Manjolai: The Unknown Hill Station Gem of India
This gorgeous hill station is home to some of the most pristine forests in the Western Ghats. It’s climate, rich flora and fauna are influenced by the winds coming from all the three oceans surrounding the Indian mainland – Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It receives rains almost every month of the year. It receives rains from both the South West and North East monsoons, but since most of its valleys are facing the east, it receives bountiful rains during the North East monsoon. It is considered a giant during the North East monsoon and rivals most of the monsoon giants of the Western Ghats like Talacauvery, Chinakallar, Agumbe, Masthikatte, Castle Rock, Amboli, Malshej and Chorla for its annual rainfall. I am talking about the relatively unknown hill station of Manjolai that is located in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of South Tamil Nadu.
Manjolai is located at an elevation of about 4000 feet above MSL in the Western Ghats. It is part of the catchment area of the Thamirabharani river and its tributaries. It’s rain water run-off feeds the Manimuthar Falls and the Manimuthar Dam. It is a beautiful mix of tea estates, fruit orchards and tropical evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. During the British rule, tea was first planted on this hill station and it was managed by the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation (BBTC). BBTC was given a lease by British India and the Singampatti Zamin for a period of 100 years in the year 1925. The salubrious climate allowed the tea estates to prosper and this gave birth to the tiny temples/churches, schools and houses in this hilly hamlet. Today, the 100 year old lease has come to an end and the government has decided to close the tea estates and restore the place back to its original glory. Manjolai will now come under the control of the Tamil Nadu forest department and the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
While this is great news for the forest, wildlife and for the catchment area of the Thamirabharani river, I feel sad for the people who used to call Manjolai their home. The government has planned to relocate them in the plains below, but I think it will be very tough for them. I hope the people of Manjolai can be employed in the forest department and PWD in the same region so that they feel some continuity with the region.
This is the last year before civilization disappears from Manjolai and it completely becomes a forest. Not that the civilization was huge here, but the tea estates, the iconic Manjolai rusk with lemon tea, the pretty little homes and the hill station vibes, they will all be missed for sure. But, I hope that as the forest and the region regenerates, we and our future generations can hopefully experience the Manjolai of the old before tea estates were part of the landscape. And I am sure, it will positively influence the weather patterns of the region and result in more inflows into the Thamirabharani river, which is the lifeline of South Tamil Nadu.
If you wish to experience this unknown hill station called Manjolai, visit soon, before the landscape changes and the hill station vibes disappear. Whether it is the winding and scenic drive from Manimuthar Falls to Manjolai, the amazing weather, the lush landscape, the yummy home made rusk, the raw nature, the umpteen waterfalls and the tiny village look n feel, there is so much to like about Manjolai.
For me, I love the fact that it one of the most prettiest virgin forests in the Western Ghats. It’s surroundings that are home to umpteen mountain streams and waterfalls carry some of the sweetest water in the region and that holds medicinal value too as it flows through medicinal herbs and plants. In simple words, it is a tropical forest paradise that is untouched by the burgeoning population of India. Manjolai, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and the connected Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is one of Western Ghat’s well preserved secrets and may be, that is why I love what this place has to offer. Don’t you wish to see and experience this place for yourself?
Best season to visit:
Manjolai is open all year round and can be visited in all seasons. Summers are incredibly pleasant and are a far cry from the hot plains below. The rainy season between October and December is magical here and this is when close to 3000 to 5000 mm of rain precipitates in three months and dresses up the surroundings in fresh green with full water bodies and waterfalls. January and February offer clearer weather with low humidity and this allows for clear views of the spectacular landscape that includes tea estates, forests, mountains, waterfalls and dams. June to August is when Manjolai is at its windiest best due to the winds blowing during the South West monsoon.
How to reach there:
If you are traveling from Tirunelveli, head towards Cheranmadevi and Kallidaikurichi. Just before Kallidaikurichi railway station, turn left and take the road leading towards Manimuthar. You will cross Golden nagar, Thekku Pappankulam, Tamil Nadu Special Force IX battalion and Manimuthar village. If you head straight from Manimuthar village, climb the narrow road and you will reach the forest check post at Manimuthar Dam. You will have to get your permits checked here, pay the necessary fees and then drive onwards towards Manimuthar Falls, Manjolai, Kakkachi, Nalumukku, Oothu and then onto Kudrevetty.
How to get permits for this place in KMTR:
To travel to Manjolai, Kakkachi, Nalumukku, Oothu and/or Kudrevetty, you will have to get permits in advance from the forest department at Ambasamudram. The permit costs INR 200 at Ambasamudram and you will have to pay vehicle fee and per person charge at the Manimuthar forest check post. The forest check post opens at 7 AM and closes at 6 PM.
If you book a room at the forest rest house in Kudrevetty, then that booking is good enough and you don’t need to get the permits in advance.
Where to stay:
If you wish to stay within the tiger reserve, you can book the forest rest house at Kudrevetty through the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve website.
If you wish to stay in traditional Brahmin agraharam houses, you can try the home stays and guest houses at Kallidaikurichi village.
If simple, yet modern hotels are your thing, you can try Hotel Ambai Grand at Ambasamudram.
If you wish for a wide variety of hotels, you will have to try looking at the hotels in Tirunelveli.
Where to eat:
There are a few tea shops at Manjolai where you can find some basic snacks along with tea/coffee, but if you order in advance, you can get some food.
The forest rest house at Kudrevetty will prepare food for you if you happen to be staying with them. They will buy basic supplies once your booking is confirmed. However, if you have any specific requirements like country eggs, country chicken or any other requirements, you will have to inform them at least a day in advance.
There are a few family run restaurants at Oothu where you can get some local meals along with some tea and coffee. However, you need to order your meals at least a day in advance so that the people can arrange the ration and vegetables.
There are a few shack-like restaurants at Manimuthar village before the forest check post. Here, you can get basic meals and a decent array of tiffin items.
Other tourist attractions inside KMTR:
1) Nalumukku: The wettest place of India during the North East monsoon
2) Kudrevetty: The gorgeous windy station of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
3) Manimuthar Falls: The herbal waterfall inside a tiger reserve
4) Agastyar Falls: A gorgeous waterfall on the Thamirabharani river
5) Oothu: The quaint little hill station of Tamil Nadu
6) Kakkachi: The highest point inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
7) Scenic Iron Bridge of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: Pristine nature overloaded
8) Karaiyar Dam: Offbeat wildlife and nature holiday destination in India’s deep south
9) Cycling through the backyards of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
10) Hidden pristine waterfall inside Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Other nearby tourist attractions:
1) Mekkarai to Achankovil to Konni: Heavenly motorcycling route through pristine forest
2) Mekkarai: One of Tamil Nadu’s prettiest villages
3) Courtallam: The herbal bath holiday destination of Tamil Nadu
4) Sunderapandiapuram: Of lovely Brahmin agraharam houses, sunflower fields, windmills and mountain views
5) Puliyarai view point: Scenic pit stop on the Tenkasi – Kerala highway
6) Sivasailam Temple: 1000 year old temple surrounded by the lush mountains of the Western Ghats
7) Sivasailam: One of the wettest places during the North East monsoon in India
8) 13th century Kasi Visvanathar temple at Tenkasi
9) Manalar Falls: The herbal jungle waterfall of Kerala
10) Kambhavurutty Falls: Pristine jungle waterfall in the middle of dense forest
11) Rosemala View Point: Gorgeous motorcycling route inside Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
12) Thenmala Forest: Offbeat nature and wildlife getaway
13) Vintage Pathimoonu Kannara Bridge: Colonial charm of the Indian Railways
14) Punalur Suspension Bridge: Historical gem of Kerala
15) Lesser Known Kerala Mountain Railways: Treat for nature lovers
16) Achankovil Saastha Temple: That happy Lord Ayyappa in the middle of pristine jungle
17) Palaruvi Falls: Kerala’s herbal waterfall that drops like milk from the sky
18) Thenmala Dam: A monsoon pit stop view
19) Aryankavu Saastha Temple: Ancient temple located in the sacred forests of the Western Ghats
20) Mannarkoil Rajagopalaswamy Temple: Magnificent 10th century temple with an ashtanga vimana
21) 10th Century Brahmadesam Kailasanathar Temple: Lesser known architectural marvel of south India
22) 1000 year old Papanasanathar Temple: Where you can wash all your sins away
23) Kallidaikurichi: The village of the saaral season
24) Iruttu Kadai Halwa: Icon of Tirunelveli
25) Nellaiappar Temple: A 7th century cosmic dance wonder
26) Pattamadai Pai: GI tagged beautiful handwoven mats from a tiny Tamil Nadu village
27) Thamirabharani river delta: A motorcycle route full of rustic gorgeousness
28) 10th Century Valisvara Temple at Thiruvaliswaram: Hidden Chola gem in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu
29) Tiruchendur Murugan Temple: Sea shore magic
30) Kallidaikurichi to Manimuthar Dam: A top scenic and rustic cycling route
31) Garuda Sevai from the agraharams of Kallidaikurichi
32) Festival of Thiruvathirai from a traditional Tamil Nadu village
33) The festival of Karthigai Deepam from a traditional Tamil Nadu village
34) The exotic tropical fruit shops of Puliyarai
35) Kallidaikurichi Adi Varaha Temple Chariot Festival: Grand cultural spectacle in rural Tamil Nadu
36) Kallidaikurichi Anaicut: Gorgeous picnic spot nestled in the lap of nature
37) Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple: World’s richest Hindu temple
38) Shangumugham Beach: The tranquil and divine beach of Thiruvananthapuram
39) Thiruparappu Falls: Gorgeous monsoon spectacle near Kanyakumari
40) Mathoor Aqueduct and Hanging Bridge: An offbeat wonder nestled in the mountains near Kanyakumari
41) Kappil Beach: Sandy beauty hemmed in between the sea and the backwaters
42) Varkala Beach: That stunning cliff beach of Kerala where you can wash away all your sins
43) Meenmutty Falls inside Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary: A beautiful tropical jungle trail
44) Ponmudi: The offbeat hill station of Kerala with a 360 degree mountain panorama
