Places in and around
Anaimalai
The road from Pollachi brings you to the Sethumadai Checkpost, which allows you entry into the Anaimalai Sanctuary. Pay your entry fee, then drive 7 km down the road to Top Slip, the headquarters of the Ulandy Range. Top Slip is about 35 km south-west of Pollachi. The Top Slip Reception Centre (Tel: 04253-2442410) at the base of the hill checks reservation slips and guides visitors to the forest rest houses scattered around its precincts. You can park your car here, pick up info about the park. You can also book and start your jeep safaris to Top Slip, Karian Shola, Mt Stuart Block, Kolikamuthi Elephant Camp and the Varagaliar Elephant Camp from here. As you head up the mountain stretch leading to Top Slip, you will be awestruck by the sheer beauty of the Pandaravarai and the Kolambu Malai mountains. Top Slip's highlight, though, are the evergreen patches of forest at very low elevations, which harbour some extremely rare species of fauna. It's particularly enchanting at night, when, with a little luck, you will be able to spot spotted deer, wild boar, barking deer, the Nilgiri langur, and the lion-tailed macaque. At the Karian Shola, the heart of the evergreen part of Top Slip, you will find that most wondrous of birds, the Malabar pied hornbill, Tamil Nadu's flagship species, whose beak resembles a mammoth scythe. About 3 km to the west of Top Slip is Mt Stuart Block, a good place to sight bears, whose droppings and pug marks you can see even near an ancient Forest Department bungalow. Perhaps your guide can even show you the grave of Hugo Wood, a British officer who ensured that new saplings of teak were planted and nurtured after every bout of timber extraction. On his tombstone is inscribed (in Latin), If you want to see me, look around. In case you have reached Anaimalai by private vehicle, these are not allowed inside the sanctuary. you will have to leave your vehicle at the Top Slip Reception Centre or at your forest rest house. Trips into the forest areas can only be made in the forest department jeeps two Swaraj Mazdas that each seat 25 people. Entry fee Rs 5 Vehicle entry Rs 10-20 Safari fee Rs 25 Timings 6 am to 6 pm Warning The consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited within the sanctuary
Kolikamuthi Elephant Camp
About 7 km out of Top Slip, past Mt Stuart Block, this camp is home to nearly 50 Malasar tribal families. The Malasars are expert elephant handlers. Entry is by forest jeep only. Contact the Wildlife Warden, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, 365/ 1 Meenkarai Road, Pollachi, Coimbatore District (Tel: 04259-225356). Entry fee Rs 25
Varagaliar Elephant Camp
Home to 21 pachyderms, this camp for domesticated elephants is 24 km deep on the fringes of the core area of the forest. These creatures are used in conflicts between man and elephant in the nearby Valparai Plateau, where intrusions by elephants into tea gardens are becoming a frequent affair. Generally out of bounds for regular tourists, the enthusiast can take a chance by seeking special permission from the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Tel: 04259-225356), Pollachi, to get here. Get a ride in the forest jeep (Rs 25 per person) as you cannot take your own vehicle into the main forest.
Parambikkulam and Thoonakkadavu
Continuing down the forested road from the Top Slip Reception Centre you will arrive at the Anappadi Checkpost, which marks your entry into the Parambikkulam Wldlife Sanctuary. Again, pay your entry fee here. Where there's a dam, there's a backwater. In this case, all of 18 sq km. It's great fun watching otters slip in and out of the waters. Don't make the mistake of sitting on funny-shaped logs, which are probably crocodiles lying in typical regal crocodilian lethargy. Take a forest jeep at Rs 25 per head to explore the region. The drive up to the Parambikkulam Dam will leave you spellbound. There are spectacular views to be had of the Sungam Range and the Nelliapadi Mountains as you look towards Thoonakkadavu, and the Karimalai, Kalyanathy and Vaidi mountains beyond the Parambiar Valley. Note that the Divisional Forest Office (XIII/34, Anappadi, Parambikkulam; Tel: 04253-277233) here is the only place where you can make bookings for stay, safaris, etc. They have no city office. Apart from exploring the jungle trails, you can also take a boat ride on the Parambikkulam and Thoonakkadavu lakes. Contact the DFO at Thoonakkadavu (Tel: 0491-2556393) for boating. Entry fee Rs 5 Vehicle entry Rs 10-20
Trekking
The quaintly-named Elephant Song Nature Trail from Anappadi to Karian Shola and back and the Bison Trail from Anappadi to Seechali are soft treks that last about two hours (Tariff: Rs 10 0 for 5, plus guide). The Kannimara Trail from Anappadi to Kannimara Teak via Thoonakkadavu and the inspirationally named Flying Hooves Nature Trail (Anappadi-Parambikkulam-Earth Dam-Karimala-Anappadi) are medium treks that take half a day (Tariff: Rs 150 for 5, plus a guide). These two guided treks cost Rs 200 for 5. For nature walks and treks, contact the Reception Centre at Top Slip. Centre timings: 6 am-6 pm.
Kannimara Teak
Having traversed nearly 7 km westward into the forest, alongwith your guide which is mandatory on a narrow, pebble-ridden path, you will suddenly gasp in disbelief at the sight of one of the biggest naturally growing teak trees in the world, reputedly over a hundred years old. Nearly 50 m high, and with a circumference of 6.52 m, it takes five adults to encircle it with their hands outstretched! It's actually won awards. The Indian Government bestowed upon it the Mahavruksha Puraskar in 1994-95
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