Best Places to Visit in the Eastern Ghats for Trekking and Paragliding Getaways

Once the private estate of the local Zamindar family, this cluster of fourteen villages in the Eastern Ghats was taken over by the Government of India in the 1950s and gradually opened up as one of Tamil Nadu's most accessible hill stations. Sitting at roughly 1,050 metres, with Swamimalai Hill rising to about 1,410 metres, it has earned a reputation as the Poor Man's Ooty, a quieter, less crowded alternative for anyone searching for places to visit near Bangalore or weekend getaways from Chennai. Tribal communities still live across its hamlets, sustained by honey collection, horticulture, and forestry, giving the hills a rural character that's increasingly rare this close to two major cities. 

The drive up is part of the experience, winding through a string of hairpin bends before opening onto orchards, rose gardens, and pepper farms. At the top, Swamimalai Hill, the highest point in the region, rewards a trek with a small Lord Murugan temple and sweeping valley views, while Punganoor Lake and the adjoining Nature Park offer a gentler afternoon of boating, birdwatching, and picnicking. A five-kilometre trek downhill leads to the Jalagamparai Waterfalls, fed by the Attaru river, and the hilltop Velavan Temple adds another worthwhile stop for its own panoramic views. 

Adventure travellers increasingly know this hill station for its paragliding sessions, run through much of the year from launch points like Ramakrishna Mutt, alongside zip-lining, rock climbing, and ATV rides at the government-backed adventure camp. Every May, the Yelagiri Summer Festival adds flower shows, a dog show, and cultural performances to the calendar, drawing crowds well beyond the usual weekend visitors. Few hill destinations this close to Bangalore and Chennai still feel this uncrowded. 

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