Best time to visit : October to May
Bellikkal, a small village located in the Nilgiri Hills of Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, can be best explained as the true gift of nature to the ardent nature admirers and wildlife explorers. Not many tourists know about this hill resort which actually works in maintaining its indefinable beauty. A perfect holiday destination for nature lovers, as well as adventurers and honeymoon couples, Bellikkal is a fortune of invigorating lakes, valleys, forests and innumerable vintage points. Cool weather, fresh breeze and pollution-free ambience are the highlights of this South Indian wonder. Presence of abundant flora and fauna makes the scenic views even more impressive.
Facts
Bellikkal is among the most notable examples of ecological diversity the South Indian region is known for. Rich cardamom plantations dominate the region and raise the bar of nature’s ultimate splendour. The village is also a worthwhile example of wildlife reserve where humans and animals co-exist and live in harmony. Winters endow Bellikkal with pleasing climatic conditions, while summers can be moderate to extremely hot, making the region dry. Monsoons bring heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are also common.
Small shops offering tea/coffee and snacks and authentic South Indian food items can be found in the village. However, there are no popular restaurants or eating joints in Bellikkal. Tourists usually prefer to move to the nearby town of Ooty.
Bellikkal lacks shops and marketplaces and tourists interested in the same can visit Ooty or any other nearby destination.
Nearby Places:
Ooty: Also known as Ootacamund, this hill station attracts thousands of tourists to explore its popular attractions like botanical gardens, lakes, rose gardens, churches and nature adorned with picturesque landscapes.
Coonoor: Another world-famous hill station, Coonoor is characterized by array of tea gardens, waterfalls and numerous picnic spots offering panoramic views of mesmerizing natural majesty.
Kotagiri: Nilgiris has endless choices of lovely hill stations and Kotagiri is one of them. The place is admired for its extremely pleasant climate and attractions like tea gardens and Longwood forests.
Bandipur National Park: One of the many tiger reserves in India, this national park is the home to many endangered species like gaur, sloth bear and four-horned antelopes. The park also accommodates well protected sandalwood forests.
Mudumalai National Park: Another wildlife reserve in the Nilgiris, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary has impressive counts of Bengal tigers, Indian elephants, gaurs and many endangered species of vultures.
Coimbatore: The city has many well-known Hindu temples like Anjeneyar Kovil, Perur Pateeshwarar Temple and Marudhamalai Hill Temple.
Best Time to Visit :
Winter months from mid-October to mid-March are the best to get engaged in comfortable sightseeing in Bellikkal.