Palani
Palani is a town in Tamil Nadu India.
Get in
By plane
The nearest air port is in Coimbatore. Coimbatore has regular flights from Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Sharjah. Air Sahara, Indian Airlines, Air Deccan and Jet Airways operate flights out of Coimbatore Airport.
Palani is approximately 100 kilometers from the Coimbatore. Mode of transport from the Coimbatore to the Palani includes taxi, bus and train.
By train
Trains to Palani are temporarily suspended due to ongoing gauge conversion from Podanur (Coimbatore), Palakkad to Dindigul. The broad gauge service are expected to start service from 2013. The Murugan Temple is about 2 km from the railway station and can be reached by autorickshaw or bus.
By bus
The state transport corporation and a lot of private bus operators ply bus from Palani to major cities in Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tuticorin etc) and also to the neighboring Kerala(Palakkadu, Kochin).
- KSRTC Bus From Cherthala To Palani
- KSRTC Bus From Changanassery To Palani
- KSRTC Bus From Kottarakkara To Palani
Get around
Getting around Palani is easy. There are public transport buses, auto rickshaws and taxis available in plenty.
Auto rickshaws are not advised as they charge whatever they feel like, if they find that you are an outsider. Always it's better to ask your Hotel people to arrange for transportation.
See
There are lot of places to see in and around Palani.
- Murugan Temple - This is the prime attraction in Palani. One has top climb 670 steps to reach the temple. Alternatively ,there is a Haulage Winch [1] (a small rope train) and a Rope Car to goto the temple on the top of the hill. From the hill top, one can have a beautiful view of entire Palani town and the agricultural places around it.
- Tiru Avinankudi Temple is in the foot of the Palani Hills. This is oldest and largest temple. Usually before going to the main hill temple, devotees visit this temple.
- Mariamman Kovil is one of the famous temples in the surrounding area. This temple is located about 1 km from the bus stand.
- Periyanayaki amman kovil or Aanai Kovil is one of the oldest temples in Palani. This temple is carved out of stones. There won't be much crowd in this temple.
- Kuthiraiyar Dam Falls - located near Pappampatti, Palani. It has a water falls at the back of the dam. Once you reach the dam, one can find the way to go to falls with the help of the local villagers. There is a small trekking route available to reach the Kumbai which is about 1 km from the falls.
- Thekkanthottam - another small water falls near the Palani. Water from this place is taken into Palani through pipes and stored in Palani Hill Water Tank named as Water dam, which then distributed to Palani after filtration. To reach this water falls, you have to take bus from Palani and get down at Thekkan thottam, where there is a forest department check post. From the village you have to walk 3 to 4 km to reach the falls. The places on there are beautiful and pleasant. On the way you can find a small dam. after that the path becomes difficult. Actually there is no pathway after this point. you have to climb small rocks and find your own way. you can find many small water falls of about 6 to 7 feet height. The mountain on the two sites of the path looks really good and dense. There is no way of getting lost in the forest, as you can always find your way back by following the water ways.
- Varathamanathi Dam - A picnic spot where children can amuse themselves. It is on the way to Thekkanthottam and about 7 km from Palani. you can reach there by city buses and buses bound for Kodaikanal.
Warning - during summer, elephant groups will be seen around this place. Forest guard warns you if any elephant groups are in this area. its always better not to enter into the forest during this time.
- Kodaikanal is another beautiful hill station about 64 km from Palani.
Do
- Trekking to Kodaikannal, Kuthiraiyar Dam Falls, Thakkaum thootam
- Site seeing in Kodaikannal
- Visit temples in and around palani
Buy
ATMs from ICICI Bank, SBI Bank, KVB and Canara Bank are available within the town.
You can buy panchamirtham, vibhuti, medals of Muruga, toys, handicrafts, pictures of the Lord, publications of the Devasthânam. You can bargain for the prices.
Industries: textile mills, manufacture of panchamirtham, production of vibhuti (sacred ash), making of steel furniture at Govt. pressed metal factory, manufacture of fruit juices and of stone grinders.
Learn
Schools: Palani has a number of tamil and english medium schools. Arulmigu Palaniandavar Matriculation School(APMS) is one of the oldest English medium school in Palani.
Colleges: Palani has 2 arts college and one engineering college in the town. The arts colleges are run by the Devasthanam (Palani Hill Temple Board).
Polytechnic: Devasthanam (Palani Hill Temple Board) also runs a polytechnic(Arulmigu Palaniandavar Polytechnic).
Eat
A lot of South Indian restaurants (Vegetarian and Non-Veg) are available in Palani town. Few restaurants serve Chinese and North Indian foods too.
Palani is famous for its Panchamirtam, which is made of five fruits. Its one of the unique sweets which you cannot see or taste anywhere else in the world.
Drink
All soft drinks are available in almost all small shops near Temple and in the town. Fresh fruit juices are also available in the fruit shops around the temple and near bus stand. Tender coconut is available in plenty as Palani/Pollachi areas have coconut plantations.
Sleep
the temple provides ample accomdation to its visitors so we can always book accomdation to sleep it also provides ac rooms to non ac beds
- Peacock Inn, No:2 Andavar Poonga Road, (Adjecent to Thevar Statue), Adivaram, Palani, ☏ +91-4545-321177. This is the only Heritage hotel in palani, located just 200 meters from the palani bus stand.
Cope
Hospitals: - Palani has lot of hospitals which operators for 24 Hours including the Govertment Hospitals.
Important Phone Numbers:
- Police Control Tower - 100
- Fire Station - 101