Pollachi

Topslip

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Topslip

Topslip "The pollution free heavenly land" Topslip is located above the 800 feet from the sea level on the Anamalai mountain range. It stands majestically with Green Spread Mountains and forest all around. The unique teak forests, Bamboo Forest also located near Topslip.

Topslip and Valparai (Valparai to Topslip 65 Km) are small Places with in the (958 km2) Indira Gandhi National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu. at the southern part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Anamalai Hills. Separated from the Nilgiri Hills by the Palghat Gap on the north, the Park is contiguous to the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) to its west and to the Eravikulam National Park (Kerala) and Chinnar Wild life santuary.

Reaching Topslip from Pollachi and then by road to Top Slip (35 km), the entry point to the Park. There are regular buses from Pollachi at 6 am and 3 pm. The bus returns to Pollachi at 8 am and 6 pm. Hired cars/taxis are also available at Pollachi. (Via Sethumadai)

Reaching Topslip from Valparai and then by road to Top Slip (65 km), Valparai to Topslip is itself an exotic experience. En route is the Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary where lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri and the common langur, Malabar giant squirrel, elephant, gaur, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer and wild boar reside. you can also visit the Monkey Falls, Aliyar Dam, Park, and several tourist spots. (Via Aliyar and Sethumadai)

Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

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Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary:

This Sanctuary is situated at an altitude of 1,400 mts in the Western Ghats near Pollachi (about 90 Kms from Coimbatore). The area of the sanctuary is 958 sq.kms.

It has various kinds of fauna like elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sloth-bear, deer, wild bear, wild dog, porcupine, flying squirrel, jackal, pangolin, civet cat and birds like rocket-tailed drongo, red-whiskered bulbul, black headed oriole, tree pie, spotted dove, green pigeon, etc. The Amaravathy reservoir in the Anamalai has a large number of crocodiles. There are also many places of scenic beauty such as Karainshola, Anaikunthiashola, grass hills, waterfalls, groves, teak forests, estates, dams and reservoirs.

Falls around pollachi

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Athirampalli Falls
This particular falls has been featured in numerous films and advertisements. It is also called as ‘Punnagai Mannan Falls’, since this falls have been featured in Tamil film ‘Punnagai Mannan’.

It is about 35 km from Sholaiyar. Totally, it gives us mystic natural scenery on the way to Athirampalli Falls and Sholaiyar.

Monkey Falls
It lies on the foothill of Valparai. It is about 5 km from Aaliyar. It is continuing waterfalls, one can relax their mind and body by taking Ayurvedic bath in this falls.

Chinnakallar Falls
Chinnakallar is geographically an important place. It is about 26 km east of Valparai. It is known as Cherrapunji of Tamil Nadu. It is the second place in receiving maximum rainfall next to Cherrapunji. The hanging bridge is built across the falls is full of enchantment and thrill. This area always found wet and misty. Chinnakallar is full of greenish dense forest with tall majestic trees which gives a pleasant nature. It has the falls which sounds like a roaring lion.

Rhythm Falls
Rhythm falls is about 30 km from Sholaiyar and 5 km ahead of Athirampally falls. Water droplets from the falls scattering on adjoining road gives an excitement show.

Balaji temple in Valparai

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Balaji temple,Karumalai, Valparai,

Balaji temple is owned by the Peria Karamalai tea Industries. Situated in Karamalai. Very famous beautiful temple. Situated at a distance of 10kms from Valparai. and 90 km from coimbatore.

Balaji Temple.jpg

Valparai

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Valparai
Valparai is one of the attractive scenic tourist spots in Tamil Nadu. It is located above 3,500 feet from the sea level on the Annamalai mountain range. It is a town located on the western ghats, 105 km away from Coimbatore.

In Valparai, there are several tea and coffee estates, dams, water falls and 15 tea factories. Valparai totally gives us a wonderful natural scenery, which stands majestically with forest all around. Sholayar Dam in Valparai is a fantastic dam to watch. Other important places to visit around Valparai are Balaji temple, Puncha Mugha Vinayagar Koil and spread across tea estates.

Temples in and around pollachi

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Arulmigu Alagunachiamman Koil
It is located at Pollachi. It was built by group of people who were living in Valliarachal (80 km from Pollachi). Formation of this temple is due to the theft of statue of their family God (Arulmigu Alagunachiamman) on the river side of Pollachi. So they selected a brick, placed it in the same place and built a small temple. Now this temple was rebuilt in the year 2002.

Arulmigu Sulakkal Mariamman Thirukoil
This temple is located on Coimbatore - Pollachi road, 32 kms from Ukkadam. ‘Sulakkal’ was near the dense forest.

The inhabitants of Sulakkal and other villages nearby usually send their domestic animals to the forest for their feed. One villager’s cow alone was not yielding milk all of a sudden. On suspicion, one day he followed his cow to the forest. He noticed that his cow was shedding milk on the Sand-Hill. When he approached the cow it started running and got its feet hit by the Sand-Hill. Much to his surprise he saw blood oozing out from the Sand-Hill. On the very same day Goddess appeared in his dream and asked him to raise a temple known as Arulmigu Sulakkal Mariamman temple.

Arulmigu Shree Velayudhaswamy Thirukoil - Senjarimalai
This temple was originally built by ‘Karikala Chola’ and renovated by Veerapallalai III dates back to 13th century. A holy spring called ‘Gnanatheertha Sunai’ and a sacred tree known as ‘Karunochi’ can be seen. Here, Lord Muruga came to be worshipped as Manthragiri and Shree Velayudhaswamy.

Masaniamman Temple

Masaniamman Temple is situated at a distance of 15 miles away from Pollachi. This sanctified shrine attract large number of devotees.

The idol of Masaniamman is very powerful one and offer blessing to all devotees who have a stunt belief in her. Devotees also expect that Goddess will respond their prayer within three weeks. There is a stone image in the temple representing as a Goddess of Justice with the body of serpent.

Merchants meeting loss in their business, people hassled by enemies, women or men who lost their belongings take bath, sport holy ashes of the shrine, grind red chillies in stone grinder of the temple, smear the paste on stone of Justice called ‘Neethi Kal’.

In the sanctum, the extensive image of Masaniamman lying on her back measures about 15 feet long from head to foot. The gigantic image of Masaniamman is painted with flashy colours.

Here, one can see Goddess Masaniamman in the lying posture. The idol has four hands, two hands placed on the ground, two hands raised above. While the top left hands hold a skull and snake and other two hands holding drum and a trident.

On Tuesdays and Fridays devotees rush to this temple, during Krithigai and New Moon day they undergo special pooja.

There is a historical background for the configuration of this powerful temple. Anaimalai, a place near Pollachi was ruled earlier by the king called Nanan. He treated their people very badly. During his reign he had a very big mango tree in his farm on the riverside of Aaliyar, which was very special to him. He was so particular that nobody was permitted to use neither mangoes nor its leaves.

Once,a gang of girls went to river to take bath they noticed a mango floating on the river which belongs to Nanan's tree, one of the girl picked up and ate the fruit. Even after several pleadings made by her father, instead of excusing her the king sentenced her to death.

After some time villagers in that area formed a female statue in lying posture using sand in graveyard with the remembrance of innocent girl and worshipped as ‘Masani’. Later Kozhinkhosargal defeated king Nanan and destroyed the mango tree.

It is also believed that Lord Rama on his way in search of Seetha was attracted by this powerful temple and made meditation over here which adds glory to this temple. So, once you visit Pollachi don’t miss to worship Masaniamman.

Thirumoorthy Hills - Thirumoorthy Temple

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It is situated 50 Kms from Pollachi and 20 kms from Udumalpet on the highway from Palani to Coimbatore. Thirumoorthy temple is situated at the foot of the hill adjacent to Thirumoorthy Dam. Importance of this temple is three Moorthy Idols originate in same place.

A perennial stream flows by the side of Sri Amaralingeswarar temple and nearby there is Thirumoorthy falls. It is also believed that a few years ago Athari Maharishi along with his wife Anushiya devi lived here. Progressed by their prayer, Lord Shiva together with Brammah and Thiru Moorthigal(Vishnu) came in disguise to test their devotion. Beleaguered by their appearance the couple offered them tribute.

The Thiru Moorthigal refused to accept their offerings as such and demanded that the offering should be made by Anushiya devi in State of undress. She accepted their demand and with her power of devotion she changed Thiru Moorthi's into 3 years old babies and fed them. On seeing the power of devoting Anushiya devi, the Thiru Moorthi's blessed the couple and hence the place is known as Thiru Moorthi hills.

History of pollachi

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In ancient times Pollachi was known as ‘Pollil Vaichi’ which means “The land of natural Wealth and Prosperity” or ‘Porull Aatchi’ (The Land of Wealthy Government). In olden days it was said that everything is sold and bought in market including elephants in a form of barter system.

During the period of Kulottunga Chola III , Pollachi was known as Mudi Konda Chola Nallur (Crowned King). The Subramanyar temple is one of the most ancient temple in Pollachi with a history of about 8 centuries back. You can also come across the name ‘Pollil Vaichi’ in Lord Subramanyar temple. It is also believed that this temple was once a Shiva temple, enshrining Agastheeswaram Udaiyaar, with the festival idol Subramanyar.

A temple dedicated to Mariamman and anothe r to Subramanya are located here. There are beautiful stone carvings like a five hooded serpent, a Yali with a chain from its mouth and carved zodiacal signs in the Subramanya temple.

This town is about 40 Kms from Coimbatore on the way to Parambikulam - Aliyar Project. Next to Coimbatore it is the leading town of the district and an important commercial centre.

dams around pollachi

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Kadamparai Dam
Special permission must be sought to visit this place. Hydro Electric plant at Kadamparai between Pollachi and Valparai is most worth seeing. Many wild species are found frequently in this region. It’s speciality lies in the fact that it is carved out within a single rock, which gives an astonishing view.

Nirayar Dam
Water from Chinnakallar falls gets collected in this dam. It is located in eastern side of Valparai hills 20 km from Valparai town. There are two dams, upper Nerar and lower Nerar which is about 20 km and 15 km from Valparai.

Amaravathy dam

The steep Amaravathy dam across the river amaravathy is 25 Kms from Thirumoorthy Dam. There is a well laid-out park where one may climb the steep steps on the dam to have picturesque view north of the plains below and south to the Annamalai Hills and Palani Hills above. It is being developed as a district excursion center for tourism.

The Amaravathy Sagar Crocodile Farm, established in 1975, the largest Crocodile nursery in India is nearby. Many Crocodiles of all sizes can be seen basking in the sun and suddenly making a stride or piled up on one another. Eggs are collected from wild nests along the perimeter of the reservoir to be hatched and reared at the Farm. Many adult crocodiles have been reintroduced from here into the wild.

aliyar dam

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Aliyar Dam
Aliyar Dam is located at a distance of 24 kilometers from pollachi
Aliyar Dam was constructed in 1962 across the Aliyar river. It is located about 65 Km from Coimbatore and it is found on the foothills of Valparai. Here, Aliyar lake receives water from upper aliyar reservoir through hydro-electric power station in Navamali and the Parambikulam reservoir through a contour canal. Near Aliyar dam, a good-looking park, an aquarium and a mini theme park is being maintained by Tamilnadu Fisheries Corporation. Ambarambalayam Darga is situated at the banks of the river Aliyar.

The dam also includes boating and a children park and a guest house.This is a famous shooting spots