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Enjoy Trekking at Kolli
Hills
CHENNAI: In an attempt to
attract more tourists and promote eco-tourism,
the Tourism Department, along with the District
Administration and Forest Department, has taken
up initiatives in Kolli Hills in Namakkal
district. The initiatives include creation of a
botanical garden, improving a lake in
Vasalurpatti and boating there, landscaping near
Arapaleeswarar temple, providing of hand rails
along the way to Akasa Ganga waterfalls, a
trekking shed near the falls, and development of
the approach road to Maasilla waterfalls, say
forest officials. A total of Rs.4.3 crore was
allocated by the Tourism Department for taking
up the activities. Apart from this, the Forest
Department is improving a seven-kilometre
trekking path between Kolli Hills and Karavalli
RF, which is slowly becoming a popular location
in the small hill stations, the forest officials
say.
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Talking
about the trekking route, Ashish Kumar
Srivastava, District Forest Officer, Namakkal,
says it was medium trekking which could be
covered by in about three to four hours. Though
not much wildlife is sighted in this part of the
Eastern Ghats, one can still enjoy the trek, he
says. At present, a large number of college and
school students and NSS volunteers show keen
interest in the trekking programme. The Forest
Department is planning one camp a month for
which the number of participants will be
restricted to 30, adds Mr. Srivastava.
