Travel Guides
nothing lonely about the planet
Anaimalai
(Tamil Nadu)
In the shadow
Looking at the Ulandy Range from a distance, one can only wonder at nature's extraordinary generosity in crafting these forests on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. The foliage is in shades varying from bottle green and jade to a touch of emerald. Get closer and you can see the leaves rustling in the wind. The rustling arouses myriad birds, which begin to call in varying pitches, their soft calls wafting gently over the valleys.
You're in Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over nearly 1,000 sq km on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border and stomping ground of the elephant. The sanctuary has one proverbial foot in Tamil Nadu in Anaimalai and the other in Parambikkulam in Kerala. So an added bonus is you'll get to enjoy the piquant delights of the three jewels of Parambikkulam the Parambikkulam, Thoonakkadavu and Peruvaripalam dams.
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Distance(s):
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- 446 km South from Bangalore more info...
- 56 km from Pollachi
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Route |
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How to Reach |
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Road:
NH209 connects Bangalore direct to Pollachi via Kanakapura, Chamarajnagar, Satyamangalam and Coimbatore, but the going is slow over the hills. NH7 via Salem is faster and better serviced
Being almost 600 km from Chennai, road is not an option for a weekend break
Rail:
Nearest railhead: Coimbatore Best option TO Kanyakumari Express (dep: Bangalore City 9 pm; arr: Coimbatore 4.50 am) Best option FROM Bangalore Express (dep: Coimbatore 7.50 pm; arr: Bangalore City 5 am)
From Chennai
Nearest railhead: Coimbatore Junction Best option TO Cherian Express (dep: Chennai Central 9.45 pm; arr: Coimbatore 6.10 am) Best option FROM Nilgiri Express (dep: Coimbatore Junction 8.30 pm; arr: Chennai Central 5.15 am)
Air:
Nearest airport: Coimbatore (96 km/ 2 hrs). Taxi charges Rs 1,600 for a drop
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Content Source:
Outlook Traveller
Contributed by:
Sunaad Raghuram
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