb over seven hills, often called the Kailash of South India.

What to expect

About 6 km from Poondi over seven hills, ending at the summit where Shiva is worshipped as a self-manifested lingam.

Where
Starts at the Vellingiri Andavar temple, at the foot of the hills
When
Mid-February to May only. The forest department closes it the rest of the year.
Stay safe
Seven hills rising to about 1,840 m. People with BP, diabetes, asthma, breathing problems or epilepsy are barred, and climbing is limited to boys and men aged 10–60. Doctors at the base camp check climbers.
Our tips
  • See the doctors at the base medical camp first.
  • Don't carry plastic; it is checked at the base.
Directions

Sources: The News Minute · Wikipedia: Velliangiri Mountains

Know one we've missed?

We only list what we can check. Timings and rules change with the season, so confirm with the operator or forest department before you go.

Not listed yet: rafting on the Bhavani river was on the old site, but we couldn't confirm an operator near Coimbatore. If you know one, we'll add it.

← Back to home