The serene village of Avalanche offers an enchanting journey through a high-altitude mountain ecosystem, where a local jeep ride through the cauliflower shola forest unveils breathtaking waterfalls, expansive grasslands, and abundant wildlife like gaurs and sambar deer. The landscape, dotted with wattle plantations from the British era, evokes the charm of the English countryside, while the vibrant shola forest stretches endlessly into the horizon. Along the way, stunning views of Mukurthi Peak and the Upper Bhavani Dam captivate the senses, culminating in a visit to the Kolaribetta tower, where panoramic vistas complete this unforgettable adventure in nature's embrace.
Maximum Elevation: 2625 MSL(Approx.) Meters
Forest Type: Shola, Open Grassland and Wattle
Nearby Medical Facility: Primary health care center Emerald - 17 km
Nearby Bus Stand: Ooty - 31 km
Nearby Airport: Coimbatore - 108 km
Nearby Railway Station: Ooty - 31 km
Parking Facilities: Yes
My recent trek to Kolaribetta was nothing short of magical. It happened soon after the trails were reopened post the summer closure, and to my surprise, I was the only registered trekker that day. I half expected the trek to be cancelled due to the low turnout—but Trek Tamil Nadu had other plans. Despite being the lone participant, the trek went ahead seamlessly, and I was deeply impressed by the commitment and hospitality of the entire team. Trek leaders Deepak and Pradeep, along with Forest Officer Thirumoorthy, ensured that I was safe, comfortable, and completely immersed in the experience from the moment it began. From coordinating transport to sharing insights about the region, they went above and beyond—I truly felt like royalty. Although I’m from Kerala and currently settled in Bangalore, Tamil Nadu has always held a special place in my heart—and this trek only deepened that bond. The trail itself was breathtaking: a vivid canvas of different shades of green, meandering streams, towering trees, flower-dotted meadows, and lush valleys that felt untouched by time. Wildlife sightings added a sense of thrill—we spotted sambar deer and langurs, and though this forest is home to tigers, leopards, and bears, we didn’t spot any. Perhaps that was fortunate... or perhaps I’ll save those encounters for another trek! We carried our own snacks and water, but nature generously offered its bounty—wild berries and guavas, and the sweetest water from pristine forest streams. What impressed me most is the thoughtful initiative by the Government of Tamil Nadu in promoting eco-tourism and responsible trekking. These treks don’t just offer physical challenges—they reconnect us with the natural world in the most intimate and grounding way. My heartfelt thanks to the Trek Tamil Nadu team—especially Deepak, Pradeep, and Thirumoorthy—for treating me not just as a trekker, but as a guest and a friend. This was an experience I’ll always cherish. I’m already looking forward to more treks with Trek Tamil Nadu. Here’s to more trails, trees, and tranquil moments ahead.
Completed the trek with kids. Completely safe for family and guides were amazing. Do not expect wild animals though occasionally you might spot some deer / goat at far distance. View of mountain cascades and mist clad peak is wonderful experience.. and we would wish to do many of such treks.
Myself and my friend took this trek on Dec 27th, there were totally 7 people with us and we had 3 guides. First of all, the view you get from the peak is priceless. It is unmatched, you cannot get a similar view anywhere in south India. And the guides were very friendly, they answered all over questions without hesitation. You can spot some wild animals mentioned if you are lucky, we were only able to get a view of sambar deer and indian gaur. We learned few new things in the wild. This is an easy to moderate trek, most of the people can try this. One of the best experience I ever had in a trek.
I took this trek on the 17th of November 2024. Navigating to the trek head was so easy, I was given a google maps link ahead. A day prior to the trek, the trek guide Mr. Sukumar contacted me to verify my booking and arrival time. The trek was easy for a reasonably fit person. Very scenic as I did it in November, cool weather, cloudy hilltops in the view. I booked it alone, but made friendships with the other trekkers who accompanied me. Mr. Sukumar and his team were super attentive and were giving their best in educating us, guiding us and making sure each one of us reached safely. Seriously, MASSIVE MASSIVE THANKS TO SUPRIYA SAHU MA'AM and her team for making this happen. Truly happy that anyone can now access these treks with Trek Tamil Nadu website. We were given snacks, and Poha at Kolaribetta Hilltop. It was super filling and yet light enough to keep us on our toes. Couple of suggestions: 1. I feel like the "Things to take" list that is on the website is a generic "cookie cutter" that lists out way too many items. Like for example, I did not need extra tees. I felt I could have packed lighter if I had just stuck to my gut-feeling. To those choosing this trek, I would best suggest you to pack according to what the trek guide says when they call in a day ahead. 2. To the Trek Tamil Nadu team, your hospitality is so amazing. Had a wonderful experience, starting from booking till ending the trek. My suggestion to you is, please kindly avoid giving wonderful merchandise like the Caps in the travel kit, because most of us carry caps. Instead I would suggest you to include something like a badge that says "I completed this XYZ trek with Trek Tamil Nadu", you can instead sell exclusive Trek Tamil Nadu Merchandise like Caps, Rain Coats, Jackets, Trekkie Bags, Leech Socks and Boots on your website. I would happily purchase any of these online to support the cause. At the end of the day, if excluding merchandise from your trek kit can make the trek marginally cheaper, then it will be so much more better. Finally, to those who feel like the cost of the trek is too much. I felt the same while booking. After the trek, I definitely think that its very aptly priced given the service that we got. Keep in mind, the price also includes the trekking permit fee. Thank you Supriya Sahu Ma'am, Thank you Trek Tamil Nadu Team and thank you Mr. Sukumar for organizing this wonderful trek. Thank you thank you thank you.
Me and my daughter undertook the trek last week. The whole conduct was professional and organised well. The route is scenic and gradual, with guides who know the area very well. Thank you for organising a memorable trek. Looking forward to future treks with trektamilnadu. Regards