Kolli Hills is a range in the Eastern Ghats in Namakkal district, rising to roughly 1,200 to 1,300 metres. It is not a polished hill station. There is no mall road or toy train; there are farms of pepper, jackfruit, pineapple and millets, a handful of viewpoints and a very long road up.
That road is the first thing visitors remember. The climb from Karavalli involves about 70 hairpin bends, and the air cools noticeably as you go. At the top, the main sights are spread out: the Arapaleeswarar Shiva temple, the long stairway to the Agaya Gangai waterfall, the easier Masila Falls and viewpoints at Seekuparai and Selur Nadu.
The hills also carry a lot of local history. They appear in classical Tamil literature, are named after the goddess Ettukai Amman (Kollipavai), and are tied to the chieftain Valvil Ori, who is remembered every August with a festival.
This is a slow destination for families and older travellers who are happy with limited facilities. Most visitors come for a night or two. Be honest about stairs, motion sickness on the ghat road and the lack of formal amenities, and plan around one main outing per day.
Before you plan
Kolli Hills at a glance
- Best months
- August to October for freshAugust to October for fresh, flowing waterfalls; November to February is cool and drier. Open through the year, with the pre-monsoon months warmer.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days and 1 night for the main sights2 days and 1 night for the main sights; 3 days if you want to trek
- Airport
- TiruchirappalliTiruchirappalli (TRZ), about 130 to 140 km by road; Salem and Coimbatore are alternatives
- Railway station
- Salem JunctionSalem Junction (SA), about 88 km; Namakkal station is about 45 km from the hills
- Getting around
- A hired car or taxi is easiestA hired car or taxi is easiest; local buses run up the hills from Namakkal and Salem. Distances between sights on the plateau are short but roads are narrow.
- Daily budget
- Modest by hill-station standardsModest by hill-station standards; most cost comes from hiring a vehicle from the plains. Check current rates locally.
- Senior comfort
- Moderate: the ghat road can cause…Moderate: the ghat road can cause nausea and the Agaya Gangai stairway is demanding, but temples, Masila Falls, the lake and viewpoints are manageable
- Language
- TamilTamil; Wikipedia lists Tamil and English, but expect limited English at small sights
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Kolli Hills: August, September, October. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Kolli Hills itinerary
One good day
1 day in Kolli Hills
Drive up early from Karavalli, stopping at viewpoints on the hairpins. Visit Arapaleeswarar Temple in the morning, then decide whether to descend to Agaya Gangai; if not, have an early lunch and go on to Masila Falls. End the afternoon at Seekuparai viewpoint and drive down before dark.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Kolli Hills
Take the ghat road in the morning, check in near Semmedu and visit Arapaleeswarar Temple. After lunch, walk to Masila Falls at an easy pace and finish at Seekuparai for late light.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Kolli Hills
Drive up, check in, then visit Arapaleeswarar Temple and Ettukai Amman Temple. Rest in the afternoon and walk locally.
Day-by-day plan →
