POOMBRAI POOMBARAI FAMOUS FOR ITS PICTURESQUE VIEW OF THE SURROUNDINGS

21.09.20-

Introduction: Poombarai is a village located in the heart of the Palani hills of Tamil Nadu, India, 18 kms from Kodaikanal. It is situated at 1,920 meters (6,300 ft) above the sea level. It is a tiny village, famous for its production of garlic. Poombarai is quiet well known for step farming and it is comfortably nestled among terraced fields and lush greenery. It offers a picturesque view of the surroundings. You get to see colourful houses laid out in never ending greenery. Poombarai is as tranquil as it is mesmerising, and makes for a fantastic addition to any Kodaikanal trip.

How to reach

Poombarai is located at about 18 kms from Kodaikanal. It is well connected through roadways. The nearest railway station is in Dindigul (105kms). The nearest Airport is Madurai (148kms).

Best time to visit

Throughout the year, but the ideal time is in the winter between October and March. The summer and monsoon months from April to June and between July and September respectively, also make for a good Kodaikanal trip.

Places to Visit

Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple

The Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple (Kulandai Velayudha Swami Tirukkovil has three thousand years of history and was consecrated by Bhogar. The idol is made of Dasabashanam (which is comprised of ten different herbals).This temple comes under Pazhani Devasthanam. Every year Poombarai celebrates the Ther Thiruvizha procession for Lord Muruga. It falls on Kettai nakshatra which comes after Thaipoosam, normally in Thai or Maasi month.

Mannavanur Lake

Undeniably the most serene place that you can visit on Kodaikanal tour, Mannavanur Lake is nothing less than a nature’s paradise. This lake, as the name suggest is located in Mannavanur village, which is around 32 kms away from Kodaikanal. This picturesque lake, can be seen as you drive down to the village and the drive to the lake is equally enchanting with eucalyptus and pine trees surrounding the road on both the sides. As Mannavanur Lake is located inside a sheep farm, flocks of sheeps can be seen grazing around the area. This place is also known for the vegetables cultivation. Here a wide array of vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, peas, potatoes and even broccoli, French and butter beans are cultivated.

The Southern Regional Research Centre, which is a regional centre of the Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), a premier institution of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi is located at Mannavanur. The SRRC was founded on 16 November 1965 and has been active for over 45 years. It is located 30 kms away from Kodaikanal. This centre is the animal science research centre under ICAR for both Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The centre breeds sheep and rabbits for wool and meat, including Angora, Chinchilla, White Giant and others.

Berijam Lake

Located about 25 km south to the Poombarai village, Berijam Lake is one the most popular tourist spots in Kodaikanal. The lake with its refreshing setting and lush greenery around makes for an amazing picnic spot. Reaching the lake is not a difficult task as it is connected by a well-tarred road. However, one requires a forest pass for entering the area. You can easily get the passes from District Forest Office. There is also a 100 year old -storey brick building in Berijam which also makes for interesting sightseeing.

Timings: Everyday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Tourist information:

Department of Tourism, Tamil Nadu Tourism,

Poet Tyagaraja Rd, Kodaikanal - 624101

Tel: 04542 241 675 / 241 338

Mob: 91769 95867