Kumbakarai Falls To Vattakanal Trek | Plan The Unplanned - May

Going by the literal meaning, Kodaikanal stands for ‘The Gift of the Forests’ and is often referred to as the Princess of Hill Stations. A perfect retreat destination for people seeking some freshness away from the chores of the city life, Kodaikanal is the place to be if you are looking for serenity.

Located at an altitude of 6,998 ft, the meadows and grasslands cover the hills while the giant eucalyptus trees and the Shola forests flourish in the valleys below. There are some breathtaking waterfalls in this region, which will surely blow your mind and make you fall in love with the place.

Breezy, cool weather throughout the year, vast patches of lush greenery, a fun trekking experience, wild bison idling amongst eucalyptus trees – these are some of the things you’d associate with a trip to Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu.

Crystal-clear water of its lakes and waterfalls reflects the images of the nearby greeneries. Strolling through these blissful wood, plucking delicacies
like avocados and fresh apples is an enjoyable way to spend your time in Vattakanal. So book your spot with us and let’s embrace the bliss of being amidst nature’s lap.

DAY 0

• Pick up from Bangalore (7:00 PM)

 DAY 1 

• Reach Kumbakarai Village, Freshen up and have your Breakfast
• Visit Kumbakarai Falls
• Start the trek towards the Vellagavi Village
• Packed lunch on the way
• Reach Campsite at Vellagavi Village
• Dinner 
• Stay in tents

 DAY 2

• Have an early start to the day
• Breakfast
• Resume trek towards Vattakanal at 8 AM
• Stop by Echo Point and Dolphins Nose
• Reach Vattakanal
• Visit the Vattakanal Waterfalls
• Explore Kodaikanal
• Depart to Bangalore and reach by 5 AM  next morning (Approx)

STAY

• Accommodation in tents on double/triple sharing basis
• Separate for men & women
• Sleepings bags/blankets available

MEALS

• Breakfast on Day 1 & Day 2
• Packed Lunch on Day 1
• Dinner on Day 1
• All meals included will be Veg

TRANSPORT

• Non-A/C Tempo Traveller or Mini-bus with push back seats depending on group size
• Bangalore to Bangalore

OTHER INCLUSIONS

• Trek Leads from Plan The Unplanned Team
• Forest Guide
• Forest Permits
• Entry charges to waterfalls

OTHER EXCLUSIONS

• Any kind of insurance
• Personal Expenses (snacks, mineral water etc)
• Anything not included above

GROUP SIZE

• 12-21 Members
• We have an equal male to female ratio for most of our treks
• We require a minimum of 8 members to confirm the event
• In case we fail to obtain the required minimum, full refund or the option to transfer to any other event will be provided. (Option of transfer shall be subject to payment/refund of balance amount if any)

Day 0 – Depart for Kumbakkarai:

We begin our journey from Bangalore in the late evening after picking up trek participants from various boarding points. We will be covering a distance of around 440 km to reach Kumbakkarai Falls overnight. The aim is to reach on time so, all travellers are expected to have a light dinner before boarding. As we hit the road, the trek leads will give you a brief summary about the trek and then get you acquainted with fellow travellers through the signature Plan The Unplanned intro sessions. By the time dawn arrives, you’ll feel right at
home with your fellow travellers.

Day 1 – The Kumbakkarai Falls to Vattakanal Falls Trek:

Kumbakkarai is located along the Kodai-Vellagavi-Periyakulam trail in the Theni District of Tamil Nadu, 9 km from Periyakulam. Once we reach, freshen up, have your breakfasts, and then get ready for our first day of the trek. Make sure you carry enough water, as it is going to be a long one.

Kumbakkarai Waterfalls – Our first day starts by visiting and exploring the famous Kumbakkarai Waterfalls, a popular tourist spot loved by people of all ages, especially kids. It is known for the clean environment and being at the foothills of Kodaikanal Hills, its waters are blessed with healing properties. At the first stage, water collects in huge rock recesses which are each named after wild animals such as tiger, elephant, snake, etc. The Pambar river then flows 5 km to the second stage before falling as the main waterfall. The water originates in Kodaikanal Hills and flows along the rocks until it finally reaches the foothills. The water flows throughout the year; but in rainy seasons, the flow will be very heavy.

The place around the falls is very scenic. If you look close enough, you can even spot the two-stage fall of Kumbakkarai. While trekking,  depending on how lucky you are, one can also find a wide variety of animals and birds. Be sure to keep an eye out for them. We will then set off on an exciting day of trekking starting from Kumbakarai Falls till Vellagavi Village where we shall camp for the night.

Day 2 – Resume Trek & the Journey Back:

Today we have an early start to the day. Catch the sunrise, freshen up, have breakfast, and continue to our final destination, Vattakanal, where we will
also be hiking up to Echo Point is the farthest of all, but one of the best vantage point overlooking trees and small towns. It also has a trail of shrubberies and other plants. Make sure you capture the pictures it in your travel diaries. Many people visit this unique place every year as the view is just amazing from the hills and the sunset is mesmerizing too.

Dolphin’s nose which is a mere 10 minutes walk from Echo Point is basically a narrow rock lookout overhanging a precipitous drop. You might spot a Gaur
(bison) or giant squirrels in the forested areas. The path is covered with pines and long trees which make it look beautiful.

Next stop on our trek will be at the scenic Vattakanal Waterfalls. Birds and
other animals around the waterfalls make it even more beautiful. Enjoy the view, freshen up, and check out the stalls that have been set up for tourists selling various snacks and refreshments.

After a long trek, now it’s time to depart from this beautiful place as we head back to Bangalore with unforgettable memories! Expect to be back around 10 PM (Approx)

ADVISORY

• Consumption of alcohol, intoxicants and smoking would not be tolerated during the entire course of the journey and the trek. Kindly co-operate with us to make the experience more fun.
• Do not expect any luxuries on the trip. The locations that we host are at remote places and we do our best to arrange the basic facilities. The goal is to be outdoors.
• The Food that shall be provided will be Basic Veg Food. We do not serve Non-Veg Food.
• Put Litter in its place, do not trash your travel.
• Plan The Unplanned shall not be responsible for any of your belongings, valuables, jewellery etc.  Kindly do take care.
• In the case of traffic delays or breakdowns, expect a little delay in reaching the destination.