Ask a Coimbatore local why the water here tastes different, and they will likely mention the Siruvani river, long reputed to carry some of the sweetest drinking water in the country. Anaikatti sits right where the Western Ghats meet the plains, a forested border town straddling Tamil Nadu and Kerala, with the river running through it and reserve forest climbing the hills on every side. Most things to do in Anaikatti stay close to that water, whether that means a quiet riverside walk or a longer drive to the dam that supplies it. Beyond the immediate riverbanks, places to visit in Anaikatti stretch toward Coimbatore's temples and one of the region's newer spiritual landmarks, giving a stay here a mix of forest quiet and cultural detours.

The Siruvani Dam holds back the river behind gateways built in contrasting Kerala and Tamil architectural styles, with reserve forest on all sides and the century old Pattiyar Bungalow still standing on its banks. Close by, Siruvani Waterfalls tumbles through the same forest, a spot long used by the local Mudugar and Irula communities and now a popular stop for visitors drawn to its cool, clear pools. Heading back toward Coimbatore, Maruthamalai Temple sits on a hilltop dedicated to Lord Murugan, reached by a flight of steps that rewards the climb with wide views over the city below. A further drive out brings you to the Isha Yoga Center, home to the 112-foot Adiyogi Shiva statue at the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains, a Guinness World Record holder that draws visitors for both its scale and its evening laser and sound show.

What lingers after a stay in Anaikatti has less to do with any single stop than the sound of the river itself. Water moving steadily past coconut groves, birdsong carrying through pinewood chalets at dawn, and the particular stillness of a border town that belongs equally to two states all add up to the real memory of the trip. Winter months bring the most comfortable weather for river walks and temple visits, while the monsoon fills the Siruvani and its waterfalls to their fullest. Sterling Anaikatti, a 3-acre resort spread across 33 pinewood chalets on the riverbank, keeps this stretch of forest and water within easy reach. Regional dishes like Meen Pollichathu are served at its own Gaja Hut restaurant, ayurvedic treatments wait at The Spa, and the resort's river deck offers a front-row seat for birdwatching before a night safari heads out after dark.