Eco-tourism infrastructure gets a boost with two more eco huts getting ready in Pachamalai hills
The infrastructure enhancements have been carried out under the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives (TANII) 2024-25 with an allocation of ₹1.1 crore.
Two eco huts have been constructed at Top Sengattupatti atop the Pachamalai as part of the department's ongoing eco-tourism infrastructure enhancement, said a senior official. The eco huts have been provided with double cots, a separate dining place, restroom, and a verandah for visitors to enjoy the verdant environment on the hills.
A British-era bungalow has been renovated as part of this initiative and made ready to accommodate tourists. The eco huts and the revamped British bungalow would be thrown open to the visitors soon, the official said.
A part of the Eastern ghats, the scenic Pachamalai, which comes under the Thuraiyur Forest Range, is endowed with thick forest areas, ridges and valleys. It is home to various animal and bird species besides butterflies. A study undertaken by the Forest Department in December 2024 recorded as many as 126 butterfly species and a healthy butterfly population in the hill region. The hilly terrain has the popular Koraiyar and Mangalam waterfalls besides dedicated trekking routes at Sholamathi, Kalaimman Koil, and Kuthirai Paathai for the trekkers and adventure lovers.
Amenities at waterfalls
The officials said bathing facilities had been improved at the Koraiyar falls. This includes construction of safe access steps and provision of safety rails for secure bathing in the stream. Safety measures have also been put in place at Mangalam falls. All these developments complement the existing two tree top accommodations which were established in 2015 to promote eco-tourism at Pachamalai.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
7 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Russian Boeing lands safely back to Siberia to check its cabin pressure systems
A Russian passenger plane operated by S7 Airlines landed safely on Friday after turning back to Novosibirsk airport in Siberia to check its cabin pressure systems, flight tracking data showed. S7 had said in a statement earlier on Friday that the plane, which had been flying to the southern Russian resort city of Sochi, had been forced to return to its departure airport.(Image for represenation/Pixabay) S7 had said in a statement earlier on Friday that the plane, which had been flying to the southern Russian resort city of Sochi, had been forced to return to its departure airport "to check the cabin pressure control system." The tracking website indicated that the plane, a Boeing 737 with seating capacity for 176 passengers manufactured in 2001, landed safely. The website had earlier indicated that the plane sent an emergency signal. The site tracked it turning back and then repeatedly circling and flying in large loops to use up its fuel before landing. The airline said in a statement that a replacement aircraft had been prepared to carry passengers to their original destination of Sochi. The Western Siberian Transport Prosecutor's office said it had been monitoring the incident. The incident comes a day after an An-24 passenger plane crashed in Russia's far east as it was preparing to land, killing all 48 people on board in an incident that spotlighted the continued use of old, Soviet-era aircraft.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Inside Priyanka Chopra's Journey Through Jaipur, One Of World Most Renowned Gem Capitals, With Bulgari
Priyanka Chopra is creating quite a buzz amidst the internet goers yet again. This time around, the Heads of State actress who is also the Bulgari Global Brand Ambassador explores the ins and outs of Jaipur, Rajasthan with Lucia Silvestri, Bulgari Jewellery Creative and Gems buying Director. Together they explore how Silvestri hand selects the colourful gems that will make their way into Bulgari's next collection. But that wasn't all they promenaded through the lanes of the iconic Johari Bazaar (which literally translates to jeweller's market) full of lanes of Bandhani dupattas, mojaris, gemstones, spices, the freshness of mogra flowers, gemstones adorned traditional kundan necklaces, orange skies full of birds in flight which are the ultimate vision of hope. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BVLGARI Official (@bvlgari) Priyanka makes her way through the diwan-e-khas at the City Palace in Jaipur which is home to the current maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Padmanabh Singh. The iconic venue was constructed for private audiences with the maharaja at the time which was a sight to behold with its terracotta painted walls (which are a tint of pink) and laden with hand painted floral décor across its walls and jharokhas alike. It is said that the city of Jaipur was painted pink in the year 1876 when India was still colonised by the British and even now the new houses have to painted pink so that the city stays cohesive and proves to be the architectural gem that it is. Jaipur, the pink city is one of the gemstone capitals of the world, and colour is spread everywhere across the bustling markets to the local neighbourhoods, the gorgeous traditional Rajasthani clothes and mojaris worn by the locals, to the tie and dye dupattas and sarees laden with gilded zari details available across the city's bazaars. But nothing could be more grand than the royal heritage of the city and the gemstones that bring out the myriad hues of the land of the sand dunes, camels and beyond. It is safe to say that Priyanka Chopra opens doors into rediscovering the sheer gem that Jaipur is in all its grandiosity. Priyanka Chopra's Jaipur escapade is a celebration of royalty, gemstone and a kaleidoscope of colours.
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Shiva temples at heart of Thailand-Cambodia clashes: All about Prasat Preah Vihear, Prasat Ta Muen Thom
Thailand and Cambodia are locked in a bitter spat over an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of both countries and Laos meet. This area is also home to several ancient temples, including the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple near which the recent clashes broke out early Thursday. The ancient Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia has also been the site of some of the most prominent and violent past conflicts between the countries. Prasat Preah Vihear and Prasat Ta Muen Thom, both Khmer-era Hindu temples about 95 miles apart, are two of the key sites where tensions flared on Thursday. Prasat Ta Muen Thom is reportedly on the Thai side of the border, and Prasat Preah Vihear is on the Cambodian side of the border. Both countries claim ownership of these disputed sites. Here's all you need to know about Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple in Thailand and Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia: The ancient Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple stands along the border of Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. It is among the contested sites in Thailand's northeastern Surin province. Prasat Ta Muen Thom archaeological site is located at Ban Nong Khanna, Tambon Ta Mueang and is on the Thai-Cambodian border. It is a Khmer archaeological site of three buildings located nearby each other. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It houses a Shivling from a natural rock formation in its sanctum sanctorum. Prasat Ta Muen Thom is located about 800 metres to the south of Prasat Ta Muen Tot. It was assumed to have been built around the 12th century, which is older than its two companion temples — Prasat Ta Muen and Prasat Ta Muen Tot. It is part of a larger temple complex on a strategic pass along the ancient Khmer highway that links Angkor in present‑day Cambodia with Phimai in Thailand. Both sides have been fighting because of the temple's location. The temple, accessible from both sides, is in a poorly demarcated part of the border and stands as an important religious and cultural site for both Cambodians and the Thai. Troops from both countries constantly patrol the temple's area, leading to frequent skirmishes. Cambodia claims the temple is based on historical Khmer Empire boundaries, which included modern-day Cambodia and parts of Thailand. But Thailand say it's in its Surin province. Earlier in February, a group of Cambodian soldiers had reportedly visited the temple area and began singing their national anthem, The Khmer Times, a Cambodian news outlet, reported. They were confronted by Thai soldiers. The last time clashes between Thailand and Cambodia turned deadly over the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple was in 2011. The Preah Vihear temple is dedicated to Shiva and is situated on the edge of a plateau that dominates the plain of Cambodia. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been at the center of past disputes. It "is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture, in terms of plan, decoration and relationship to the spectacular landscape environment," UNESCO says. UNESCO records the temple as dating back to the first half of the 11th century AD. Nevertheless, its complex history can be traced to the 9th century, when the hermitage was founded. This site is particularly well preserved, mainly due to its remote location. Amid the violence at the border, the Thai air force said F-16 jets carried out two bombing runs on Cambodian positions. Cambodia claimed those bombs landed near the Preah Vihear temple. The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia has been using the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate. Cambodia complained that Thailand had occupied a piece of its territory surrounding the ruins of the Temple of Preah Vihear. It asked the International Court of Justice to declare that territorial sovereignty over the Temple belonged to it and that Thailand was under an obligation to withdraw the armed detachment stationed there since 1954. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over the Preah Vihear temple area to Cambodia. The ruling became a major irritant in bilateral relations. It also held that Thailand was under an obligation to withdraw any military or police force stationed there and to restore to Cambodia any objects removed from the ruins since 1954.
