Kolli Hills travel guide: hairpin bends, falls and farms

This Kolli Hills travel guide is for travellers who want a quiet Eastern Ghats hill range instead of the crowds of Ooty or Kodaikanal. Kolli Hills (Kolli Malai) sits in Tamil Nadu’s Namakkal district, reached by a road of 70 hairpin bends, and is known for the Agaya Gangai waterfall, the Arapaleeswarar temple, cool viewpoints and terraced farms of pineapple, jackfruit and medicinal herbs.

Kolli Hills is a forested hill range on the Eastern Ghats in Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu, rising to about 1,200 metres. According to the Namakkal district administration, it holds the Arapaleeswarar temple, the Agaya Gangai waterfall, herbal and horticulture farms and two developed viewpoints, reached by a well-known 70-hairpin road.

About Kolli Hills

Kolli Hills, written locally as Kollimalai or Kolli Malai, is a compact range on the Eastern Ghats. The Namakkal district administration places it “on Eastern Ghats at an altitude of 1200 mts” and about 45 km from Namakkal town. Travel references describe the range as covering roughly 280 sq km, with the plateau broadly between 1,000 and 1,300 metres.

The hills stay cooler and greener than the plains around Salem, and see far fewer visitors than Tamil Nadu’s bigger hill stations. Terraced slopes grow pineapple, jackfruit, coffee, pepper and rice, and the area has a long association with medicinal herbs. This is a working farm landscape, not a resort town, so keep expectations set to small shops, limited signage and quiet roads.

Local tradition links the hills to King Valvil Ori, remembered in the annual Valvil Ori festival held, per the district site, in the month of August. Treat this as local heritage rather than documented history.

Best time to visit Kolli Hills

There are two useful windows. The Namakkal district and Tamil Nadu Tourism sites list the comfortable season as October to March, when the weather is pleasant and skies are usually clear. Outlook Traveller notes that June to October is often preferred because the hills are greenest and the Agaya Gangai waterfall flows strongest after rain.

In short: come after the monsoon (roughly late July through January) if the waterfall is your priority, and October to March for the most settled weather. Avoid heavy monsoon spells, when the ghat road can be slippery and the falls trek risky.

How to reach Kolli Hills

Kolli Hills has no railway or airport of its own, so most people drive up from Namakkal or Salem. A private car or taxi is the easiest way, because public buses up the ghat are limited and infrequent.

By air: The Namakkal district site lists Salem Airport at about 72 km, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) International at about 93 km and Coimbatore International at about 150 km from Namakkal town; add roughly 45 km more to reach the hilltop. Salem is closest but has limited flights, so check current schedules with the Airports Authority of India before planning around it.

By rail: Namakkal Junction, on the Salem–Karur line, is the nearest railhead per the district administration. Salem Junction is a larger hub with more connections and sits roughly 85–90 km from the hills. Confirm trains and timings on IRCTC/NTES for your date.

By road: The district site gives three approaches — via Sendamangalam from Namakkal, via Kallappanaickenpatty from Rasipuram, and via Mettala from Salem. The hairpin road climbs from the Sendamangalam side. Taxi fares from Salem or Trichy to the hills are commonly quoted around ₹1,200 one way as a planning estimate (reconfirm locally).

The 70 hairpin bends drive

The climb to Kolli Hills is the trip’s first highlight. Multiple references, including the district tourism listing, describe 70 numbered hairpin bends on the ascent from the Namakkal/Sendamangalam side. Each bend is usually marked, so you can count your way up.

Drive it slowly. The road is narrow in places, with blind curves and the occasional bus or goods vehicle coming down. Use the horn at bends, stay to your side, and let faster vehicles pass at the wider turns. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit in front and carry water. Early morning offers the clearest air and the least traffic.

Top things to see and do in Kolli Hills

The main sights sit within a short drive of the Semmedu area, the small hilltop hub. Carry cash, start early and keep timings flexible, as these are not ticketed tourist machines.

Agaya Gangai waterfall: The signature sight. Outlook Traveller and the district listing describe a cascade dropping about 300 feet, reached by a steep stairway of roughly 1,000 steps (some visitor accounts count more). The descent takes most people around 30 minutes; the climb back can take an hour or more. Go only if you are reasonably fit, wear grippy shoes, and allow a half-day. The falls run strongest after the monsoon.

Arapaleeswarar temple: An old Shiva temple on the hills, listed by the district administration among the main places to visit and associated with the Agaya Gangai site. Dress modestly and check local timings on arrival, as hours are not published online.

Seekuparai and Selur viewpoints: Two viewpoints developed by the government to promote tourism. Seekuparai gives long views over the Eastern Ghats and sunrises/sunsets, and has a government pineapple research farm nearby; Selur Nadu is the second, quieter outlook.

Farms and herb heritage: The hills are known for medicinal herbs and plants; the district lists a Herbal Farm and Horticulture Farm, and travel references mention a TAMPCOL medicinal farm. You will also pass pineapple and jackfruit plots and small coffee and pepper holdings.

Suggested two-day itinerary

Kolli Hills works well as a relaxed weekend from Salem, Namakkal or Trichy.

• Day 1: Drive up the 70 hairpin bends in the morning. Settle into your stay near Semmedu, visit the Arapaleeswarar temple, then catch sunset at Seekuparai viewpoint.
• Day 2: Start early for the Agaya Gangai waterfall trek while it is cool. Rest and eat afterwards, then stop at the Selur viewpoint and a herbal or pineapple farm before heading down in daylight.

If you have only one day, pick either the waterfall trek or a pair of viewpoints — not both — and leave the hills before dark, as the ghat road is harder to drive at night.

Where to stay in Kolli Hills

Accommodation is limited and clusters around Semmedu. Options run from basic lodges and homestays to a few private resorts; book ahead on weekends and holidays, when the small inventory fills up. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) has announced plans, reported in the press, to develop an eco-resort on the hills, but confirm what is actually open before you rely on it.

• Budget (₹1,000–2,000 a night, indicative): Simple lodges and homestays near Semmedu; expect basic rooms and hill produce at breakfast.
• Mid-range (₹2,500–5,000, indicative): Private resorts such as the ones listed on booking sites around Semmedu, with restaurants and valley-view rooms.
• Government/eco option: Check TTDC for any current Kolli Hills property or the planned eco-resort before booking.

These bands are planning estimates for October 2026 — reconfirm live rates when you book.

Food to try

Expect straightforward Tamil Nadu vegetarian cooking plus whatever the hills are growing. Most stays and small eateries serve South Indian meals rather than multi-cuisine menus.

• Tamil veg meals (sambar, rasam, poriyal and rice on a plantain leaf) — the everyday lunch across the hills.
• Idli, dosa and pongal (steamed rice cakes, crisp rice crepes, a savoury rice-and-lentil dish) — reliable breakfasts.
• Hill produce — fresh pineapple and jackfruit in season, plus locally grown coffee, pepper and honey, which the district notes come largely from the Solakkadu area.
• Attukal kizhangu (a local tuber) — the district site mentions it being sold on the hills, eaten raw or as a soup and valued locally for joint relief.

Budget breakdown

The table below is a per-person planning estimate for a two-day, one-night trip, assuming two people sharing a mid-range room and a shared taxi. All figures are indicative for October 2026 and should be reconfirmed.

Permits and rules

No special entry permit (such as an Inner Line Permit) is required for Kolli Hills; it is open to all Indian and foreign travellers. Carry a photo ID for hotel check-in, as is standard across Tamil Nadu.

At temples, dress modestly and remove footwear where asked; photography inside sanctums may be restricted. On the trek and at viewpoints, follow any local signage, avoid single-use plastic, and carry your waste back down. If you plan to fly a drone, check current DGCA rules and any local restrictions first.

Practical tips and safety

Mobile network and data can be patchy on the hills, so download maps offline before you climb. ATMs are scarce near Semmedu — carry enough cash, and do not assume UPI will work everywhere. For any medical emergency, the nearest well-equipped hospitals are in Namakkal or Salem, down the ghat, so factor in travel time.

Drive the hairpin road only in daylight and in good mechanical condition; brakes and tyres matter on a long descent. On the Agaya Gangai trek, go early, carry water, and turn back if the steps are wet or you feel unsteady — the climb out is strenuous. Solo women travellers generally find Tamil Nadu’s hill areas calm, but the hills are quiet and lightly populated, so keep someone informed of your plans and avoid isolated spots after dark.

Pack layers: light cottons for the day and something warm for cool evenings, plus a rain shell in the greener months. Good grip shoes are essential for the waterfall steps.

Nearby places

Kolli Hills pairs well with the towns and hill stations around Salem and Namakkal.

For more of the state, browse our Tamil Nadu travel pages, and compare ranges across the country in our round-up of hill stations in India.

Frequently asked questions

How many hairpin bends does the Kolli Hills road have?

The Kolli Hills road has 70 hairpin bends on the climb from the Namakkal and Sendamangalam side, according to the district tourism listing and widely published accounts. The bends are usually numbered along the way, so you can count them as you ascend. Drive slowly, as curves are blind and narrow in places.

Is the Agaya Gangai waterfall trek hard?

Yes, it is moderately hard. The Agaya Gangai falls, a roughly 300-foot cascade, is reached by a steep stairway of about 1,000 steps. Going down takes around 30 minutes; the climb back can take an hour or more. Attempt it only with reasonable fitness, grippy shoes, water, and an early start, and avoid it when the steps are wet.

What is the best time to visit Kolli Hills?

The most comfortable months are October to March, per the Namakkal district and Tamil Nadu Tourism sites, with pleasant days and clear views. For the greenest hills and the fullest waterfall, come after the monsoon, roughly August to October, as Outlook Traveller notes. Avoid heavy monsoon spells, when the ghat road turns slippery.

How do I reach Kolli Hills without a car?

Take a train to Namakkal Junction or Salem Junction, or a flight to Salem, Trichy or Coimbatore airport, then hire a taxi for the climb. Buses up the ghat are limited and infrequent, so a private taxi is the practical choice. Reconfirm current trains on IRCTC/NTES and flights with the Airports Authority of India.

Do I need a permit for Kolli Hills?

No special permit, such as an Inner Line Permit, is needed for Kolli Hills; it is open to all travellers. Carry a photo ID for hotel check-in, dress modestly at temples, and follow local rules on plastic and photography. If you intend to fly a drone, check current DGCA regulations and any local restrictions beforehand.

Is Kolli Hills worth visiting over Ooty or Kodaikanal?

If you want quiet over crowds, yes. Kolli Hills is an offbeat Eastern Ghats range with a dramatic hairpin drive, a big waterfall and working farms, but little commercial development. It suits a short, slow weekend rather than a packed sightseeing trip. Choose Ooty or Kodaikanal if you prefer more hotels, dining and organised attractions.

Last updated and sources

Kolli Hills rewards travellers who like quiet drives, farm country and a good waterfall trek, and who are happy with simple stays. Visit on a weekend after the monsoon, roughly October to February, for green slopes and settled weather.

Last updated: 1 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: Namakkal District Administration, Kolli Hills and How to Reach pages (namakkal.nic.in); Tamil Nadu Tourism, Namakkal district (tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in); Outlook Traveller, guide to Kolli Hills (outlooktraveller.com). Verify trains on IRCTC/NTES and flights with the Airports Authority of India. Accessed October 2026.

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