Kolli Hills ('Kollimalai' in Tamil) is one of the top gems of Tamil Nadu.

It has 14 villages that are inhabited by a tribal community called Malai Alis (Malai means Hill, and Alis means Dwellers) with an estimated total population of 42,200 people.

It was once part of the ruling land of the famed king, Valvil Ori, a brave and generous Tamil king.

Beautiful and peaceful, the government protects this beautiful paradise and it is not encroached by any commercial poachers. The government is right in putting all its efforts to protect this land because Kolli Hills is famous for its medicinal plants.

It is said that the soil is so nutritionally rich that even the most common medicinal plants become more effective and potent when grown there. It is believed that the Siddhars (ancient medicine men) lived, researched and meditated here in the caves inside the sacred groves.

The groves are believed to be found in the jungle and are still used by the medicine men even today.

There are stories of trekkers finding stone mortars used by the Sithars to prepare their medicine. The moss covering the inner walls of the Sithar caves is believed to have unique healing properties.

The sacred groves are guarded by the local temple deities, and the felling of trees is prohibited here. There is also a popular belief among the locals here that a person could lose his mind while entering certain areas of the dense forest where the Sithars lived.

No one knows where exactly these areas are, but they are known as 'Mathikettan Solai' and are believed to completely wipe out a persons memory, for a period of time. A common explanation to this phenomenon is that it could be due to the effect of the concentration of so many highly potent medicinal plants in one place.

Among some of the tree species found here are Neem, Veepaloai, Usil, Velvel, Neermathi, Tamarind, Seetha Odai, Naval, Illupai and Silver Oak. A botanical survey conducted found 16 species of herbs that can and are being used to treat diabetes.

The riches of the ecosystem has lead the government to build a herbal farm to uncover the mystery of the hills.

Source: Isha Out Reach, Tamil Nadu Tourism
Photo Credit: steemit, holidayiq, kolliagrifarms