Your driver meets you at Coimbatore airport or railway station. Breakfast in Pollachi, a late morning at Thirumoorthy Dam and the Amanalingeswarar temple, and lunch in Udumalpet. In the late afternoon you go up Palani hill by winch or rope car for darshan, the evening pooja, the sunset over the plains and the golden chariot at 7 PM, then walk down the steps to your hotel.
- 9:00 AM
Pickup at Coimbatore airport or railway station
Your driver meets you when you land or arrive. Times below assume a 9:00 AM pickup. If yours is later, we move the day to fit.
- 1 h 6 min · 43 km
- 10:15 AM
Breakfast in Pollachi
A proper tiffin in the coconut town of Pollachi: idli, ghee dosa or pongal with filter coffee. Pay as you eat.
- 51 min · 38 km
- 11:45 AM1
Thirumoorthy Dam and Amanalingeswarar Temple
1 h hereA quiet reservoir under a bare rock hill, and beside it the old Amanalingeswarar temple of the three gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Shoes off at the temple. Car parking is approx Rs 50.
- 12:45 PM
Walk up to Panchalinga Falls
Optional · Approx Rs 5 per personA forest walk up from the temple to a small waterfall with a bathing area. Open approx 8:30 AM to 4 PM. The forest department closes it after heavy rain. Skip it if you want more time at Palani.
- 33 min · 22 km
- 1:45 PM
Lunch in Udumalpet
A Tamil meals plate with rice, sambar, rasam and a few curries. Pay as you eat. About 50 minutes on to Palani after this.
- 44 min · 42 km
- 3:30 PM2
Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy hill temple
3 h hereRide the winch (a small hill train) or the rope car up, whichever is running. The Rs 50 queue moves faster, and we include it. Darshan of Lord Murugan as Dhandayuthapani, the evening Sayaraksha pooja at about 5:30 PM, and sunset over the plains from the hill. Camera phones must stay switched off inside, or you can leave them at the counter for Rs 5.
- 7:00 PM3
Golden chariot procession at the hill temple
30 min hereMost evenings at 7 PM the festival idol goes round the hilltop corridor in a gold plated chariot, pulled by devotees. Watching is free. Not held on the big festival days. Afterwards, walk down the steps or take the winch back.
- 9 min · 5 km
- 8:15 PM
Check in at your hotel
Your hotel is in town, close to the foot of the hill. Have dinner at the hotel or nearby, most places in Palani are vegetarian.
