Vellingiri Hills is around 5,800 ft, located at Poondi, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
On the seventh hill of Vellingiri Hills, inside a cave like shrine is the Swayambu Lingam known as Vellingiri Andavar. Kindly check the video below for the Vellingiri Andavar shrine.
(Seven Hills - each hill is scaped differently with steps, slippery rocks, mud, and steep rocks.)
Story associated with Velliangiri Hills
There are many stories but the one predominant is the story of Lord Shiva and Punyaksi.
Punyakshi, a young women from southern most part of India, with power to foresee future, was deeply in love with Lord Shiva. She set herself a deadline that before Sunrise if Lord Shiva didn't come she would leave her physical body.
Moved by her affection, Lord Shiva started traveling towards South to marry her.
Community people who didn't want to lose Punyakshi to Shiva created a fire which seemed like Sunrise. Believing it to be Sunrise, Shiva who travelled till Suschindram, stopped his journey and was completely dejected.
Punyakshi seeing the real Sunrise left her body standing (you will find her shrine in Kanyakumari)
Shiva on the way back, went up the Vellingiri hills and sat in meditation to relieve his state of despondency.
People believe going for this pilgrimage shall relieve them from despondency (low spirits from loss of hope or courage; dejection).
Initiating the Trip
Rama Moorthy, a dear friend has been suggesting to have a visit to this place for sometime. Due to the difficulty level of trekking and other reasons, it got delayed. Finally we decided to go ahead with this adventurous trekking trip last weekend i.e. March 18 & 19, 2022.
Before the start of the trek, we went to Nelliamman temple, and in the near-by small flowing river, we spent some time. Please check the below videos to experience the beautiful surroundings.
Then we went to Poondi, equipped ourselves with trekking bamboo sticks started our uphill climb. We started at 2:30 pm on Friday, reached the seventh hill at 11:45 pm. Had the Vellingiri Andavar darshanam.
Friend had mixed avulu (rice item) with sugar, this was our midnight food. We then tried to rest for sometime in the shivering cold with the moon above.
We then started our downhill trek at 2:30 am reached Poondi at 10:45 am, Saturday.
It was a difficult trek. But worth all the efforts. I read that trekking this hill is equal to one whole year of intense workout. I believe it is true :)
This travel helped me to taste for the first time Jam Fruit (Then Palam in Tamil), see for the first time Fireflies coming so close to me, and drink Siruvani water (ranked as the 2nd sweetest water in the world).
(Clockwise: Jam Fruit, Firefly, Siruvani Water)
Preparation - For physical stability start with doing sit-ups, increase the numbers gradually. I climbed Trichy Rock Fort temple (Ucchi Pillayar kovil) couple of times as a practice; and also climbed a temple on a mountain near my home.
Travel - Trains are available to Coimbatore, so book in advance for hassle free journey. Then fetch a bus/auto from railway station to Gandhipuram bus stand and from there you have buses to Poondi (the trekking starting point).
Stay - You can stay at Coimbatore Hotels or Isha Yoga Center. Rest for a sometime, and take only necessary things for the trek.
Best to carry - Bamboo stick (Rs 30, you will get at Poondi, without this stick its hard to imagine the trek), water, glucose, amla, and dates. The more minimum things you carry so much better, because after trekking for sometime you feel even the water bottle you are carrying is heavier. Torchlight must, if you are planning for a night trek (best if it is a head torch light, so that hands will be free).
Suggestions -
- One step at a time, breath, take a break and then continue.
- Water is the real fuel for the trek. Consume little water now and then. Sit for couple of minutes, start again.
- Have a good trekking shoes.
- Trekking stick - Choosing a good one is the trick. Go for a slimmer one and try to check if it is good for you, it should not break when you are trying to balance your weight (for both uphill or downhill trek). The heavier one will be difficult to carry, so please avoid it.
- No plastics items are allowed - plastic bags, covers etc. Plastic bottles are allowed.
- Trekking during day will be very hard, usually people start around evening, trek during the night and reach back before sunrise the next day.
- At the end of sixth hill, you will find a water spot called Aandi Sunai, where I highly recommend you all to take a complete dip in the cold water. This water is said to have medicinal and herbal values. All the tiredness of climbing six hills will vanish with this bath. So that you can start afresh for the seventh hill.
- Uphill is one level, downhill trekking will really tire and test your knees' strength. Please take time and trek slowly.
- There are few shops selling eateries on the hill, but don't be surprised to find the things double the price. Few of the items are Watermelon, Cucumber, Amla, Buttermilk, Ginger Tea, Herbal Soup, Lime Soda (salt and sweet) etc.
- If you need help while trekking please don't hesitate to ask for it. People are very generous and they will help you out, whether you need water, a snack, or need a hand to lift you up/support you on difficult terrains.
- The Mountain is open only during certain months of the year. So research before you plan for this trek.
- Many bring back the sacred ash and the bamboo stick home.
Most of the above suggestion were given by Sumathi Akka from Isha Kailash and Manasarovar trip. Thanks to her for taking time out and giving so much of details for the trek.
Would like to Thank Rama Moorthy wholeheartedly for being there for me, as always.
Hope this blog helps the readers in their treks. I would like to end this writeup with a quote.
"It's not the mountain we conquer but ourselves" ~ Sir Edmund Hillary
Best wishes 🍀
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