Hills & wildlife

Vellaingiri Hills

The seven hills, “Kailash of the South”

A devotional seven-hill trek.

VellingiriAbout 29 km from the city centre (straight line)

The Velliangiri mountains on the Kerala border are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Pilgrims climb seven hills to worship Shiva as a self-manifested (swayambhu) lingam at the top.

Season: Mid-February to mid-May. The forest department restricts entry the rest of the year.
The trail: About 6 km from the Poondi temple at the foothills. Daily buses run from Gandhipuram to Poondi.
Stay safe: Watch for elephants near bamboo groves. Plastic is checked at the base camp.

Sources: Wikipedia: Velliangiri Mountains

Timings and access change, so check with the place before you go.