Thirumoorthy Hills Trip – Mar 30, 2008

Afraid that I might land up in hell due to my numerous sins, my mom was insistent that we should see Murugan to get salvation. Mom was sure that Chitragupta was working overtime for me. I too thought it’s a good idea to on a trip with my side of the family as only a week before I had gone on a trip with my wife’s side of the family (Eh!!! What all one has to do to balance everything, though as long as it is a trip I don’t mind joining any family).

After visiting the famous abode of Lord Murugan in Palani, as we had packed our lunch too, we thought we would go to Thirumoorthy Hills, which is around 25 km from Palani.

Thirumoorthy Hills form a part of the Anamalai range of the Western Ghats. It consists of 3 places of interest – Thirumoorthy Temple, Panjalinga Falls, and Thirumoorthy Dam.

Legend says that a few thousand years ago, sage Athari Maharishi along with his wife Anushiya Devi lived here. Moved by their prayer, Lord Shiva along with Brahma and Vishnu (3 moorthis or Thirumoorthy) came in disguise to test their devotion. Overwhelmed by their appearance the couple offered them their tribute. The 3 moorthis refused to accept their offerings as such and demanded that Anushiya Devi should make the offering in nudity. She accepted their demand, and with the power of her devotion, she changed the 3 moorthis into babies and fed them. On seeing the devotion of Anushiya Devi, the 3 moorthis blessed the couple and so the place gets its name. There is an old temple here on the foothill.

One has to climb around 2-3 km to reach the Panjalinga Falls, but it’s worth the climb as the water there is fabulous, but only during the winter and rainy months the falls will be in full force.

Thirumoorthy Dam is a nice place for a one-day outing from Coimbatore. It has boating, a nice place to have your lunch (of course, you should pack your lunch as there are no good hotels out there), and the drive there is ultimate. From Coimbatore, you can either go to Udumalpet and go from there or take my favorite, the more interior and scenic route that goes through the villages. The drive is simply great with the whole route surrounded by sunflower gardens, coconut groves, and paddy fields.

Distance: 160 km (to and fro)

Route: Coimbatore = Pollachi = Poolanginar = Thali = Thirumoorthy Hills.

Expenses: Again, depends on the size and appetite of the family you take :-)

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