Yatra to then kailayam, A memorable experience.                         (15^th August 2013)

An un explainable vellingri hills trek.

Hai iam sathya@sathyaseelan advocate from pondicherry. Iam very eager to share my vellingri hills yatra experience with u guys.

For past several months and years iam planning to trek vellingri hills which is said to be then kailayam . so this year due to august 15 as independence day  (holiday) I made a plan to trek to vellingri hills. So in order to execute  my plan I made a call to my friend senthi who is residing in Chennai who had an experience in trekking to vellingri hills for 2  to 3 times  and I had conveyed my plan about treking to vellingri. He asked me to fixe a date for ours trekking. I fixed august 15^th of 2013 to trek. Senthil told about our trek to his friends and they also liked and willing to join with us at coimbatore Gandhi puran bus stop. I informed senthil to make all arrangements for the trekking.

On 14^th august afternoon I went to Chennai to meet senthil who is waiting for me at Rohini Theater. After I met him we both arrived to Chennai central railway station to catch cheran express which goes to coimbatore. There we met mr.          friend of senthil who is waiting for us with train tickets and joined with us. We reached coimbatore around 5.45 a.m, the next morning. There we met Mr. Arun and  Mr.Raj  a friends of Mr.   Who came to join with us.

We reached poondi temple (foothills) popularly known as arulmigu vellingri andavar temple from coimbatore gandhipuran bustand around 8.15 a.m,. After taking a small bath and having ours breakfast around 9.15 a.m, we were ready to begin the trek. The trek was quite thrilling due to the following reasons – mist at the top of the hills, chance of landslide. Movements of elephants, chance of bear attack and slippery due do rain………

We started our trek to vellingri hills from the base of poondi temple (foothills) at 9.30 a.m,. It took almost 1 hour to reach the first hill we were almost tired started feeling pain so plan to have a rest for 5 mins there. From there on steps were available only in few areas. There is a small stream at the end of 2^nd hill. At the end of the 3 hill we decided to have rest/break for a while and after 3 hours of hiking we are seemed too be tired and hungry. The first 3 hills are full of rock steps and it’s difficult to move up.

In the 4^th hill there are no steps at all and route was so hard we have to hike in between bushes to reach the 4^th hill. Any ay we managed to reach the 4th hill and took rest for 10 mins and again started to trek.

5^th and 6^th hills its not so steep. It’s almost a plain area, there are more beautiful places between the 5^th and 6^th hills from here on the breeze was cool and pleasant. The opposite hills and valleys looks beautiful and gives us a spectacular view. The misty clouds passing across us was an amazing no words to express we have to feel it. At the end of the 6^th hill there is a small stream were we decided to have a bath in freezing water. It was cold at 1.40 p.m, water was tasty and clear. What a taste ……..

From the 6^th hill we can see the top of the 7^th hill. After spending 10 mins there we moved on crossing a small thicket and started the final climb. After a minute senthil asked us to remove our slippers. So we kept our shoes and slippers behind the bush and started hiking. The path was too difficult and slippery to walk, it could have been very tough to walk with shoes and slippers.

           

En route we got to see huge rocks precariously jutting out the ground. There are few abandon huts here. As we moved on we found two very small temples with a couple of thrisoolams it looked like we need to walk few meters but took more time with a lot of pain. We took a few more stops sorry I took a few more stops to reach the top hill. Finally reached the top at around 2.30 pm. It took 5hrs to reach top the breeze and view was spectacular.

After making a small pooja to vellingri andavar we decide to have some snacks and rest for a while. Around 3.30pm we had our snacks as our lunch and started to get down. Getting down was as hard as hiking. It took 3hrs to reach poondi temple (foothill). After minutes of relaxing at the foothills we got a little relief from pain and started from there at 7 p.m, and reached home by 8 a.m, next morning.

This is my first trekking to vellingri hills and it was a great experience for me and for my friends tooooooo and thanks a lot to senthil who guided me to trek to vellingri hills.

About velingiri:

Mount Velliangiri is a part of Western Ghats containing natural herbs and all kinds of natural flora and fauna, can be enjoyed here. Here, on the top of the hill, under a natural cave, which is nearly 6000 feet above the sea level, Lord SHIVA is worshipped in the form of natural (Swayambu) Linga. This Linga is surrounded by adjoining four lingas. So it is named as " PANCHALINGAS". This cave can be reached after crossing seven hills. During the annual pilgrimage season, devotees in large number, throng this place day & night. The experience which one enjoys here can be compared with the " Amarnath Yatra" of the North. Here too, Lord SHIVA personifies in the form of Linga inside a natural cave. This place is also called a " Dhakshina Kailash", The pilgrimage season lasts for four months in a year (i.e) from February to May, corresponding to the Tamil month between Masi and Vaikasi. A fabulous and must-visit place for all trekkers.

Festivals in Velliangiri Hills :

festival celebrated during the pilgrimage season(between 14th  January and chitra pournami): thai pongal, thai pusm, maha shivaratri, panguni uttram, tamil new year, st may, chitra pournami additionally all other important kind festivals are elaborately celebrated at the poondi temple (at the vellingri foot hills).

A unique feature of Dakshina Kailash is the annadhanam organised by the Arya Vaisya jewellers for the past two centuries, for four days during Mahasivaratri. It is now carried out with all earnestness and enthusiasm, by the jeweller community and the Lala group.

Poojas in vellingri hills:

Daily 7.am milk abishekam at poondi temple.

Daily 12.pm uchikala pooja at poondi temple.

Daily 6.pm savankala pooja  at poondi temple.

During pilgrimage season regular poojas on 7^th hill.

Yatra period:

The beast season for undertaking this pilgrimage is between the first of the month of January 14^th and may. Climing this hills is easier during this season. Snowstorms, hails and severe chillness make it difficult for the pilgrims to climb on other days. One can leav by 6 a.m, in the morning and reach the summit by 10 or 11 a.m, it is possible to reach the foothills by 6 p.m, if one starts climbing down by 2 p.m, after worshipping the lord.

People climb this hill every full moon day and new moon day at dawn and climb down by dusk. They usually go in groups 10 to 15 members. Carrying a rain coat, a plastic sheet, food items, water bottles, a torch light and a bamboo staff will be help full. Very few springs are available in the hills. So its better to carry enough drinking water.

The forest is the home for wild animals like elephants, bears. Panthers, wild buffaloes, black monkeys and snakes. So, one has to be very cautious. Its advisable not to go alone.

There are no shelters on the hills and so climbing down before it gets dark is a must.    

Staying in vellingri hills:

There are many common shelters at the poondi foothills so, the pilgrims can stay there previous night and begin their trek early in the following morning. (or) Tourists can unpack at the economical standard hotels available in Coimbatore.

General Information about Velliangiri Hills :

Location: Coimbatore

State: Tamil Nadu

Capital: Chennai

Language: Tamil, Hindi, English

Temperature: Max 40˚C, Min 27˚C (summer), Max 29˚C, Min 20˚C (winter)

Best Season: November to March

Getting Velliangiri Hills :

At present special buses ply between Coimbatore and Poondi only on festive occasions. Coimbatore is on the international circuit with flights connecting it to Sharjah. On the domestic front it is connected to Kozhikode, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. The place is also well connected by both rail and rail.

How to Reach Velliangiri Hills :

By Air:

Coimbatore Airport is situated at a distance of 12 km from the heart of the city and is well connected with the key cities of India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Kozhikode (Calicut). An international flight, to Sharjah (UAE), also operates from here. From the airport, you can either hire a taxi or take an auto rickshaw to the main city.

By Rail:

There are two railway stations in the Coimbatore city, Coimbatore Junction and Coimbatore North Railway Station, of which the latter is the main one. Many important trains pass through the city, like Trivandrum New Delhi Kerala Express, Trivandrum-Nizamuddin Express, Coimbatore-Nizamuddin Kongu Express (Delhi bound), Kanyakumari-Bangalore Express, Bangalore-Coimbatore Intercity Express (Bangalore bound), Chennai- Coimbatore Cheran Express, Chennai-Coimbatore Kovai Express, Chennai-Coimbatore Intercity Express (Chennai bound) etc.

By Road:

Coimbatore is a place that is easily accessible by road. The State Transport Corporation and a lot of private operators operate regular bus services between Coimbatore and all the major cities of Tamil Nadu and also the states of Kerala and Karnataka. If you want to drive down to the city, keep in mind that NH47 is the main highway that connects it with the rest of India.

My trekking photos: