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An
isolated, attractive picnic spot in the Eastern Ghats is the Elagiri
Hills, at an elevation of about 1,000 metres. A salubrious climate; scenic
surroundings and a quaint Murugan temple are some of the attractions of
this place. Located quite near to Chennai, this serves as an ideal
location for a weekend where one could organize one day or two days'
trekking.
Attractions Of Elagiri Hills
A church with exquisite craftsmanship and a beautiful park adorn these
hills as an ideal tourist spot. There is a small lake for boating.
Trekking In Elagiri Hills
The trek route from Elagiri Hills to
Jalagambari Water falls
at the downhill takes a couple of hours and is recommended for starters.
Another trek route to Jalagambari, runs through villages, will take about
four hours. This trekking trial is recommended for normal trekking. A trek
through the forest to reach the peak is a little tedious.
Air: The nearest airport is at
Chennai.
Rail: It is situated 25-km from Jolarpet Junction, on
Chennai -
Coimbatore rail track.
Road: Elagiri is part of Javad Hills of Eastern Ghats. One can
reach Alangayam, a village situated at the foot of the hills. From
Vaniyambadi, buses go to Alangyam, from where a Ghat road leads to top of
Javad Hills, surrounded by thick sandalwood forests. This steep road leads
to Kavalur, where an Astronomical Observatory is situated. By trekking,
one can reach the southern part of Javad Hills and reach Polur, a Taluk
(also spelt as Taluka) headquarters, which is about 30-km from the temple
town of Thiruvannamalai.
A solemn summer resort, this place has comfortable lodging houses and rest houses.