If you are the kind of traveller who is looking for adventure, fresh air and a location which is different from the usual holiday destinations, then head to Vellagavi, Tamil Nadu, a 300-year-old obscure little hamlet next to the well-known tourist spot, Kodaikanal and feel the pleasure of nature at its best.
The village has only about 150 people with approx 50 houses, is located among the lush green terrains of Western Ghats and is popular for two unique features – one, the number of temples in Vellagavi exceed the number of residential houses. Second, the locals refuse to wear any footwear, because they feel that gods coexist in the area with them.
Hence, when you reach there, explore the village barefoot. You will also see signs that read ‘Please remove the foot wears’ before entering the village!
The reason is simple – the locals treat the entire village as a temple and hence the footwear removal policy. Earlier, they were very rigid about this but now, things have improved and they let tourists come in, till a point, with footwear.
Reaching this peaceful, clean and enchanting place isn’t easy too. If you are a die-hard trekker, love the thrills of difficult treks that stretch your limit, then this will be an experience of a lifetime. There are no roads here. You pass through the dense forests of Kumbakarai and the journey takes about six to eight hours.
How to get here –
It is close to both Kodaikanal and Vattakanal. Ideal is to start from Kodaikanal, walk down to Dolphin’s Nose and then head to Vellagavi.
The temples, the idyllic nature walks, the clean oxygen enriched air and the smiling locals, this place is ideal for camping too. A night filled with the starry sky!