Pothigai Hills is one among the India's Heritage Hills and rich in herbal plants. Our main reason to trek in Pothigai Hills is pilgrimage the Saint Agathiyar Shrine.

Agasthyamalai is no ordinary mountain. Among the steep slopes of scrub forest, valleys of dense tropical rainforest, and jagged peaks, Agasthyamalai stands sentinel. It has a distinct conical profile that is nearly identical from both the eastern and the western sides. From either Thiruvananthapuram in the west or Tirunelveli in the east, it stands out as a distinguished peak among a range of sharp, craggy mountains. Relatively speaking, it is a lesser peak in the chain of mountains that make up the 1,400-km-long Western Ghats. Dodabetta in the Nilgiris (2,623m), Karnataka's Mullayanagiri (1,918m) and Anai-Mudi (2,694m), South India's highest peak, are all far higher. Yet, there is something about Agasthyamalai that transcends mere height, and size really does not matter in this equation. Agasthyamalai's profile bears an uncanny resemblance to Tibet's Mount Kailash and this has perhaps led to its aura and many myths.

On a map the collection of rugged mountains near the tip of India appear as a dark, insignificant blotch, just a shade different from the surrounding plains. It is certainly misleading, for the Ashambu hills that lie south of the Shencottah Gap support one of the richest concentrations of biodiversity in the whole Western Ghats chain. Crowning these mountains at 1,866 metres is a distinctive peak that holds a special place in the range. Pothigai or Agasthyamalai (also known as Agasthyakoodam in Kerala) has long been revered as a sacred mountain associated with the sage Agasthya. In more recent years it has been recognised for its phenomenal diversity of life forms. It is hard not to be swept away by Agasthyamalai's towering profile and magical aura.

The hills range includes Kalakadu-Muntandurai Tiger Reserve (a remarkable protected area nearly 900 sq km). But don't expect that you can see any one tiger when trekking. You willn't allowed to trek by thier (Tiger's) ways.

THE Agasthyamalai hills are home to the Kanis, an indigenous, forest-dwelling community. The Kanis once practised shifting cultivation, but most of the 16,000-strong population was relocated when the area was designated a protected area in the 1970s. The Kanis are well known knowledge about the Pothigai Hills and the surrounding hills, also they are the best guides of the Tiger Reserve area.

Preparing for the Trek

1. Avoid heavy weight in your trekking bag.
2. No need more than one cloth. Even no cloth is required. Take one towel.
3. Two problems when trekking in the pothigai hills is the Elephants and species. Prepare to manage the species.
4. Wear tight Shorts and tight T-Shirt.

And the important one is getting permission from the Farest Department for the trekking. They will allow this trekking for Pilgrimage only. So apply as Pilgrimage Trekking to Agathiya Malai. Apply with group of trekkers atleast one month brfore the Trekking Date. They will allow only group of peoples, so apply with more than 15.

To Reach the place to begin the Trek

The start place of the trekking is Karaiyar Dam (Thamirabarani Dam), but you can stay at Papanasam (not one in the Thanjavur district, it's Tirunelveli District), a nearby place of Karaiyar Dam. Go one day before the date of trekking. You can see few places in and around Karaiyar Dam and Papanasam. Such as Agathiyar Falls, Temple in Papanasam, Paanatheertham (Baanatheertham) Falls.

You can take bus or taxi from Tirunelveli to reach Papanasam. You should take another one bus (the town bus) from Papanasam to reach the Karaiyar Dam.

Agathiyar Hill
Karaiyar Dam (Thamiraparani Dam)
Agathiyar Falls
Papavinaswehwara Temple
Panatheertham Falls (Baanatheertham Falls)

Can be reach by bus or taxi from Tirunelveli City. Its about 45km from Tirunelveli City.
Nearest airport: Madurai

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