Manjolai: An amazing untouched hill station

A trip to Manjolai is worth the visit. There are many small waterfalls amidst lush greenery all the way to the top. The place has not been, however, disturbed by mankind and the birds with their cries and chirps welcome all visitors to the place. Manjolai is also called the ‘poor man’s Ooty’. This place is a hill station above the Manimuthar Dam.

Manjolai Tea Estate falls within the vicinity of Manimutharu town in the Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu. The Manjolai area is set within the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve at altitudes that range between 1000 and 1500 metres in the Western Ghats.

PLACES TO SEE

1. Kuthiraivetti: The place is about 8 km. from Nalumukku. There are three dams at the place. The peak is a very windy viewpoint. The Manimuthar, Karaiyar Dams and Servalaru Dam can be seen from this place. The valley below the point is dense forest. Beyond the mountains are Kakkachi and Manjolai. There is a watchtower on the peak.
2. Manimutharu Dam and Manimuthar Falls: The falls is near the Singarampatti Zamindar’s residence.
3. Singampatti Zamin: It is actually the residence of the present Zamindar, Raja Theerthapathi.
4. Agasthyar Falls: Is in Papanasam. There is a Shiva Temple, known as the Papavineshwara Temple at the top of the fall. This temple is an ancient one and it is believed that some of the Siddhars are present in the temple. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi had appeared before Sage Agasthiyar at this place.
5. Vaana Theertham Falls: Situated in Kariyar it is about 20 km. from Agasthiar Falls. To reach the falls, there are boats available at Kariyar. The boats are available from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
6. Upper Kodaiyar Dam: Water is pumped up to this place from Lower Kodaiyar. Water from Kuttiyar Dam, a smaller dam in the forest is drained through pipes to Lower Kodaiyar. A bit further, through the desert, there is a viewpoint from where Pechippara, Perumchanni and Chittar reservoirs are visible; The glorious Agasthiyar Mountain can also be seen from this viewpoint.
7. Paramporul Ayya Narayana Swamy Thiru Thangal (Tharuma Pathi) Temple: This temple is situated in  Upper Earmalpuram
8. Mupudathi Amman Kovil: This temple is also located in Upper Earmalpuram.
9. Golf Course: There is a natural golf course at Kakkachi, on the way to Manjolai estate.

TIME TO VISIT

Manjolai can be visited all the year round. In summer (March / April), it will be hot during the day but the temperature declines and is very cold in the night.

FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION

This place is not often visited and as such, there is only an estate teashop where snacks and tea are available. This tea stall caters to the local estate employees and to the wanderlust that arrives in the place in trickles. Accommodation at the base of Manjolai estate is provided by the State Tourism department in a place called Singampatti Zamin. There is a guest house in Kuthiraivettai which has to be booked in advance. The place behind the Guesthouse is a great place to view elephants, bears, sambar deer and wild boars.

HOW TO GET THERE

The nearest major city is Tirunelveli, which is a two hour’s drive and 57 km. away from Manjolai Estate. There are buses from Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram and Manimuthar.  Local taxies are available and these operators will have the necessary passes and permits. The place is accessible from Ambasamudram which is 50 km. away and Nagercoil. The nearest railway station is in Tirunelveli. The nearest airport is in Tuticorin, which is 223 km. away and at Madurai,150 km. away.

TRAVEL ADVISORY

Permission from the Forest Department is required for going to Manjolai estate and Kuthiraivatti. This can be arranged with the State Tourist Department. There are monkeys at Manimuthar Falls and visitors have to be careful of their belongings. Plastic carry bags are frowned at and it is better to carry food in packing containers that can be destroyed after the adventure. To visit Kodaiyar Dam, permission has to be availed from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board officials.