First day second Half in manjolai trip -- Manjolai Trip - 3

We went to nalu mukku for two reasons. First one was to order our lunch, dinner in a mallu hotel (Really a good one. If you inform them in advance, they prepare nice food. Morning 6.30 to night 9.30) and the second was regarding our stay at nalumukku. Both the work were done with in 30 min. Eventhough it was 12.30 no one was feeling hungry. So we planned to roam.


In front of the hotel with the owner (Right extreme)


Path from nalu mukku to kothaiyar

From nalu muuku we planned to go to kotahiyar. Kothaiyar is the main and very big catchment area. This dam is situated in kanyakumari district. Near the dam there is an E.B guest house. Those who want to stay in a remote place, can request for the permission from the EB for this suite. Really worth staying.

One lake is there just below the dam. They are pumping water from the lake to the dam, then utilizing that water for power generation. (not always this system works. When the water level in the dam falls below certain level, at that time this system starts working)

Lake below the dam

We had a nice time over there. Then we went to the view point. That is really amazing. From the view point you can spot many dams. (peachi paarai, peruchani, noyyal). There is a winch, operating from that point to lower kotahiyar. What you are seeing below is a view point. Those pillars were holding a view point - building. Because of some problem government demolished the view point building.

View Point

This is also from View point

Near the winch (see the colour of those trees)

Then we went to one more small dam called kuttiyar dam. By that time it was 4.30. The conditions of the road was pathetic. Only trained guys can drive over there.

Kuttiyar Dam

Kuttiyar

We rushed to nalumukku to have our lunch. (@ 5 ;-( ).

Surprisingly full meals was waiting for us there, that too with moore kolambu....I filled my stomach like anything. The driver told us we have to go to "oothu" before sunset. (hey one more view point ma....). Time is 5.40. We started from nalumukku to ooothu, hoping that we will reach the spot before the sunset... Small intro about the place "oothu" - We can spot lot of wild animals on the way to oothu if we are lucky!!!

let us c what happened on that day......

Guess what is this??? (set more contrast & bright in ur system to c this ;-) )

First day in our manjolai trip -- Manjolai Trip - 2

Hi frens!!

Hope u have seen the photos I have uploaded in my previous blog. In this blog I will explain our journey experience & how we spent two days here. (Most of the places in manjolai are not covered by GSM/CDMA service provider. U r totally isolated. Ok lets start our journey from tirunelveli!!!

Saturday (11/02/2006) early morning 5.45 we started from tirunelveli in the sumo. We packed all the necessary items which include water, snacks & bedding.

We reached ambai by 7.00. We ordered our break fast in hotel gowri sankar. By 7.30 we started from ambai to manimutthar. While traveling towards manimuthar my cousin karthik wishes to visit singampatti zamin palace. The driver was very co-operative. He arranged a meeting with Singampatti zamin. (We din expect really this from the driver). The meeting was extended up to 9. We visited zamin’s museum, palace & anthapuram.

Zamin Palace - Back end view

Zamin's Corridor

Olden day's weapons

Darbar Swords(not used for war purposes)

Elephant Skull

From manimutthar police check post

After our royal meeting with the zamin we rushed to manimutthar. The dam was full because of the early rain in the place. While entering in to manimutthar, there is a police check post. If you are going by ur private vehicle till manjolai, u have to carry the permission letter. Plenty of water, no one was there in the manimutthar water falls. We really enjoyed the bath after a long time.

Manimutthar Dam

On the way to manjolai

Then we headed towards manjolai. (The journey takes one hour from manimuttar to manjolai). We had our break fast in side the forest. The journey was too good. We spotted some wild animals on the way. We din met any two wheeler/four wheeler in our path till we reached manjolai. (except some workers who are laying the road there) Climate was little hot. Initially we thought why others told us to carry warm cloths? In some places our ear got blocked because of the height. From that spot the temperature started falling down.

Around 12 we reached manjolai. We reached the spot...Now what to do???

Manjolai - Unrevealed heaven of south tamil nadu -- Manjolai Trip - 1

I have been to MANJOLAI last week. I wanted to share my experience with all of u.
A brief intro is needed for manjolai. (Eventhough my native is very near to this place I have not been here till now) It is situated near southern tip of western ghats. Lots n lots of greenary - Tea plantaion, where ever u turn ur head u can spot only one colour that is green.

There are some view points from this, u can spot so many dams situated near by.

Height 6000ft MSL
Temperature Very chill
Road condition Poor (now they are laying roads there)
Emergency needs Nothing (puncture,fuel etc etc everything we have to take care)

In my next blog I will explain about our trip in detail. Enjoy our trip photo in this blog.


Date of journey : 11/02/2006 – 12/02/2006

Places covered : Tirunelveli – Amba samudram – Singam patti - Manimutaru - Manjolai –Kakachi - Nalu mukku – Kuthirai vetti – Upper Kothaiyar – Kuttiyar

Transportation : TATA sumo

Number of persons : 4

Required Permission:
Prior permission from forest department is compulsory if you are traveling by private vehicles. (Forest office located at ambasamudram – No contact address with us)

Transport available:
Government busses are available. Frequency of them is very less. (Reliability too). Even though it’s costlier, better arrange some local transport like sumo. Those drivers will take care about the permission from the forest officials and will show all the places nearby manjolai.