The Green Peaks

Meghamalai,Theni, Tamilnadu  

Meghamalai is commonly known  as  the  "Highway Mountains." Meghamalai is a beautiful place located in western Ghats, in the Theni district near Kumali , Tamilnadu. It is dotted with cardamom plantation and Tea gardens. At an elevation of 1500 meter above sea level, and it is rich in flora and fauna. The area , mostly planted with tea plants, including cloudland,  highwavys, venniar and the manalar estates belonging to the wood briar groups. This place is perfect  getaway to beat the heat and enjoy some peaceful time and the nature. The evergreen forest  this place is filled with the fresh aroma of cardamom, pepper,  cinnamon, and tea garden. Meghamalai offers many opportunities for visitors including  trekking, mountain walk,  birds watching, and wildlife spoting etc....There are large number of private tea and coffee plantations in and around Meghamalai. Which provides plenty scope for leisure walks. Best time to visit meghamalai October to May.  

Meghamala is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. There is a range of vegetation in the foothills, ubiquitous areas of tea and coffee estates, spice gardens, and finally upland dense evergreen forests. The Meghamala forest is home to a wide variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. Resident and migratory elephants are also common. There are hundreds of species identified. Spotted deer, barking deer, sambar deer, indian flying fox, indian giant squirrel, Black baza, Great pied hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, Gaur, Black - naped hare, Bengal tiger, Dhole, Drongo Cuckoo and Pied Thrush etc... 

Places to see when going to Meghamalai

    Vellimalai 

Vellimala (Silver Mountain, 1,650 m) is the heart of the Meghamalai region. Silver-striped clouds seem to rest gently on the top of the green hill, which is where the Vaigai River originates. The place offers the opportunity to see the lush green tea gardens that treat the wildlife aesthetically and scientifically. 

    

Meghamalai,Wildlife Sanctuary

 It  is one of the popular place of wildlife in Tamilnadu. Among the top meghamalai tourist place, distance of 3 Km  from the meghamalai bus station. Covers an area  of around 63000 hectares. This wildlife sanctuary is located at the border of tamilnadu and Kerala, it is act as a the buffer zone for periyar tiger reserve in Kerala. It is one of the must includs place in meghamalai tour package. Sharing it's boundaries with srivilliputhur grizzled squirrel sanctuary and periyar tiger reserve in Kerala.  Wildlife found on the Sanctuary include Oriental honey buzzard, great pied hornbill, Indian brown mongoose, Jerdon's palm civet, white-bellied short-wing, black-naped monarch, pied thrush, Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Asian elephant, mouse deer, Ghatixalus asterops, Raorchestes beddomii, Raorchestes ponmudi, Ramanella triangularis, Ramanella montana,Calotes grandisquamis, Hemidactylus anamallensis, Salea anamallayana, Kaestlea travancorica, Kaestlea laterimaculata, Uropeltis madurensis, Uropeltis liura, Calliophis nigrescens, large-scaled pit viper and the enigmatic Hutton's pit viper. Besides the wood snake is  Point Endemic to meghamalai wildlife sanctuary visting time 7 am to 5 pm... 

Meghamalai Tiger reserve

On April 6, 2021, the Government of India approved the creation of a new Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu, and on April 11, 2021, the Meghamala Tiger Reserve was created. Meghamalai Tiger Reserve will now comprise both the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary & Tirunelveli Wildlife Sanctuary. With the new status of Tiger Reserve, Meghamala Tiger Reserve has become the Fifth Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu and the 51st Tiger Reserve in India. With the establishment of the Meghamala Tiger Reserve, wildlife conservationists hope that the Vaigai River, which originates from the Meghamala, will also get more protection. The Tiger reserve will also be known as the Meghamalai-Srivilliputhur Tiger Reserve. 

 Manalar Dam

Manalar dam is an artificial dam situated in meghamalai.   It is one of the famous tourist place to visit in meghamalai. At a distance  from 4 KM  meghamalai bus station. This is a small hill town of meghamalai boasts of 6 dam  alongwith  countless waterfalls, which are perennial, Irravangalar dam  manalar dam and  highwavy dam are the most popular ones. Surrounded by tea plantation. The manalar dam is peaceful place  to spend time in amidst nature. The manalar across  suruli river also  known as the manalar river. It's water capacity 13.5 million m3.  The rainy season one can  witness the majestic  flow of water. The dam provide  birds  eye view of the cumbum ravines and the village in theni  district. It is also an ideal  place of photographs and pre- wedding  photoshoot. Boating  facilities are available here. timing 7 am to 6 pm...

Maharajamettu

Maharajamettu is a popular vintage point in meghamalai, located at venniar tea plantation. It is one of the must visit place in meghamalai. At a distance of 1 KM from Iravangalar dam and 17 Km from meghamalai bus stop. Maharajamettu provide wonderful view of the varusanadu hills, tea garden and cumbum valley. This area is maintained by tamilnadu forest department, to pay entry fees to enter the view point. From the road , one need to cover about 400M to reach the viewpoint. This place provide panoramic view of entire mountain range. Timing  8 am to 5 pm... Entry fee Rs 10 for person.

Meghamalai,View Point

Meghamalai view point  is a picturesque spot. Distance of 11 KM from meghamalai bus station. This place one of the best and scenic beauty of place to visit in meghamalai. Tourist need to do a short trekking  to reach out to the spot. From the view point , one will get  beautiful views of  surrounding  plains, large tea garden and  mist  covered mountains. There are no shops. you must carry  an essential amount of food and water etc...Besides you can conduct camp fire and  spend memorable  night with  your family, and friends with proper guidance. Timing 7 am to 6 pm.

Highwavy Dam

Highwavy dam is an artificial dam situated in meghamalai. It is one of the tourist places in meghamalai. At the distance 1 km meghamalai bus station. Highwavy dam is the most popular  that one can visit as part of meghamali tour package. Surrounded by tea and coffee plantations. The dam was built in the year 1978CE, it's warer capacity is 2.4 million m3 during the rainy season we can witness the majestic  flow of water , that attracts the tourists every year. The scenic mountains cuddled on either side of the road that leads to the dam will make visitors fall for this place.  Timing 7 am to 6 pm....

Chinna Suruli Falls

The chinna suruli falls is located  thick green  forest at the foot hills of the meghamalai range. It is also known as cloudland falls,  It is originates in the  meghamalai hills. The fall cascade down  from a height of about 190 feet and is two tiered falls. It is not safe  for visit this falls after sunset  because there are  instance of  frequent sighting of wild animals. Elephants, spotted deer, gourds and other wildlife are regularly visited in the morning and evening. Best time to visit chinna suruli falls  from October to December. By October  the waterfall  filled the brim, which makes  it look even more beautiful. At a distance of 3 km from kombai thozu, 44 km from theni, 69 km  from meghamalai. This fall is picturesque  water fall located at kombai thozu village near theni. Chinna suruli fall  situated in  between meghamalai and theni.. Timing 6 am to 5 pm...

Iravangalar Dam

The dam is a perfect place to spend some time in solitude amidst nature. Iravangalarm dam surrounded by tea plantation and misty hills. It is one of the scenic dam in tamilnadu. The distance of 18 km  from meghamalai  bus stop. This dam is man -made reservoir, situated  at iravangalar village. The dam is maintained by  tamilnadu  electricity board. It is a perfect gateway  to get drenched in the beauty of the prosperous green valleys and mist. Irava galat is around 60 km from theni in meghamalai hills. It still  includes  large an touched  remnants of evergreen forest.  Timing 7 am to 6pm...

How to reach Meghamalai

The Meghamalai  can be approached two ways—from Theni via Chinnamanur, or Andipatti via Kandamanayakkanur. Both can be accessed by road from Madurai and Dindigul. Theni is 76 km from Madurai.  Only forest lodges and panchayat rest houses are located on the top of the hill. Day travelers can stay at hotels in Theni, Chinnamanur and Andipatti. It is located at a distance of 130 km from Madurai.