Bhaktaneyar malai

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Bhaktaneyar malai

At 1800 feet height, this is the tallest peak north of Vellore, within Tamil Nadu side of the border. The other peak as equally tall in the vicinity is Ussoor malai, some 20 kms south. Perhaps the only peak taller than these two with in 80 kms - in the Tamil Nadu side of the border - is perhaps the Yelagiri hill, towering over Jolarpet. You may ask, how do I know the height? It seems the British surveyed the area including the hill, and there is a cemented flat spot on the top, that mentions this height! Try locating this spot! I was told all this by my (now expired) father!

In case you wish to climb the hill, do not be intimidated by the height of the hill! There is a walkway leading to the peak, starting from the eastern foothill of Esraan malai. This path runs parallel and to the west of the ridge that rises south to north (clearly visible in the map). Climbing gently at times, the path leads all the way up to the peak! As far as I know, this path has been used from more than a hundred years back, to ascend the hill! There is an occasion when hordes of people climb the hill: the Karthigai Deepam, in the Tamil month of Karthigai.

Once you are on the peak, do not forget to see the 'spring that has never seen the sun (sooriyan pakkada sunai)'! This spring lies south of the top most point, and there is a separate path leading to it! The water is very sweet, but I do not know how safe to drink (with monkeys, and possibly wild pigs, drinking from it)!

The top most edge of this hill range along east-west direction is the Tamil Nadu - Andhra Pradesh (AP) border, so if you are looking north, you are looking into AP! If you move east along the top most edge, you will find the Tamil Nadu Industrial Explosives Limited (TEL) lying to your right! If you move west along the top most edge, you will find the picturesque Tondan Tulasi village, at the foothills, this time to the left!

There is a lot more to write about this special hill. See you on top, this Karthigai Deepam day!
(By Raghu. Please be kind enough to add anything else that you know.)
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   13°1'19"N   79°6'38"E

Comments

  • Hi Raj and others, This year on Karthigai Deepam day, more than a thousand people climbed the hill; among them were old people, and young children. I'm told - unfortunately, I could not make it this year - that decent food also was served following the puja. A fun and adventure seeker like you should always participate on such occasions. You will really enjoy it!
This article was last modified 18 years ago