Vaniyar dam - Salem

On a Sunday, I and my friend decided to spend some time together. We planned to go to Vaniyar dam, which is located in the foothills of Shevaroys. We started by bike after having the breakfast and took the Salem-Tirupattur road. We reached the dam after some inquiries with some local people for exact way.

Vaniyar dam

Other side of dam

Vaniyar dam with almost to its full storage level and Shevaroys as perfect backdrop is a great scenery. The climate was also pleasant at that time and we had a great time enjoying the scenery. We trekked in the Shevaroys for some distance and had a great view from there, nearby villagers were also trekking as it is a short cut to their home. 

About Vaniyar dam:

Vaniyar dam is located in Pappireddipatti taluk of Dharmapuri district. It is built across the Vaniyar river with storage depth of 65ft. The dam receives the water during the monsoon season and reaches the maximum level during Oct - Nov.  Nearly Ten thousand of acres of cultivation land is irrigated through the water supplied from canals. One can trek from there into Shevaroys forest to reach the Yercaud. 

Vaniyar dam

After taking some snaps and having good time we left and took the same route. In the middle, we stopped in a place called Manjavadi pass. It is a small pass in eastern ghats which stretches some two to three kilometers.  The road has two to three hair pin bends and more importantly the area is covered thick with bamboo trees. Forest department has a check post there and nearby a temple is there where nearby villagers worship. 

After slowing down there for a moment for some snaps, we reached the home.

Manjavadi pass

Nearby Manjavadi pass

How to reach Vaniyar dam:

From Salem, proceed to Ayodhyapattnam, take left in the Railway crossing, Which is the Tirupattur road. After around 30kms, diversion is there in left which will take you to Pappireddipatti. From there you can reach the dam easily. Total distance from Salem will be around 45kms. 

The best time to visit is between Oct to Jan as the dam will be upto its full level.

Sri Chakra Maha Meru Temple - Yercaud

Yercaud, the nearest hill station for me which is about 30kms only from my home. After celebrating the Diwali, the next day on Sunday our family started to Yercaud exactly during noon. Reached the Yercaud lake by 1 p.m. The climate was alternating, sometimes cloudy and sometimes sunshine and hot.

After enjoying the view of lake and spending sometime in the park, we had our lunch in the Waterfront restaurant, which is just opposite to the lake. Then we proceeded to the Nagalore to visit the Sri Chakra Maha Meru temple. I have been to Yercaud with my friends several times and visited most of the places, but this is my first visit to the less known temple.

We reached the temple in Nagalore by 3.30 p.m. People were waiting inside to have a darshan of main deity Lalitha Tripurasundari but sannadhi remain closed till 4 p.m. The first thing you will notice here is the atmosphere and the peace. It is an ideal place for doing meditation.

Some facts and beliefs about Sri Chakra Maha Meru

It is believed that the almighty wanted to create several forms of himself. Almighty created the female part called Devi, then Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, who protects the Universe and Shiva, the destroyer. It is believed that Devi is more powerful than Trinity and called Parashakthi.

Maha means 'Big' and Meru means 'Mountain'.

Lord Shiva created 64 Tantras to safeguard all the living beings in the Universe. Lord Shiva preached the 64 Tantras to the Devi, which is called as 'Sri Vidhya'.

Lord Shiva (Buddha in front)

The Sri Chakra is believed as Shiva-Shakthi. It Consists of series of Triangles around a small central circle called 'Bindu', which represents the Shiva-Sakthi in Union , rest represents the Cosmos.

The three dimensional pyramid on temple, when viewed from top will give the look and form of Sri Chakra. It is believed that worshiping the Devi with Sri Chakra is equal to worshiping the ultimate force. 

This is the World's biggest Sri Chakra Maha Meru temple.

Three Dimensional Pyramid
Photo Courtesy :Sri Chakra Maha Meru Temple, Yercaud

Note: More details is given in the temple. If found anything wrong in content, please correct me.

The temple is governed by a private body. The Temple is so serene because it is only couple of years old. Some people in temple told me that actor Rajnikanth is often visiting this temple whenever he finds time. I thought to myself that devotees will throng the temple soon.

Photo collected from Internet 

After an eyeful of darshan and archanai, we left the temple and took some snaps outside the sannadhi (Please note that camera and cell phone is prohibited in sannadhi). After finishing the temple visit we opted for view points. We had a great view from Gents, Ladies and children' seat. The rain lashed heavily and sudden drop in temperature is felt and climate changed drastically. Everywhere fog and mist so we decided to get down from hills as quick as possible because soon it will turn dark and driving a car will be tough one.

Sri Chakra Maha Meru

Temple Timings:

Temple is open for darshan from 6 a.m to 1 p.m. After that reopens at 4 p.m  and stay open till 7 p.m

How to Reach:

Temple is located at Nagalore, which is exactly at 7 kms from Yercaud lake. After reaching Yercaud lake from Salem, take left in roundtana, Which will take you to the famous Shevaroyan temple road. After some two or three kms, a diversion at right is there which will lead to the Shevaroyan temple, but go straight to reach Nagalore. Lot of buses from Yercaud are running to Nagalore. The road is good but bit narrow and you can enjoy some great view of Valleys while driving.

Anaimaduvu Reservoir - Belur, Salem

Anaimaduvu Reservoir or Puzhuthikuttai dam is constructed across Upper Vellar river(also known as Anaimaduvu river). It is located in Foothill of Upper Kalrayan in Vazhapadi taluk of Salem district.

Anaimaduvu Reservoir

The length of the earthen dam is 670m and the maximum height of the dam is 27.94m. It irrigates more than 2000 hectares of cultivation land in villages around Vazhapadi and Ayodhyapattanam.

Entrance

The surrounding Kalryan hills and betel nut trees provides a great visual treat to eyes. If you are visiting the Belur shiva temple, then don't miss this spot. It is just five kms away from the shiva temple. It is surely a nice getaway from the city congestion and pollution on a weekend. The best time to visit is between November and January as the reservoir would be almost full and climate will also be pleasant.

Thanthondreeswarar Temple - Belur, Salem

Sri Thanthondreeswarar temple is located in the Belur near Vazhapadi of Salem district. The main deity here is Lord Thanthondreeswarar(Lord Shiva). The temple was built during 12th century by the Cholas.

Lord Shiva in the temple here is Suyambu Lingam (Lingam originated itself from earth). The temple's speciality is the main deity and mother are together in the temple. There is a horse vahan sculpture in the temple made of a single stone.

Rajagopuram(97 ft tall)

Thanthondreeswarar

Darshan Timings : 6 a.m to 12 p.m and 4 p.m to 9 p.m

How to reach from Salem:

Proceed to Ayodhyapattanam, take left and proceed in state highway-18, within a km a diversion to the Belur road is there at right which will take you to the Temple. This road is good and traffic less than NH-68.

A small trip to Kuruvampatti Zoological park - Salem

Entrance

      Kuruvampatti or Kurumbapatti zoo is located on the foothills of YERCAUD, the queen of Shevaroys. It is spread on 12 hectares and it is well maintained and organized by the Tamilnadu forest Department. The zoo provides shelter to some of the endangered Mugger crocodile, mammals, reptiles and birds.

On a festival holiday, I planned a small trip to the zoo from Salem city without much expectation. The road to the zoo after diversion from Yercaud road is worse; it took half an hour to cross the 5km to reach the zoo. Once I reached there, I felt a pleasant climate and lot of greenery. 

Kuruvampatti zoo

The department officials have placed sign boards everywhere in the zoo, so no confusion while visiting. The first thing i saw was star tortoise, a typical sub continental creature. Next to that was marsh or mugger crocodile (I can’t expect a gharial or salt water croc there).

In the bird’s section, as usual parrots, pigeons, some small birds were found. Some varieties of Parakeets like Alexandrian, Rose ringed, Plum headed were also there.Interestingly, for the first time I saw yellow footed green pigeons.

A big separate bird cage has been set for Peafowl. The beautiful white peafowl has been kept in a separate cage. Apart from that, a cage bigger than the peafowl’s was set near to the children’s park. It is for the water birds like Little Egret, Grey heron and the large throat pouched Grey pelican.

Water birds cage

A small water body or lake is there along the corner of the zoo, which serves the drinking purpose of animals and birds during summer. A stream of water from that lake runs along the zoo, and a couple of small catchment dam has been made which makes the place more beautiful with bamboo trees. As it was end of November, water level is full but during summer it will go almost dry.

Small lake near foothill

Next to the lake, a pair of Sambar deer is freely roaming in a large area allotted. Parallel to that chitals or spotted deers were spotted by us.  Finally, the majestic animal, Elephant is in open area for viewing to attract the children. I spotted a unlucky monkey (Macaque) in the cage, the one which is caught, but most of the macaques are roaming freely and seizes the eatables from visitors. Moreover reptiles like snakes and small mammals like Rabbit are also there. 

Tiny catchment dam

It is just a nice place to visit who would like to spend a couple of hours with the family. In my view, the zoo will attract more people if they add a carnivore like leopard, jackals, fox and a huge animal like gaur and a sloth bear.

The zoo closes around 5 pm and good time to visit is during november to february, during other months lake will be dry and you will be experiencing a hot and sultry weather.

Some of the pictures taken in Kuruvampatti zoo:

Hill side view

Sambar deer

Nice pose

Mugger crocodile

Chitals or spotted deer

Children's park

Children's favorite

Some Pictures collected from the Web:

Bridge across stream(Thanks to Beautiful salem community @ Facebook)

White Peacock

Zoo layout

                                                       

How to reach the zoo from 5 roads, Salem:

Take the route to Hasthampatti, in the roundtana take left and proceed to Yercaud road. After 3kms, near gorimedu roundtana take left which will proceed to the zoo (5kms roughly from there).

From Yercaud:

From yercaud to Salem at the end of ghat road, a small diversion is there at right (100m before Ganesh temple) which will take you to the zoo.