Trails in Tamil Nadu

7 mapped routes in Tamil Nadu: 6 scenic drives and 1 cycling route. Together they cover 709 km with 2,529 m of climbing, and the highest point reaches 1,688 m. Every route has a GPX download, elevation profile, gradient and surface analysis.

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Plate IN-TN · 7 routes · GPS traced

Mapped routes: 7
Total distance: 709km
Total climbing: 2,529m
Highest point: 1,688m
Water crossings: 1

Destination guide

About trails in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu's routes run from the Western Ghats to the Bay of Bengal. The Kolli Hills Ghat Road is famous for its 70 hairpin bends climbing to around 1,200 m in Namakkal district, and the Kalhatty Ghat Loop near Ooty uses the steep Kalhatty ghat road, known for its tight hairpins. In the Anamalai hills, the Top Slip Anamalai Forest Drive runs through the tiger reserve above Pollachi.

On the coast, the ECR Chennai to Pondicherry Ride follows the East Coast Road past Mahabalipuram and fishing villages. The drive from Pamban to Arichal Munai - Dhanushkodi crosses Rameswaram island to the sand spit facing Sri Lanka, where the old town was destroyed by a cyclone in 1964. Cyclists near Chennai can try the Sriperumbudur Tambaram Cycle Loop.

Best time to go: November to February is the pleasant season on the plains and coast. The northeast monsoon brings heavy rain to the coast from October to December, and April to June is very hot outside the hills.
Terrain: Coastal routes are flat and close to sea level, while the ghat roads climb steeply to around 1,700 m. Driving is easy to moderate, with tight hairpins the main challenge.
Permits & access: Top Slip lies inside Anamalai Tiger Reserve and requires a pass at the forest check-post. On the Nilgiris and Kolli Hills ghats, use low gear on the descents and expect buses on the hairpins.

Ways to explore