Ultimate Travel Guide To Megamalai

Megamalai – The Unseen Paradise

Yes, Megamalai is an unseen paradise located in the Theni district. It is also known as Paccha Kumachi(Green Peak). The highest point of this place is 1500m above sea level. Megamalai is a Tea Estate despite all of us thinking of it as a tourist place. However, we can enjoy the nature, weather, waterfalls, mountain view and dams available in and around the place.

Come, let’s dig in more information.

Places To Visit In Megamalai

High Wavys Dam

Highwavys dam is 9 KM away from the Megamalai. Though the highwavys dam is not a great viewpoint, you can still spend 15 mins here to see the dam’s design. Here is the Google Map Location of Highwavys Dam.

Manalar Dam

Manalar dam or reservoir is the sightseeing place where you can spend almost 30 mins enjoying nature along with the reservoir. Click here for the Google Map location.

High Wavys – View Point

Highwavys View Point is another beautiful place that gives a visual treat to your eyes. You can also find the Tourist guide board around there, which is very useful for your Theni trip. Appending the Google Map link Here.

Experience The Local Food With Their Love

You can experience the roadside food as none of the 5-star or 3-star restaurants is available in Megamalai. You can feel the different tastes compared to premium hotels. But still, it’s worth having your breakfast or lunch there. Whenever you get a chance to experience new things, never say NO! go, explore them. Here is where we’ve had our incredible breakfast (9.620928061191332, 77.31573245712508). Google map location not found for this place. Copy these coordinates and search them on Google Maps.

Maharaja Mettu View Point

And here comes the breathtaking trekking spot (5 Mins trek). Maharaja Mettu Viewpoint is the primary tourist place to explore when you visit Megamalai. You can see the extensive view of Cumbum, Eighteenth Canel Falls and Gudalur from here. It is the right place for photographers. On the other hand, Wedding photographers do their post-wedding photoshoots here. Here is the Location.

Iravangallar Dam

Iravangallar dam is another viewpoint where you can enjoy nature without any interruption. This dam is the last viewpoint of Megamalai, so chill for few hours and then return. Here is the Google Maps location.

Our Experience In Megamalai

Assault On First Attempt

On Saturday evening, we started our journey towards Megamalai at around 4 PM from Chinnamanur. Surprisingly, the rain started while entering the Megamalai road. Around 15 mins we got wet in the rainfall. After reaching the check post, we get to know only people who booked the stay will be allowed after 4 PM(If you’re not staying in Megamalai, you’ll have to return before 6 PM to the check post. After 6 PM check post would be closed. Check the FAQ section for more details). Few booking brokers suggested booking a homestay in Megamalai even though at the weekends. But we denied it due to the high price. And then we settled in Chinnamanur for a cheap and best lodge.

When Did We Start?

In the first place, our motive is to experience the wild animals so, we’ve planned to start early at 5.30 AM, but we’ve ended up leaving the lodge and Chinnamanur at 7 AM. There is no question in the check post and, we hit the first hairpin bend at 7.45 AM. After that, we saw many Reptiles on the way to the Unseen Paradise.

Reached Megamalai At 9 AM

We reached the Unseen Paradise at 9 AM. Despite enjoying the drizzling day, our day was Sunny. However, we enjoyed taking photos at the Megamalai door and talked to some tea estate workers. They said their monthly salary is not more than 12K. We men have to guard our family against the elephants at night time. It was a good experience talking to them, besides this, working in the daytime and protecting their family at night from animals(Not all days and no animal going to harm them, but still) is really hard.

Breakfast At Venniar Estate near Maharaja Mettu

Here’s our breakfast time. Taking photos and experiencing wildlife made us to forgot having breakfast. But our stomach did not let that happen. We were looking for a good hotel from Highwavys, but we couldn’t discover anything until reaching the Venniar Estate. Upon reaching Venniar Estate, a 65-year-old grandma came and took us to their home come hotel. There we had a delicious breakfast 👌😋 with breeze air. We’re sharing more details about this place in our Vlog.

Off-Road To Maharaja Mettu

After that place, it is full OFF-ROAD and road construction work is going on. It was very thrilling for us as we’re going on a bike. Somehow I managed to sit back and record videos as the road condition is not good to shoot steady videos. It’ll be around a 7KM journey.

The viewpoint of Gudalur, Cumbum

Finally, we’ve arrived at the place of Unseen Paradise. It’ll be around 15 mins trek, never mind, it was a small trek. We spent almost 2 hours taking photos, enjoying nature and experiencing the beautiful view of Cumbum, Gudalur and more. Some couples came and enjoyed their post-wedding shoot. There is a Hindu temple where we prayed at the top of the hills. From the peak, we’ve seen Indian Gaur(Bison), waterfalls, clouds and a lot of other things that made our day incredible. After spending 2 hours, we came to Chinnamanur at around 2 PM as we’ve to get back to our hometown of Udumalpet.

Our Stay, Food And More Details

The trip is about Four members(All are men) and Two days(Planned six members, while getting ready Two dropped). Our entire trip costs 4000 for stays, food, and travel. We stayed at Chinnamanur and, Petrol is a higher expense for us.

Where to Stay In Megamalai?

There are no best stays in Megamalai except the Govt cottage that too an average. If you want to stay, you’ll have to book online for weekends. At the same time, for weekdays you can directly go and book. But we strongly recommend you take rooms on Chinnamanur or Theni and start as soon as possible in the morning to get the pure air! In reality, we are unable to find any good stay in Megamalai with good services provided.

Budget For Megamalai

Whenever we plan for a trip, the major expenses are Stay, Food and Purchase. In this case, we don’t have to worry about it, since there are NO 5-star hotels to stay in and restaurants for food. On the other hand, there are no special items to purchase for ladies, which saves a lot for you 😃.
Given these things, for the best memories, it’ll cost ₹1000 per person per day.

Megamalai Wildlife

You can experience Chameleon, Squirrel, Elephants, Tiger Indian Gaur (Bison), Monitor lizard, butterflies and reptiles species, etc. You can see elephants easily in the morning time. If you’re lucky, in the evening time you can spot the tigers crossing the road.

About Tea Estates

Megamalai is full of with Tea estates and Cardamom plantations. In other words, instead of projecting this place as a tourist attraction, we should realize this is a Tea Estate. With this in mind, the question may arise, “Whose managing these tea estates Private or Govt”? The answer is few private groups, including the Woodbriar Group, Ananda Plantations and few others.

Megamalai Entry Timing

If you’re staying in Megamalai, the check post is open from 6 AM to 6 PM. If you’re roaming and enjoying the Megamalai, you’ll need to return to the check post on or before 5 PM for your safety. Other than these times, check post will be closed, and you’re not allowed to climb or return.

What’s Awesome At Unseen Paradise

Peace and Less crowded.
Viewpoint from Maharaja Mettu.
Small Falls beside the road.
Gorgeous clouds and incredible nature will let you know who you’re.

Concerns of Megamalai

Better accommodations and hotels are not available.
No Cellphone Tower 90% the places.
Fewer spots.
Fewer Bus facilities.

How Many Days Recommended?

One day is certainly enough to visit all places in Megamalai.

Watch Full Video Of Megamalai In Tamil

FAQ’s

Nearby Attractions

• Suruli Falls
• Eighteenth Canal
• Kumbakkarai Falls

Conclusion

It was a ridiculous adventure for us to visit Megalai for the first time. We enjoyed ourselves a lot. Now it’s your turn to explore Unseen Paradise. Also, if you couldn’t find what you’re looking for in this blog post, please comment below your questions. We’ll answer them as soon as we see it.