Kolli Hills
_Kolli Hills or Kolli Malai (Tamil: கொல்லி மலை) is a small mountain range located in central Tamil Nadu in Namakkal district of India.
The mountains are about 1000 to 1300 m in height and cover an area of
approximately 280 km². The Kolli Hills has 72 hair pin bends to reach
the top of the hills. The Kolli Hills are part of the Eastern Ghats, which is a mountain range that runs mostly parallel to the east coast of South India. The mountains are relatively untouched by commercial tourism and still retain their natural beauty.
Origin of the name
_These mountains were sometimes known as "Kolli Malai", the "Mountains of
Death". The reason is that early literature records the existence of an
image called Kollippavai on top of these hills. This image was
believed to represent the spirit of a maiden who lured wayfarers by her
beauty and then killed them.it's very spookey places.
Historical References
The Kolli Hills are featured in several works of classical Tamil literature such as Silappathigaram, Manimekalai, Purananuru and Ainkurnuru. The region was ruled by Vettuva Gounder ruler Valvil Ori
around 200 A.D., who is praised as one of the seven great
philanthropists of ancient Tamil Nadu. His valor and marksmanship are
sung by several poets, and his exploits are a popular part of folklore.
Ori is said to have killed a lion, bear, deer and a boar with a single
arrow.
The hills are said to be guarded by Kollipavai
also called as "Ettukkai Amman", the local deity. According to legend,
the sages chose Kolli hills when they were looking for a peaceful place
to do their penance. However, the demons invaded the hills to disrupt
the penance when the sages began their rituals. The sages prayed to
Kollipavai, who according to the myth, chased away the demons with her
enchanting smile. The KolliPavai hills is still worshipped by the people
here and her smile is revered. The mountains have several mythological
legends associated with them, and often come across as an eerie place in
contemporary tales due to the unexplored and less traveled terrain.
even at some places one can hear the presence of saptha kannigal. this
mountain is full of herbs which retains health and vigour.
|