Kolli Hills is a farming plateau at about 1,300 m, reached by a famous road with 70 hairpin bends from Karavalli. There is no town, no mall road and very few hotels. There are pepper vines, jackfruit trees, coffee, honey and the Agaya Gangai waterfall, which drops about 300 feet into a valley you reach by roughly a thousand steps. It is one of the least commercial hill regions in Tamil Nadu and ideal for a quiet drive or ride.
Compare Kolli Hills with another place →
When to go
October to February is the best time. Agaya Gangai is fullest after the north-east monsoon (October–December) and in August. Valvil Ori, the local festival, is in August. April and May are warm but still cooler than the plains.
Kolli Hills right now and the next 7 days
Loading the forecast…
Kolli Hills, planned for you
A satellite map for every day with each stop pinned in order, photos of the places, timings, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.
- Day 1 Arrive in Kolli Hills · Agaya Gangai Falls
- TravelBus: Namakkal / Salem → Kolli Hills (Semmedu)₹80
- 11:00Agaya Gangai Falls₹30
- 15:30Arapaleeswarar TempleFree
- Day 2 Seekuparai & Selur viewpoints
₹49 once, 5 pages. Secure payment by Razorpay, instant download. Already bought? Get your download
Kolli Hills on the map
Tap anything in the list: the map zooms straight to it. Tap your starting city to see the way there.
The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Kolli Hills · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Kolli Hills in 2 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Agaya Gangai Falls3 h · ₹30 each · About a thousand steps down to the base, and the same back up. Start by 8 am.
- 14:30Lunch break
- 15:30Arapaleeswarar Temple45 min · free · An old Shiva temple at the top of the falls' steps.
- 08:00Seekuparai & Selur viewpoints1 h · free · Views over the plains. Best at sunset.
- 09:30Masila Falls1 h · free · A small, easy falls for bathing.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Kolli Hills
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Bus Cheapest
₹80TNSTC buses climb the 70 hairpins. Namakkal is the main gateway.
Drive
₹3,000Via Salem and Rasipuram. The hairpin road is narrow; use low gears downhill.
Getting around once you're there
Local bus
₹15Between Semmedu, the viewpoints and the villages. Infrequent.
Taxi / jeep
₹1,500Covers Agaya Gangai, Seekuparai viewpoint and the botanical garden.
Own bike
FreeThe 70-hairpin road is a well-known ride.
Where to stay in Kolli Hills
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Budget
₹900/nightThe main junction has a few simple places.
Resort
₹2,800/nightA few estate-style resorts. Book ahead; choice is limited.
Govt
₹1,200/nightBasic but well located.
What to eat, and what it costs
Meals
₹80Simple meals at Semmedu.
Jackfruit, pineapple and bananas
₹60Roadside stalls sell the plateau's fruit.
Pepper, honey and millets
₹250Buy from the tribal co-operative shops — the best souvenir.
Places to visit and things to do in Kolli Hills
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Agaya Gangai Falls
₹30About a thousand steps down to the base, and the same back up. Start by 8 am.
Arapaleeswarar Temple
FreeAn old Shiva temple at the top of the falls' steps.
Seekuparai & Selur viewpoints
FreeViews over the plains. Best at sunset.
Masila Falls
FreeA small, easy falls for bathing.
Botanical garden & Vasalurpatti boat house
₹50Easy family stops.
Day trips and next stops
Step 9 of 11Next: Tips↓Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- The 70-hairpin road is narrow and steep. Do not drive it for the first time after dark.
- The steps to Agaya Gangai are steep and slippery. It is not suitable for anyone with knee or heart problems.
- There is very little accommodation. Book ahead for weekends.
Ways to spend less
- Go on a weekday and the plateau is almost empty.
- Buy pepper and honey from the co-operative, not the stalls at the viewpoints.
- Start Agaya Gangai at 8 am, before the heat and the crowds.
Say it in Tamil
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
English works in towns; Hindi much less.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Kolli Hills in pictures
Tap a photo to see it full size.
Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Kolli Hills?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are Jan–Feb, Oct–Dec. October to February is the best time. Agaya Gangai is fullest after the north-east monsoon (October–December) and in August. Valvil Ori, the local festival, is in August. April and May are warm but still cooler than the plains.
How do I reach Kolli Hills?
Bus: Namakkal / Salem → Kolli Hills (Semmedu), 2–3 h, about ₹80 one way. Train + bus: → Salem or Namakkal, then bus, varies + 2–3 h, about ₹300 one way. Drive: Bengaluru → Kolli Hills, 6 h, about ₹3,000 one way. Flight + road: → Trichy (TRZ), then 3 h, 1 h + 3 h, about ₹6,000 one way.
How much does a 2-day trip to Kolli Hills cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹1,600 on a shoestring, ₹3,000 mid-range or ₹6,000 in comfort over 2 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus (Namakkal / Salem → Kolli Hills (Semmedu)) at about ₹80 each way.
How many days do you need in Kolli Hills?
2 days is right for most people. That covers Agaya Gangai Falls, Arapaleeswarar Temple, Seekuparai & Selur viewpoints, Masila Falls without rushing.
Is Kolli Hills good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 4, couples 5, families 4, groups 5. It works well for families. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Kolli Hills?
Easy. Simple vegetarian meals and fruit everywhere.
Will my phone and cards work in Kolli Hills?
Phone signal: Patchy away from Semmedu. Cards and UPI: Almost nowhere. Cash: Essential.
Guides for Kolli Hills
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
10 Weekend Getaways from Chennai Under ₹5,000, Ranked by Real CostWeekend getaways from Chennai under ₹5,000, ranked by real cost: Gingee, Chidambaram, Kolli Hills, Mahabalipuram,…Read the guide →
Christmas & New Year 2026: Two Long Weekends and a 10-Day BreakChristmas and New Year's Day 2027 both fall on Fridays. Leave plan for 3, 5 or 10 days off, rail booking dates, and…Read the guide →Similar underrated places
YercaudThe 'jewel of the south' is a small coffee-and-orange hill station in the Shevaroys, forty minutes up from…From ₹900/day · Jan–Feb, Nov–Dec
HogenakkalThe Kaveri crashes over black rocks into a gorge, you float under it in a round coracle, and they fry the…From ₹900/day · Jan–Mar, Oct–Dec
KodaikanalA lake you cycle around, shola forest you walk into, and a twelve-year flower bloom that draws people from…From ₹1,000/day · Sep–Dec
YelagiriA quiet plateau of fourteen villages, fourteen hairpins up, a three-hour drive from both Bengaluru and…From ₹800/day · Jan–Feb, Oct–Dec.jpg/500px-Tea_estates_near_Kotagiri%2C_Nilgiris_(ultra-wide_view).jpg)
KotagiriThe oldest hill station in the Nilgiris, all tea slopes and shola walks, with a cliff-edge view at Kodanad…From ₹1,000/day · Jan–May, Dec
VattavadaTerraced vegetable and strawberry farms in a rain-shadow valley, 45 km past Munnar's tea, where the road…From ₹1,100/day · Jan–Mar, Oct–DecTreks near Kolli Hills
Agaya Gangai FallsModerate · Half day · Aug–JanFrom ₹50 at the base
Dolphin's Nose & VattakanalEasy · Half day · Sep–MayFrom ₹0 at the base
Swamimalai, YelagiriEasy · Half day · Oct–MarFrom ₹0 at the baseSacred places near Kolli Hills
.jpg/500px-Brihadisvara_Temple_during_Maha_Shivaratri-WUS03611_(edit).jpg)
.jpg/500px-VAITHEESWARAN_KOIL_-_panoramio_(7).jpg)
Make the plan yours
Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Chinchu.c · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Rajeshodayanchal · CC BY 3.0 · source · Photo: Amara Bharathy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: PJeganathan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
