Preamble

Kolli hills is situated 56 km away from the District HQ of Namakkal District and 25 kms away from senthamangalam in Tamil Nadu State.

This hill is known as "Kolli Hills" after the name of Goddess Kolliam Pavai. The entire range consists of 50 square miles. Kolli Hills consists of high mountains and hills and the highest peak of the hill is 4460 feet above the MSL. The average height of the hills is 3960 feet. The average rainfall recorded is around 40 inches and the major quantum of rainfall is being received due to the influence of North East Monsoon. Kolli Hills has got 14 Panchayats that consists of 243 small villages and semmadu is the center place of the Kolli Hills. The total population of the entire hills is around 65000, out of which 95% of the people are hill tribes migrated from Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram and Kakkaveri areas as per the information collected from the Government agencies. The climatic conditions are suitable for plantation crops such as Coffee, Cardamom, Pepper and other spices. It is also observed that pepper is doing well here mainly due to hot and humid weather condition prevailing in this zone. Moreover, Vanilla is also gaining importance among the growers of Kolli hills now a days.

Agriculture is the main source of income of the tribals. An area of nearly 35000 acres is being used for cultivation and other agriculture related farming activities. The major crop cultivated is Tapioca and other crops like Paddy, Banana, Pineapple, Jack fruit are also grown besides coffee, Pepper, Cardamom and cloves. Since 70 hair pin bends have to be passed to reach Kollihills, the transportation of agricultural inputs and other essential goods are very expensive and time consuming which hampers the agricultural activities.

Special Features

This "queen" cladded in green, attracts lots of people by its sensational sight. Kolli Hills means killing of physical elements of human beings and animals. The diseases prevalent in this cold climatic conditions are malaria, skin diseases, small pox, etc.

Kolli Hills is also called Holy Hills, because chittars, seers or healers of people through yoga and natural living are residing here. From the evidence of korakar and Bogar chittars valuable natural herbs were grown here. Two famous temples called "Kolli Paval" temple and "Arapaleswarar temple" are situated in these hills. There is a very famous waterfall "Agaya Gangai" falling from a height of 220 feet. There is a belief that if people take bath in the falls, sins are forgiven. Naturally formed Bauxite quarries are found in the Kolli Hills. Hundreds of trucks carrying the Bauxite ore to various places will be seen almost every day.

Administration

Regarding administration of the Kolli Hills, there are many departments, which look after the maintenance of this hills. Long ago, the hill was ruled by one of the seven kings name Valvil Ori. He was one of the greatest kings who ruled this area lawfully and taught genuine and faith among his people. Every year, 18th of Tamil month Aadi, the people of this hill celebrates a grant festival called "Valvil Ori" to remember the Kind Valvil Ori.

At present, there are 14 panchayats, two primary health centers, Forest range office, Police Station, Fire station, Department of Horticulture farm, Tamcol, 64 primary & middle schools. One High School and One Higher secondary school are also situated there. This place attracts lot of tourists. For tourist facilities various good hotels are available in Kolli Hills. This place is ideally suited for weekends tours from the plain. This hill is the place of picturesque natural sceneries and peaceful resorts. Many beautiful ornamental plants, creepers and valuable herbal plants are growing in this hills.

Extension services of Coffee Board

There are many small farmers cultivating coffee in this hills. The people are aware of the techniques of cultivating the Coffee in proper way mainly due to extension services rendered by the extension department of Coffee Board. The Coffee Board has taken lot of interest to educate the growers in various aspects such as raising of nursery, planting of coffee plants, harvesting, pulping and processing and also in enhancing the quality of coffee.

The officers and staff of Coffee Board from Yercaud, Deputy Director (Extension), from Coimbatore, Joint Director and Research Scientist from various places are often visiting Kolli Hills and encouraging coffee cultivation. The Coffee Board is also helping the small growers by way of so many subsidy schemes of water augmentation, replanting and quality improvement programme.

We have formed a coffee growers society for helping the small farmers in cultivation of coffee and the Coffee Board has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 2 lakhs as grant for the Society to procure pulper, spraying equipments mobile sprinkler units, weighing scale and other equipments. Income is generated for the society by giving these equipments to small growers on rental basis.

The land for the society was donated by Mr. M.K. Natarajan and the society members contributed the amount required for the construction of the building for the society. The society was inaugurated by the then secretary of the Coffee Board on 27.12.2002. The society has taken steps to purchase coffee from companies and this has helped the growers to get reasonable price.

We are expecting the Coffee Board to open a liaison center in Kolli Hills to cater the needs of the growers.

Kolli Hills is one of the most important tourist centers, which inspires pleasure in human minds. Therefore, visit Kolli Hills and get pleasure.