Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

About:

Tamil Nadu has a varied and diverse topography, which supports a variety of flora and fauna. About 18 percent of the total geographical area of the state is under forests. These forests stretch over the plain and the mountains. Dry-deciduous forests, scrubs, thorn forests and mangroves are spread over dry lands while the Western Ghats and other cooler regions support moist deciduous, wet evergreen forests, grasslands and Sholas (Sholas are a form of montane wet temperate forests, which occur predominantly in sheltered pockets of the Nilgiris and Upper Palni areas of Tamil Nadu).Located at a distance of 122 km from Madurai, Palani Hills are of great religious importance for Hindus. The major attraction of the hills is a temple, dedicated to Lord Subramanya. The temple is situated on top of a hill, reached by a flight of 659 steps. It is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga and devotees from across the country visit the place in huge numbers. There is an interesting legend about how the place came to be called as Palani. The story revolves around Narada Muni, a sage who visited the court of Lord Shiva and Parvati.The Palani Hills National Park, Tamil Nadu ranks among the well known national parks in India. Located in the Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, the national park consists of a varied range of flora and fauna. A large number of tourists and nature lovers embark on wildlife safaris to the Palani Hills National Park, Tamil Nadu to get a feel of the scenic beauty.The Palani Hills National Park in Tamil Nadu is spread over an area of around 736.87 square kms and was established in the year 2007. The vegetation of the park mainly comprises tropical forests and grasslands. The government as well as various wildlife agencies have taken sincere measures to conserve the flora and fauna in the national park.There are various types of flora and fauna in the Palani Hills National Park. The sprawling vegetation in the forest provides an ideal habitat for various species like wild boars, elephants, Nilgiri Tahr, gaurs, giant squirrels and so on. Various reptiles are also found in the forest. The rivers and lakes in the forest are habitat for a large number of fishes.The Palani Hills National Park, Tamil Nadu is an important stop of the itinerary wildlife tours in Tamil Nadu. The ideal time for coming to the national park is between the months of October and March when the weather is dry with scanty rainfall. The place is the ideal time to sight animals and birds. The national park can also be easily reached and there are wildlife resorts and lodges where tourists can stay.He brought a golden mango, known as Jnanapalam, along with him and gave the miraculous fruit to them. Lord Shiva announced that whoever amongst Lord Murugan and Lord Vinayakar completes a round of the earth first, will get the fruit. Lord Murugan immediately took for the journey on his peacock whereas Lord Vinayakar denoted his parents as the world and took a round around them. This is how Lord Vinayakar got the fruit. Murugan felt cheated, left his home and became a recluse.He traveled to Palani Hills in anger, and then Lord Shiva called him as Pazham Nee i.e. the fruit itself. This is how the place came to be known as Palani. The deity of Lord Subramanya Temple is in the form of a sage, standing with a stick in his hand and is called Dandayudhapani. The statue was made by Muni Bhoga, by mixing Nine Poisons called Navapashanam in a specific proportion. The idol thus contains miraculous powers.The abhishekam water and the sandal paste is said to cure diseases like asthma and leucoderma. Anything which comes in contact with the idol is said to be charged with divinity. Therefore, people flock to the temple to realize their dreams and to satisfy their desires. Devotees from all over the nation visit the temple with Kavadi, to please the Lord and to be blessed. A number of rare herbs of medicinal value also grow on the slopes of the Palani hills.

Location info:

Address:Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary,Dindigul ,Tamil Nadu,India

District:Dindigul

Nearest City:Dindigul

Best time to visit: September to March

Climate/Weather:

Temperature is high varying from 26o C to 38o C.

History:

In the early 1990s, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department submitted a proposal to the State government to protect much of the Palani Hills by declaring the area a wildlife sanctuary or a national park.The Sanctuary has been under consideration of the Government of India in consultation with the Government of Tamil Nadu since 1999.The actual park boundaries have not been finalized.

Interesting things to do:

Interesting things to Visit:

Palani Hills:
Palani Hills is part of the oldest mountain range that can be found in India. This mountain range dates back to the prehistoric Pre-Cambrian period and is made up of such rock types as gneisses, charnockites, and schists. Located in the southern portion of India, the Palani Hills portion of the mountain range is named well since it is a terrain that is more hilly than actually mountainous. It is found on the eastern portion of the Western Ghats. You will find that the green plant life is utterly breathtaking and pristine in this location.Dindigul Fort:
Presently the fort is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India and decalred as a protected monument.The fort is open for the tourist. The height of the Rock Fort is 900 feet. Climbing in thefort is tedious and once the visitor reaches the top, blowing fresh breeze welcomes them.Tribes:
Nomadic Paliyan tribes people have been seen living in some of the several caves in Manjampatti Valley. Paliyan people can be seen near Kukal Cave. The Tamil speaking Pulayan are referred as the MalaPulayans, a group categorized as scheduled caste by State government of Tamil Nadu. Their traditional livelihood is foraging yams and small gaming in the nearby forest areas combined with cultivation of several species of minor millets in small plots located near their hamlets to meet their subsistence requirements.Other Places:
Anju Veedu, Thalaiyar, Skamba, Silver Cascade, Pambar, Neptune rapids, Glen, Fairy, Bear Shola and Bamen.

Mobile range info:

How to reach?

Nearest Railway Station:There is a small rail head at Palani but, it is advisable to travel up to Dindigal or Madurai by train and take the bus route or taxi to reach Palani.

Nearest Airport:Madurai situated at a distance of 119 km from Palani.

Road Transport:Palani is well connected by road with all important cities in Tamil Nadu. There are regular buses to Madurai, Coimbatore, Chennai, and Dindigal,

Nearest Visiting places:

Muruga Dhandayuthapani Temple:
Palani has been mentioned in Tamil Sangam literature as “Podhini”, which came to be called as Palani later. This temple is situated in Palani Town and a Taluk in Dindigul District. It is an ancient and very big temple getting a large income among all the temples in TamilNadu. This temple is one among the six Padaiveedus (abode) of Lord Muruga.that is the third Padaiveedu namely Arulmigu Thiruvaavinankudi temple which is one of the subtemples of this temple. Many “Siddhas” are said to have lived in this region. The idol of Palani Andavar is said to have been made of “Navapashanam” by Siddhar Bogar. Thai Poosam and Panguni Uthiram are very famous festivals and a large number of devotees are coming here for those festivals. 38 sub-temples are attached with this temple. It belongs to 9th century and the king namely Cheraman Peruman constructed this temple.Begampur Mosque:
Begambur Big Mosque is situated near the south gate of the famous Dindigul Fort, which is located on the outskirts of Dindigul city. Begambur Big Mosque.During the rule of Hyder Ali, he constructed three Mosques, one for himself for Namaz, 2nd for his soldiers underneath Rock Fort and 3rd in the south of Rock Fort for public and gave more grants for the maintenance and upkeep of the same.In 1766, Ameer un Nisha Begum, the wife of Killedar MirRiza Ali khan and the younger sister of Hyder Ali Bahadur, was dead and buried in the Mosque compound itself. This Mosque was named Begampur (meaning ‘royal lady’) in memory of Ameer-un-Nisha Begum. This part of Dindigul is known as Begampur.Sirumalai Hill:
Sirumalai is a small hill station 20 Km away from Dindigul on the Natham Road. The place has a lot of birds and animals and the youngsters can go for trekking and mountaineering here.The place is mentioned in the ancient Ayurvedic books as a place abundant with many medicinal plants. The Siddha form of healing has been developed on these hills by the sages a thousand years back. The hill has a cool climate.Parapalar Dam:
Dindigul District (Tamil Nadu) is an administrative region in the south of Tamil Nadu, India. The district was carved out of Madurai District in the year 1985. The district is famous for its lock and tannery industries.Varathamanathi Dam:
The Varattupallam reservoir is located at Varattupallam near Anthiyur of Tamil Nadu. The Varattupallam reservoir is eventually depleting due to failure of rain in Bargur hill area. The reservoir was designed several years ago with the purpose to store rainwater coming from Bargur, Thamaraikarai, Kalmaduvupallam, Thattakarai, Mamarathupallam and other areas in the Bargur forest areas. The Varattupallam reservoir usually stores more than 30 feet of water, with a capacity of about 3 TMCFT of water. During the rainy season, when the reservoir contains enough water, animals like elephants, deer and other wild animals visit this area to have their fill of water.Nadupatti Anjaneyar temple:
This is located in Nilakottai Taluk. 35 Km from Dindigul. This can be reached from Madurai also. This Temple is near river side. Most of the time the statue will be in water.Kodaikanal Hill:
Kodaikanal is one of the most popular hill resorts in India. It is a charming hill station, stands amidst sylvan beauty on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. With its rocks, woods, lovely lake and bracing air, Kodaikanal is an ideal hill resort for the tourists.The unique flowering plant ‘Kurunji'(Strobilanthus Kunthanus) that last bloomed in 2004, is nature’s gift to Kodaikanal. Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerises any visitor and is frequented all through the year.Abirami Amman Temple:
This is located in the centre of the city. During Navarathri, Goddess Abirami will be on Kolu. There will be One Lakh Archana to the Goddess Gnananibikai. During the Fridays of Tamil Adi month there will he a Procession of Goddess Abirami on a flower Pallak.Periya Nayagi Amman Temple:
Periya Nayagi Amman temple is one of the important temples in Palani. It is one of the sub temples of Dhandayuthapani Swamy devastanam. During festis als. .season many people visit the temple. The temple architecture is itt unique Nayak style, with the Periya Nayagi Amman at the centre and other deities in the same row. There are lots of sculptures with excellent art work. The Main Mandapam is constructed with lot of tall stone pillars carved with huge idols of Lord Muruga in many forms. There is no big Gopurams like the Chola ones in Nayaks architecture. The main Raja gopuram is not built only the foundation is visible. Many of the small gopurams found in this temple were built by Dhandayuthapani Swamy devastanam at a later period.Sri Kottai Mariyamman Koil:
It is more than 200 years old. The Mariamman idol is said to be installed by the army men of Tippu Sultan at the foot of the mountain. The temple is constructed in the shape of a square. There is a temple for Vetri Vinayaka at the South & Lord Muruga at the North of this temple. There is a Mandapam Hall in the center of the ground in which there is a sculpture of a Lion facing the Sannidhi. The Sanctum is small & square shaped. There are several sculpture on the sniper structure over the. Sanctum Sanctorum, depicting various incarnations of the goddess Mariamman.Sri Kaalakatheeswarar Temple:
Even though the temple is very old, it cattle into lime light during the period of Thirumalai. Naicker who renovated several temples in and at around Madurai. God Kaalakatheeswarar and goddess Gnanambika are the presiding deities here. It was a practice to bring the idols of Abhirama Devi & Padmagiri Nagar from the mountain to this temple & Celebrate the festival of brahmasaram in the month of chitrai.Thadikombu Perumal Temple:
This is 5 Km. from Dindigul on the way to Karur. During Chitra Month, Lord Alagar will have 12 days of specal Pooja. Full moon day of the month Lord Alagar will be on the processing of Ethir servai.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Petrol Pump:Periyakulam, Theni, Tamil NaduNM Petrol pump:NH 209, Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tamil NaduNG Pudur Petrol Pump:SH 21, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Tamil Nadu Hotei:Fernhill Road, Kodaikanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu,Ph:04542 241336Vels Court Hotel:29, Ayyampulli Road, Adivaram, Palani, Palani, Tamil NaduFortune Pandiyan Hotel:Race Course Rd, Madurai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu,Ph:0452 2537090The Residency Hotel:1076, Coimbatore, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu,Ph:0422 2241414

Things to carry:

Tips & Suggestions:

Help Line/Phone Number:

Police Station:Palani Town Police Station:SH 83,Palani, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu,India

Nearest Hospital:Government Hospital:NH 209,Palani, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu,India

Society/Community Phone Number