Coimbatore - Entertainment, Hangout and Weekend Get away

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[Kandeeban]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/l...w/19614374.cms

Adventure spots in and around Coimbatore

"TOI finds out favourite adventure spots in and around Coimbatore.

Mention the word adventure sports and every adventure junkie in the city would instantly gear up for some adrenaline rush. Adventure sports have many takers in the city as more and more people are partaking in these activities, either to enjoy the pristine beauty of the nature or just to be off the beaten track. Here are a few places in and around Coimbatore, where adventure junkies can let their spirits go wild.

Activity: Canoeing and Kayaking
Place: Sulur Lake

"One of the most sought-after locations in Coimbatore, this lake has served as a hot bed for water sports. On any given day one can witness a hustle bustle of activities that includes kayaking, canoeing, sailing and wind surfing," says Mohammad Ashfaq, an adventure junkie in the city. The Sulur Panchayat and adventure foundations conduct activities at regular intervals to make the best use of the potential of the lake. The place is ideal for sailing in the morning and evening hours and one can bask in the scenic beauty as they can spot migratory birds including pelican, wood sandpiper and Asian paradise flycatcher.

Activity: Paragliding
Place: Nilgiris

The Nilgiris or the Blue Mountains that stretch across the borders of Kerala and Karnataka is one of the preferred locations for trekking, thanks to easy slopes that suit first-timers. But the place has also been billed as an ideal spot for paragliding as well, according to Group Captain Jayashankar (Retd), member of an adventure foundation. "We are reviving new trek routes in the area and are looking at paragliding as a new adventure sports option there. There are already 8 to 10 pilots in paragliding in the city. Mettupalayam and Nilgiris have immense potential for aero sports," he says.

Activity: Rock Climbing
Place: Thirumoorthy Hills and Dam

A one-and-a-half hour drive from Coimbatore, this place has amazing scenic features and serves as an idyllic setting for rock climbing. "A little ahead of Udumalpet, Thirumurthy Hills and Dam is a complete site as its ideal for all adventure sports activities. The water body has features for rock climbing and water sports, thanks to the Panchayat Boat house. We are planning to do a boot camp there soon," says Jayashankar.

Activity: Trekking
Place: Parambikulam

This place is just a little more than an hour's drive from Coimbatore. Parambikulam is a nature lover's delight. It's a well-protected area laced with lush greenery and biological richness. One can do animal sighting here in the rich wilderness. "The Tamil Nadu side of Parambikulam is ideal for water sports and trekking. One can spot diverse varieties of wildlife and some insects that are rare to spot in other parts of the country," says Shyamala Jayashankar, director of an adventure foundation."

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[CBE-SINGAKUTTY]

[faheem9333]

Valparai summer fest begins May 31

COIMBATORE: The annual summer festival to promote tourism at Valparai is all set to begin from May 31. This time it will be more colourful with the festival being converted into a three-day event from a two-day programme as demanded by the local residents.

Tourist potential of this hill station, located about 100 km from Coimbatore, has not been tapped fully and the government is taking sustained efforts to place Valparai on the same platform with other hill stations like Ooty, Coonoor and Kodaikanal. The Valparai residents want better infrastructure to attract more and more tourists.

"Not just infrastructure facilities, government should also consider creation of recreational features like parks, boat houses and rope cars," J Manoj Kumar, a Valparai native and an entrepreneur in Coimbatore said.

According to him, Valparai is unique because it is one of the least explored hill stations. Far from pollution it is a prefect tourist destination. Local people had demanded that the summer festival should be held on a bigger scale on a par with Ooty Summer Fest. "Tourism development in Valparai would bring great change in the lives of the local people, their livelihood will improve to a great extent," Manoj Kumar said.

District collector M Karunagaran recently convened a preparatory meeting over the summer festival at Valparai and directed officials of various government departments to ensure proper arrangements. "A committee has been formed to supervise the arrangements and to make the three-day event a grand success," he said. Flower show, dog show, food festival, exhibitions, sports competitions and cultural events will be held as part of the summer festival between May 31 and June 2.

Officials said special buses from Coimbatore and Pollachi to Valparai will be operated during the summer festival. This apart special buses will ply from Valparai to other tourist locations. Police and fire, rescue service personnel and special medical teams have been asked to be on full alert during the festive days.

The journey to Valparai through the ghat section which has more than 40 hairpin bends with tea plantations on either side provides a breathtaking experience for the travellers.

SUMMER FESTIVAL AT VALPARAI FROM MAY 31

Coimbatore: The annual summer festival to promote tourism at Valparai is set to begin from May 31 and unlike last few years this time the number of days has been extended to three days from two days after demand from local residents. Tourist potential of this hill station located about 100 km from Coimbatore is not tapped fully and the government is taking sustained efforts to place Valparai on par with other hill stations including Ooty, Coonoor and Kodaikanal. Residents of Valparai are demanding that the infrastructure facilities have to be improved for attracting tourists from far and wide locations.

"Not just infrastructure facilities, government should also consider creation of recreational features like park, boat house and rope cars", J Manoj Kumar, a native of Valparai and an entrepreneur in Coimbatore said. According to him, Valparai is unique because it is the least explored hill station that is free of pollution and untouched by human developments. There were also demands from the local people that the summer festival should be held in a bigger scale on par with Ooty summer fest. "Tourism development in Valparai would turn a new chapter in the lives of the local residents as their livelihood will improve to a greater extent", Manoj Kumar added.

District Collector M Karunagaran recently convened a preparatory meeting for hosting the summer festival at Valparai and directed the officials of various government departments to ensure that adequate arrangements are being made. "A committee has been formed to supervise the arrangements and to make the three-day event a grand success", he said. Flower show, dog show, food festival, exhibitions, sports competitions and cultural events among others will also be conducted as part of the summer festival that will be celebrated between May 31 and June 2.

Officials informed that apart from operation of special buses from Coimbatore and Pollachi to Valparai during the summer festival, special bus service from Valparai to famous tourist locations located in the vicinity will also be operated for the convenience of the tourists. Police and fire and rescue service personnel will be pressed into service during these three days to carry out security and fire prevention arrangements respectively. Special medical teams from Coimbatore will also be sent to Valparai for providing medical assistance.

It may be noted that journey to Valparai through the ghat section which has more than 40 hairpin bends with tea plantations on either side provides a breathtaking experience for the travellers.

[faheem9333]

Road connectivity work in tiger reserve area infuriates activists

COIMBATORE: Hardly two months after the Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary was classified as a tiger reserve by the Union environment ministry, three new roads being laid in the forest area has invited the wrath of green activists. They believe the roads will disrupt and disturb wildlife in the region. Interestingly, two of the three road schemes are being promoted by the Tamil Nadu forest department itself, which had pursued the tiger reserve status, to protect and preserve the forest areas bordering Karnataka.

The new roads are Malliammandurgam road linking Kadambur West beat and TN Palayam range, Belathur forest road linking Belathur beat and Thalavadi range and Gundri road linking Gundri beat and TN Palayam range. They are in different stages of construction and if fully implemented they would be detrimental to both traditional forest dwellers and animals. The department is going ahead with the forest roads despite protests by green activists,'' said K Mohanraj of Tamil Nadu green movement.

According to forest department sources, the Malliammandurgam road is about 8 km long. It starts from Kadambur and is situated within the core areas of the tiger reserve. According to local MLA PL Sundaram, the road construction is not illegal as it was permitted by the district collector when he heard that the tribal people were transporting construction material using donkeys to build a school in the forest village. The permission to construct the school was given by the forest department itself. The road is a life line for the local community and it can be justified under Forest Rights Act,'' he said.

"Using the school as an excuse, they are building a permanent road, disturbing the flora and fauna in the region. This will ultimately be detrimental to the tribals," argues M Jayachandran, an activist.

"Forty non-tribal families own about 350 acres of patta land at Malliammandurgam village. There is no electricity in the village driving most out of the area. Only about 15 people actually live there. There is talk that 150 acres have been purchased by outsiders and they are building road connectivity to facilitate real estate, farm houses and resorts," alleges Mohanraj.

The Belathur forest road is 4km of which 3km passes through the reserve. "This metal topped road was built illegally by engineering division of the forest department. This road work is going on stealthy by finishing work inside the forest first to avoid detection. Only a detailed investigation can bring out the truth," says Mohanraj.

The Gundri road from Anjanai junction to Gundri via Valamarathur is 9.6km. It was just a mud road but now it has been asphalted with numerous bridges and culverts inside the wildlife sanctuary by engineering division of the forest department. This road work is being conducted at a cost of Rs.351.61 lakh, funded by Bharat Nirman Phase II. As per Bharat Nirman, every habitation of 1,000 population and above (500 and above in hilly and tribal areas) would be provided with all-weather road connectivity. The forest department said it renovated the road to provide transport facilities for residents of the hilly region.

"Forest roads reduce the habitat quality for wildlife, provides easy access to hunting and poaching and increases human-wildlife conflict,'' says Jayachandran. No clearances were sought from the National Board of Wildlife or ministry of environment and forests,'' he points out.

K Melkani, additional principal chief conservator of forests dealing with tiger reserves, was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts.

[faheem9333]

Kovai Kutralam to remain closed till June end

COIMBATORE: Kovai Kutralam, a much visited tourist spot in the district will remain closed till the end of June due to the severe drought this year. It has been closed to visitors since February and unlike previous years, when the waterfalls was closed for two months, this year it will remain closed for four months.

Boluvampatti forest range officer M S Parthiban said this is the first time in recent years where Kovai Kutralam will be closed for four months. "The forest area is facing severe drought and the level of water in the falls is bare minimum," he said. The famous tourist spot located on the foothills of Western Ghats attracts large number of people throughout the year.

The waterfall located in the thick forest area is managed by the forest department and borrowed its name from Kutralam in Tirunelveli district. Tourism promotion activities, including creation of infrastructural facilities near the waterfalls were set up a few years ago. Tourists were allowed inside the reserve forest area through Chadivayal check post.

Forest officials say that during peak summer months, wild animals tend to stray from the forest area in search of water, causing danger to the public. The prolonged closure of the tourist spot will affect the livelihood of the tribal community living near the forest. These communities are dependent on tourism for their livelihood. "The forest department has given us special permission to sell snacks and other products to tourists in this area and the closure has affected us as we have not done any business for the past three months," said Murugaiah who lives in a tribal settlement at Chadivayal.

With the South-West monsoon expected to begin in Kerala in the first week of June, it is expected that Kovai Kutralam will be opened to the public by the end of June.