ArcherMill7063 at 18:36, 5 September 2025

2025-09-05T18:36:21Z

New page

{{short description|Mountain range in India}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kollimalai
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Hill Station
| image_skyline = Kollimalai milagu Thottam.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Kollipavai
| nickname =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Tamil Nadu
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|11|19|47|N|78|23|36|E|type:adm3rd_region:IN_dim:20000|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Region]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts in India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kongu nadu]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Namakkal district|Namakkal]]
| subdivision_type4 = [[Taluk]]
| subdivision_name4 = [[Kollimalai]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 383
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1300
| population_total = 99500
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 637411
| registration_plate = TN 28
| website =
| footnotes = Tamil and English spoken
| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2017}}
'''Kolli Malai''', also known as '''Kolli Hills''', is a [[hill station]] and [[taluk]] in [[Namakkal district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

==Origin of the name==
The hills are named Kolli Malai after the goddess Etukkai Amman (also known as Kollipavai), who guards the hills with her divine protection.{{cn|date=November 2021}}

==Historical references==
The Kolli Hills are featured in several works of classical Tamil literature such as ''[[Silappathigaram]]'', ''[[Manimekalai]]'', ''[[Purananuru]]'' and ''[[Akananuru]]''. Mahavidwan [[R. Raghava Iyengar]] in the research monograph ''Araichi Katturaigal'' has given exhaustive references to Kollipavai from early [[Sangam literature]], concluding that her image is in Kolli Hills. The region was ruled by [[Valvil Ori]] around 200 CE, who is praised as one of the seven great philanthropists of ancient Tamil Nadu. His valor and marksmanship are sung by several poets, and his exploits are a popular part of folklore. Ori is said to have killed a lion, a bear, a deer and a boar with a single arrow.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

The hills are said to be guarded by Kollipavai, also called Ettukkai Amman, the local deity. According to legend, the sages chose Kolli Hills when they were looking for a peaceful place to do their penance. However, the demons invaded the hills to disrupt the penance when the sages began their rituals. The sages prayed to Kollipavai, who according to the myth, chased away the demons with her enchanting smile. Kollipavai is still worshipped by the people here, and her smile is revered. The hills have several mythological legends associated with them, and often come across as an eerie place in contemporary tales due to the unexplored and less traveled terrain. These hills are full of herbs which retains health and vigour. E. D. Israel Oliver King of the [[MS Swaminathan Research Foundation]] has documented over 250 sacred forests in Kolli Hills in the year 2005.{{cn|date=November 2021}}

==Infrastructure==
[[File:34th Hairpin Kolli Hill road.jpg|thumb|34th Hairpin on the Karavalli - Kolli Hill road]]
[[File:34 Hairpin Kolli Hills.jpg|thumb|The 34th hairpin on the way to Kolli Hills]]

The Kolli Hills are a taluk and form a part of Namakkal district. [[Semmedu]] village is the headquarters for the [[Kolli Hills block]] and Semmedu is connected by road from [[Namakkal]] and [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]]. Nowadays the bus service is provided up to Arappaleeswarar Temple. BSNL (earlier DOT) established the first telecommunication networks (LDPCO) in 1977, and the telecom facilities have been continuously expanded to meet the requirements of the Kolli Hills.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

==Farming==
Apart from its historical significance, the hills are covered with tropical moist mixed evergreen forests, but increasing areas of forests have been cleared for farming. Farm products of the hills include [[black pepper]] and other [[spices]], [[jackfruit]], [[banana]], [[pineapple]], [[Orange (fruit)|oranges]], and [[tapioca]],. Rice and minor millets (foxtail, finger millet and little millet) form the staple food of the tribal people who inhabit these hills. The jackfruit grown on the hills is well known for its taste and fragrance and is often soaked in wild honey that is also harvested from the hills.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

==Reserve forests==
The hills are covered by green vegetation in the spring and monsoon and are streaked with streams.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} There are three reserve forests that are controlled by the government of Tamil Nadu: Ariyur Solai, Kundur Nadu, and Pulianjolai.

==Religious significance==
[[File:Arapalli.jpg|thumb|Arapaleeswarar temple]]
[[File:Boat ride kolli.jpg|thumb|A serene pond]]

The hills are a site of pilgrimage, because of the [[Arapaleeswarar temple, Kolli Malai|Arapaleeswarar temple]], which is believed to have a secret path to the Shiva temple in [[Rasipuram]]. This Shiva temple is said to have been built by Valvil Ori in the 1st or 2nd century CE when he ruled this area. "Arappaleeswara sathakam" is a poem which praises Lord Arappaleeswarar. It is believed that this temple existed during the Sangam period itself.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

According to legend, the [[Shiva linga]] in the temple was found when a farmer was ploughing his land. It is said that the farmer accidentally hit the Shiva linga while ploughing, and that led blood to ooze out of the statue. The small wound is said to be visible on the Shiva linga even today.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

There is also a temple for Ettukai Amman or Kollipavai, which is one of the oldest in the town.

==Tourism==
[[File:Masila Falls.jpg|thumb|Masila Falls on Kolli Hills]]
[[File:Stairs AgayaGangai.jpg|thumb|Stairs leading to Agaya Gangai Waterfalls]]
[[File:Namma Aruvi.jpg|thumb|Namma Aruvi falls]]

Kolli Hills is visited by nature lovers, hikers, trekking clubs, tourists and meditation practitioners among hill stations in Tamil Nadu.<ref>[http://www.chennaitrekkers.org/2009/04/kolli-3-march-28-29-2009.html Chennai Trekking Group's visit to Kolli Hills]</ref> [[Agaya Gangai]] is the waterfall situated near the Arappaleeswarar temple.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Rangan |title=Agaya Gangai Waterfalls in Kolli Hills of the Eastern Ghats — a nature lover’s paradise |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/places/agaya-gangai-waterfalls-situated-in-kolli-hills-of-the-eastern-ghats-in-tamil-nadu-is-a-paradise-for-nature-lovers/cid/1932862 |access-date=13 May 2023 |agency=The Telegraph |issue=My Kolkata |date=28 April 2023}}</ref>

==Surrounding places==
Under the foothills of the Kolli Hills, many small and big towns exist. From these places the hills are visible in a panoramic view, and the climatic conditions of these places are influenced by the climatic conditions of the Kolli Hills. The following are a few of the towns surrounding the Kolli Hills: [[Namakkal]], [[Kalappanaickenpatti]], [[Belukuruchi]], [[Sendamangalam]], [[Rasipuram]], [[Namagiripettai]], [[Thammampatti]], [[Mullukkurichi]], [[Vairichettipalayam]], [[Thuraiyur]], [[Puliancholai]], [[Thathaiyangarpet]], and [[Pasarikombai]]. All these places are well connected by bus services.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

People of Kolli Hills come down by foot with their produce to the foothills of Kolli Hills, where they sell their produce and go back after buying their required materials. This activity takes place in settlements like Karavalli, Belukurichi, [[Pavithiram]], Thammampatti, and Puliancholai. People from various surrounding places of Tamil Nadu come to Belukurichi to buy the products of Kolli Malai.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

==Flora and fauna==
Forests here are rich and diverse. Higher up the slopes, patches of [[tropical evergreen forest]]s occur, and Ariyur Solai is one such. These forests are home to several species of endemic trees and plants. Kolli Hills is said to have the largest expanse of evergreen or ''shola'' forest cover anywhere in the entire southern part of the [[Eastern Ghats]]. Several coffee plantations, fruit orchards and silver-oak estates occur in this region.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jayakumar |display-authors=etal |title=Kolli Hills flora |url=http://www.tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_43_2/43213.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903042117/http://tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_43_2/43213.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=3 September 2016}}</ref>

Wildlife in the region includes the [[sloth bear]], [[barking deer]],{{specify|reason=which species?|date=January 2023}} [[slender loris]],{{specify|reason=which species?|date=January 2023}} [[Indian pangolin]], [[jackal]]s,{{specify|reason=which species?|date=January 2023}} [[mongoose]]{{specify|reason=which species?|date=January 2023}} and [[palm civet]];{{specify|reason=which species?|date=January 2023}} many [[reptiles]], including [[endemic species]] like the lizards ''[[Draco dussumieri]]'', ''[[Varanus bengalensis]]'', and ''[[Calotes calotes]]'', the endangered ''[[Python molurus]]'', and rare, non venomous [[snake]]s of the family [[Uropeltidae]], including the recently discovered ''[[Uropeltis rajendrani]]'' and ''[[Rhinophis goweri]]''; and a number of birds, such as [[crested serpent eagle]], [[Indian grey hornbill]] and [[laughing thrush]]. Among the lizards, ''[[Hemiphyllodactylus kolliensis]]'' and ''[[Hemidactylus kolliensis]]'' are [[endemic]] only to Kolli Hills.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

==See also==
* [[Paul Brand (physician)|Paul Brand]]
* [[Agaya Gangai]]
* [[Masi periasamy]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Kolli Hills}}

== Further reading ==
* R. Raghava Iyengar, Araichi Katturaigal, New Era Publications, Chennai, India (1987).

{{Eastern Ghats |state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Hills of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Mountains of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Eastern Ghats]]
[[Category:Namakkal district]]
[[Category:Hill stations in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu]]

Kolli Hills - Revision history

ArcherMill7063 at 18:36, 5 September 2025