A Vellingiri Kailash trek that could turn treacherous Thousands of people trek Vellingiri hills on Mahashivaratri to pray to Shiva, where Vinod Mirthath got lost. The trek begins from Poondi temple located at the foot hills of Vellingiri in the Western Ghats in Boluvampatti forest range in Coimbatore. It is a strenuous trek and the pilgrims take at least 5 hours to access the Vellingiri Aandavar temple located at a height of 1800 metre. The trek route is a dirt track that runs along seven hills, some of which are rocky and barren while the rest have thick forests. Regular trekkers do the climb in less than four hours. Umesh Marudhachalam, an environmentalist and an avid trekker, said the first hill is very steep and has over 1,000 steps. Those not used to climbing hills struggle to climb the first steep hill. There is a small stream on top of this hill from which people source drinking water. At the peak of the first hill is the Vellai Vinayagar temple. The second and third hills too are steep but thereafter it is a comfortable walks from the fourth hill to the sixth hill. Mostly people trek Vellingiri hills from March to May at night to avoid the hot sun. They trek as group. During season, tribals set up small shops that offer lemon juice and tea to trekkers, said Umesh. Umesh added that people buy bamboo sticks that usually cost Rs 20 at the Poondi temple before they begin the climb. The route between the second and the third hill are literally uphill and a rough climb. The sixth hill is called Thiruneeru Malai which has sand like ash. Pilgrims and trekkers collect the sand in paper packets and use it as ash. This hill has dense forest and a cool climate. There is a stream called Aandi Sunai. Trekkers bathe here and continue the trek towards the seventh hill where the Vellingiri Aandavar temple situated. The trekkers plan the trip to reach the seventh hill early morning to watch the sun rise. Later, they would offer prayer at the temple and spent a few hours at the temple premises. Trekkers feel very tired while they are climbing down to Poondi temple from Vellingiri hills. By the time one reaches the second hill, legs start to tremble and bamboo sticks become necessary to walk, said Umesh. He also added that there is just a single route for the trek. If anyone loses their way in the shoal forest, it is not easy to find the way back to the pilgrim route, he added. According to C Dinesh Kumar, forest range officer of Boluvampatti forest range, elephants and leopards have been spotted in the hills. Between March and May, thousands of people trek Vellingiri. There are tribal settlements on the hills, he added. It is a reserve forest and it has mostly shola from the fourth hill. If any one lose their way, it is tough to trace the trek track, said Dinesh Kumar. timesofindia.indiatimes/city/coimbatore/A-trek-that-could-turn-treacherous/articleshow/31439077.cms
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 01:59:43 +0000
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