The trek to Guthirayan Peak is a thrilling and adrenaline-fueled challenge. Situated in Krishnagiri district, the trek offers a journey through diverse ecosystems and wild habitats and ends with a high mountain viewpoint offering a panoramic view. Guthirayan peak is the highest point of the Melagiri Hills. The dense tree cover and moderate climate experienced throughout the season ease the toughness of the trek. You'll encounter birds and butterflies that are unique to the region.
Maximum Elevation: 1402 MSL(Approx.) Meters
Forest Type: Dry mixed deciduous, Bamboo brakes, Southern moist
Nearby Medical Facility: Unisetty PHC - 18 Kms
Nearby Bus Stand: Denkanikottai - 33 km
Nearby Airport: Bangalore - 129 kms / Chennai - 313 km
Nearby Railway Station: Hosur - 56 km
Parking Facilities: Yes
This was my first trekking experience in the Eastern Ghats, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. The Gutherayan Peak and Melagiri Hills are truly special. this range forms a natural bridge between the Eastern and Western Ghats. Although the forests are lush and green, the climate here is strikingly different from the Western Ghats, making the trail both unique and physically demanding. The 11 km round trip is a thrilling challenge, especially if you love exploring deep forests and scrambling over rugged rocks that offer panoramic views of the surrounding hill ranges. Every step feels raw and immersive. The journey itself, from Aiyur to Kodakarai is an experience worth mentioning. Once you reach the village, the full trail takes around 6.5 hours to complete. Throughout the trek, the forest staff were incredibly supportive, pointing out key spots, encouraging breaks, and keeping us motivated all the way to the peak. A special thanks to Ganesh and Kumar for being such helpful and knowledgeable guides. If you're someone who loves to explore not just landscapes but also the culture and spirit of the Eastern Ghats, this trek to Gutherayan Peak is a perfect place to begin. Suggestions for Trek Tamil Nadu: 1. Instead of providing generic booklets about birds and locations, it would be more useful to offer materials specific to each trail or ecosystem. Authentic information about underrated spots like Gutherayan Peak is hard to find, and only the government can do justice in documenting and sharing such details. You could consider making these resources available as soft copies or publishing them on the website for easier access. 2. It would be helpful if details about how to reach the location via public transport and where to find accommodations (such as TNFD Sutrula stays) were available directly on the website. I had to make multiple calls to customer support and trekking officers to gather this information. If such details were clearly listed for all trails, it would help trekkers plan their trips more efficiently and confidently. 3. In addition to the online certificates, it would be great if you could provide physical cards or printed certificates as souvenirs. These would serve as memorable keepsakes for trekkers and could also encourage more people to complete additional trails and build a collection.
This place is very good who likes to be in less crowded nature. The guides were very good and informative. The lake in the middle of the forest and the broken tree on it gives you a different feel altogether. This trek has the combination of plains, dense trees and hill rocks. The stunning view of the valley will be visible on the way to Kodakarai from Ayyur forest bungalow. This place was mentioned by a popular author "Kenneth Anderson" as Spider Valley. [https://aravindgundumane.com/2010/03/day-in-spider-valley/]. This is worth spending time with family and friends for a day. The adjacent place Panchapalli dam, Bettamuhilalam, Ayyur and Saami lake are the bonus places if you travel by your own vehicle.
This trail is truly an untouched natural gem, feeling wonderfully remote. The only real challenge is getting to the start point in Kodakarai village after the Aiyur Ecotourism Park formalities, but it's well worth it. Once you're in the reserve forest, you're greeted by a beautiful mountain-fed lake, a perfect spot to hear the birds and insects. Our guides mentioned that animals frequent the lake in the mornings and evenings – a great wildlife spotting opportunity! The ascent to the peak takes you deep into the forest, and if you're quiet, you might hear wild chickens and boars. Our guides even pointed out bear markings along the trail. The peak offers fantastic views, with the potential to see Mettur Dam on a clear day. As expected, the guides were professional and incredibly helpful. The reduced cost (~Rs. 1700) makes this already incredible experience even more accessible, though it seems some additional services like snacks are no longer included.