Saturday 28th Feb 2015, This was my second trip to Vellingiri hills . I have been here before on Dec 27th, 2012, Before I started my journey to Chennai for my career. These are very beautiful hills which are home for a variety of flora and fauna. It is told that, these mountains contain numerous herbs which are not found elsewhere and nepenthes too!!!. There is a shiva in swayambhu form( Self manifested) on the top of the summit. The trekking to reach the same takes around 4-9 hours (depending on the ability of the person) crossing 6 hills from the base to reach the 7th. These hills are blends of tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, etc... Hills offers plenty of scenic spots which include, siruvani dam, numerous high peaks, a blend of the western ghats and Attapady Reserve Forest.
We, a group of 5 people started from Saravanampatti, Coimbatore. The group consisted of Anoop, Aravind, Karthikeyan, Rahul and Myself. We started from Karthi's room in an omni by 23:45 and as we reached the central theatre, we were accompanied by four others in their car (It was Ritz I guess). They were Karthi's colleagues, Satish, Tamil Selvan, Thazhuva Kuzhanthai (TK), and Vignesh( Bros if there is any mistake please comment your correct name below). It was TK's bday today, we stopped our vehicle and cut cake near the central theater. Then we started our journey to the base of the vellingiri hills, which is known as poondi, ~ 30 kms from Coimbatore city. Reached the base by 1:30 and took our bags from the vehicles. We bought sticks for our trip, generally everyone ascending and descending these mountains uses a stick as its steep and rough. We made sure that everyone carries as minimum as possible, because you will feel the weight of each and every gram and you ascend. (Not kidding!!!) Then we marched towards the temple in the base, its a shiva temple known a Poondi Shivan Kovil. After offering our prayers we did one circular rotation of the temple and gathered near an office. The guy over there told us to use the sticks present there, each one costed 20 Rs. After picking the sticks of their own choice, we walked towards the entry of the mountain. There was a gate there and a few security guards who checks the bag before we proceed. It was normal checking for finding plastic items if any. Security check done and we were blessed by a saint who was standing before the gate near a shiva and nandhi idol. Our trekking started, torch lights were switched on...
The first hill is tough and the route is made of steps, even though it is steps its tough ;) The entire group was split into three parts. 3, 2 and 4 even though we split up we gathered together then and there or even if one requested for rest. It took us around 45 mins to reach the checkpoint of the first hill. That checkpoint is a Ganapathy temple. Which is surrounded by semi thick forest with high trees and bamboos. Here there is a high chance of seeing various wild animals. There is an elephant trail opposite to this temple. During my previous visit, a few hours before we reached this check point there were sightings of elephants. Since this is a season time( From Sivarathri to ~ May Mid) there were shops at a few locations, where we can get water, buttermilk, biscuit, coffee, etc... Everyone got refreshed a bit and started after relaxing for 15-30 mins. The time was around 2:50, now we continue our trek with second hill. This one is made up of unevenly placed steps, sand and gravel mix, and steps carved in the rock itself. This is a bit thick forest when compared with the first one where you can see comparatively large gap between trees. Everyone walked almost in one single group. We came across two fallen trees in this section. One was bit challenging, it had thrones and was bit high. Few of us didn't wear any slippers or shoes, so we borrowed Mr Vignesh's slipper and as one crosses, he passes the slipper. We gathered on both the sides and kept glowing the torch in the direction where one crosses the tree. Successfully everyone crossed. Proceeded with our ascent, the route was getting smaller. On the way there are few natural water points where you can fill or drink water. This is the first one. We took a small break here. After some time we started and the thickness of the forest was also increasing. We glowed our torch in front of us and walked forward as a key of precaution and pre knowing the route. Moonlight dimed drastically here compared to first mountain. We reached the steps carved in the mountain itself, but similarly to the first checkpoint there is none in the rest of the journey till the lake on the 6th mountain. Instead, there are few places which can be considered as one. As the rock steps got over the route became much smaller and covered with large boulders and huge trees. We stopped for mini relaxation here and there. It took around another one hour to complete the second. As the trekking continues, we reached a section of forest where the path is covered with plants and trees very close by. A two man width route with dense vegetation around. Here begins the 3rd mountain...
This path is surrounded by very close forest, large uneven steps and rocks, and steep slippery sand path. Along this route one can see multiple routes for ascending and descending. Everyone felt the use of the stick in our hand, and here comes where you can witness much more contribution by the stick. We used our torch very efficiently here and in few locations literally you have to keep the torch in your mouth if you can't handle it. Everyone started feeling the pain and weight. It took us a few hours to reach the beginning of the 4th. It is a beautiful place to see the lights glowing in the city area and the stars twinkling above us. The place best for star gazing. There are a few large rocks where you can lie down. Everyone relaxed here for a bit long time star gazing, then we had chappathi and water. The time was around 5:00.
We continued our trek on the 4th hill. It is made up of small bushes and multiple routes. After a while, it's just plain and valleys on both sides. We crossed the cemetery of the one who created the steps along the entire route till 4th hill. Soon after that few of us drank coffee and walked for some more time and we sat on a rock which was on a ledge, and started photography session. Time was 6, everyone ready for watching sunrise, within few mins we saw the sun rising up over the clouds and the sunlight offered us a mesmerizing view of the valley and surrounding hills. It was heavenly beautiful with the clouds flying above the lush forest. The forest consisted of lots of colors of trees ranging from green to maroon.
4th, 5th, and 6th are difficult to separate and each has their own boundary for all those. It would take around 1-3 hours to cross all the three together. As we started after rest we saw the first glimpse of our summit, from here the route is very scenic.
Along this path you can see large boulders, beak shaped rock, a rock similar to Krishna's butter ball in Mahabalipuram. And after a walk for an hour we started our descent to the lake en route to the 7th hill or the summit. From 4th to this lake, one won't require much breaks as it is not that tiresome or tedious. The lake is a mini one formed near a large boulder and a dense forest in its background. One can see the silt rising and depositing as one step into the water. It was very cold, few of us washed our faces and I stood in the water for a few seconds and it was like a chill massage to my leg, sadly everyone else was in slippers and shoes. But it's best not to take risk walking in barefoot if you are not comfortable. One may even face frostnip during the peak of the winter season . After relaxation I opened the packed viboothi or thiruneer, pour some water and mixed up and applied on my forehead and I applied for a few of the group members too. Then we proceeded with trekking, from the lake to the base of the seventh hill it is very easy and was near.
We reached the base of the summit and took a few photographs, and groupie. Then we marched towards our goal, we made plans to summit at a stretch without any stopping by. Now we again got split, it was, according to one's pace. We started... It looked sort of easy, but as we ascend it just goes on and the top looks far away from each location when we looked up. Myself and Anoop pushed our best and we reached maybe mid at a stretch I guess. Now I understood there are multiple factors that decides at a stretch climb. From here you have multiple ways to proceed, one normal up route and the other one the down route. I thought the down route may be easy when compared to up and I suggested Anoop that we will proceed through the descending route and we started our ascend after a small break. It just goes, goes and goes... I later understood that I chose a wrong route and felt sad for Anoop. It was slippery and long. Oh god it has been long since, the route just deviated from the front of the mountain to back side of the mountain. Each and every step felt heavy and literally stopped for a second before taking another step. Felt like we have taken the north ridge route to Mt. Everest. :-P just a kidding comparison. This trek is no way near laughing. Who ever thinks 'awww thats it', it's not easy mate!!! Summit attempt will make you feel that. At last we reached the top. Anoop waved a hand after his first step at the top, followed by me and I guess it took around 20-30 mins.
It's beautiful indeed. The summit offers beautiful scenes like grasslands, peaks in the surrounding hills, siruvani reservoir, lush green forest on one side and mixed color forest on the other side. Then we marched towards the grassland near the entry route and kept our bag and sat down. Oh god, what a feeling, really feels like we are in heaven when resting on the top of the summit. Followed by us Tamil Selvan reached the summit, and Rahul. After around ~10-15 mins of waiting I thought to search for others to see how far are they. I walked towards the descending route to see whether they are coming in this route. Saw no one and returned back. While I was returning back, I got stuck in the small crowd who were watching the Pooja for Shiva and Parvathi. I was not allowed to cross, I too watched and it was for around fifteen mins. I saw Vignesh and TK standing opposite to me, soon after the Pooja the saint applied viboothi or thiruneer to all. Later I walked towards our resting area, and I saw Karthi and others resting. We bought with us oranges and apples too, along with chappathi. It was not carried by one person since, that cannot be done, we split things and carried from the base. We all ate & got refreshed and stayed here for a while, few were sitting, and others lying down. I guess we all reached summit by 8:45 and everyone rested till 9:30. Here at the summit, one can feel both the chillness and the sun's heat. The climate was superb with a mild breeze gently crossing us.
We decided to start back as it will be scorching hot during descent, we started descending from the summit via the entry route and it was easy. Our mission was to reach the bhajji kadai ;) :D, which is below the summit. Almost everyone made descending quickly and had Bhajji and coffee. Later on we filled our water bottles too. We started from there and reached near lake and took some rest there. We started ascending to 5th hill and the climate was awesome with clouds passing by, we made the descent after that, rested here and there, and finally all of us reached the base by ~13:15-14:30.
Vellingiri Trip is an awesome adventurous trip, it really tests your self confidence and it motivates in your life and the trip itself can change your life. It's worth the challenges. :)
Terrain Toughness | Medium |
Risk | Low |
Endurance Lvl | Medium |
Self Sufficiency | Medium |
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