Palani

Amidst too many tourist places in South India, Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu stands as one of the most scenic mountainous regions. Located in the Dindigul District, this place offers some breathtaking nature’s views and ecologically friendly landscape. The region is also home to several species of beautiful birds like golden-back woodpeckers, night herons, and egrets. A paradise for adventurers, Palani is an admired spot for trekking, hiking and camping. Hordes of pilgrims also visit Palani to seek blessings at the revered shrines. This tourist guide offers interesting tourist information about Palani.

Palani stands about 112 km. from Madurai and about 152 km. from Tiruchirappalli. This sacred town is home to one of the holy six “padai veedu” temples of Lord Murugan. A significant population of this town constitutes ardent believers of Lord Murugan. Palani is also noted for practicing Indian medicine known as ‘Siddha Vaidyam’ – that has developed from primitive times by the ascetics living in the hills. This fertile land is a part of the prehistoric mountain range that is made of rock composition like charnockite, gneisses, and schist. At the eastern portion of the Western Ghats, Palani Hills are home to the nomadic Paliyan tribes, who still prefer living in caves. Summers are moderately hot while winters are pleasant to explore various attractions of Palani.

October to March

Palani Hills: Stretching over an area of about 2,068 sq. km., Palani Hills are exquisite terrains in the Western Ghats. The lower slopes of the hills feature coffee plantations. The two streams Amaravathi and Vaigai flow from these hills. These hills are home to some rare species of plants, birds, butterflies and amphibians and are among the must visit places at Palani. Palani Murugan Temple: Palani is particularly famous for this temple that can be reached by climbing around 670 steps on the hill summit. The alternative option is Haulage Winch or the small rope train that reaches the temple. Built by Cheraman Perumal of the Chera Dynasty, this temple was later renovated by the Cholas and Pandyas between the 8th and the 13th centuries. The mandapams and gopurams are the new additions. Some of the magnificent sculptures were installed by the Nayaka kings. The mesmerizing view of the Palani town is visible from the top of the hill. Bison Wells: This wildlife zone is home to Indi

It is quite obvious that Palani has South Indian restaurants that serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies. There are handful eateries that also satisfy the Chinese and North Indian palates. One special sweet dish of Palani is panchamirtam that is made of five fruits. Fresh fruit juices are available in almost all eateries and in the stalls near the temples. Coconut is found in abundance here.

Our travel guide suggests you to take home the most loved panchamirtham and fresh fruit juices. People also make sure to take holy vibhuti, medals of Muruga and photos of holy shrines back home. Apart from these, local shops also sell handicrafts, toys, textiles and other items.

Nearest airport to Palani Hills is the Coimbatore International Airport, which is about 100 km. away from the town. Coimbatore airport is well connected to all the major Indian cities and taxis can be availed from there to reach Palani. The place boasts of excellent road and rail connectivity. Palani has its very own railway station that is connected to Coimbatore, Madurai and Palakkadu. There are many state transport corporation buses that connect Palani to nearby cities. Private deluxe buses ply to and from Trivandrum, Madurai, Chennai, Kanyakumari, and Coimbatore. For sightseeing in Palani, you can rely on local buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws.

Kodaikanal (about 65 km.): Kodaikanal is one of the most beautiful hill stations in south India. The dense forested region has exquisite flora and fauna wealth along with many water bodies and rocky terrains. Kodaikanal is popular for its homemade chocolates, eucalyptus oil, plums and pears. Ooty (about 190 km.): One of the finest hill stations in India, Ooty has a plethora of tourist attractions like tea gardens, lakes and vantage points. It is the honeymooner’s paradise and also apt for travellers who are fond of trekking, hang gliding etc. Madurai (about 112 km.): This temple town of south India is mainly known for its Meenakshi Amman Temple, where countless devotees throng throughout the year. Gandhi Museum, Vaigai Dam and Alagar Koil are some more tourist spots of the place. Topslip (about 82 km.): This tourist destination lies on Annamalai mountain range and is visited by travellers who love birds, nature and wildlife. One can enjoy, trekking and boating, elephant safaris and visit elephant training camps. It also has unique treetop houses.