TOP SLIP



Exotic wildlife destination

It sounds great! As the name go’s the Top Slips, the beauty reveals! And it is really breath taking view for the tourist, well it is one of the beautiful spots to visit in the Tamilnadu, nature created this place in such a way it has every thing in itself. Here nature and environment well preserved by the forest department and also by the local villagers surrounding the park, how ever lot more to be done to improves the environment and also for protecting water sources and wildlife. Youth from the near by areas and visitors should take a lead roll to bring the awareness. The place is also called as Indira Gandhi wildlife sanctuary.

Well connected by road, rail and air, and one can reach from all parts of the country, less or no congestion makes the place enjoyable to the eco-tourists and wild lifers. As such today youth is more interested in Eco-tourism rather than the conventional tours.

They have built really beautiful cottages few in numbers. The Major cottage well built with wooden material and offer full view from the glass windows one can see beautiful view of the heavily wooded hills and forest, the sloping of the hills up to the far end of the guesthouse road. One can view passing heards of chital, wild bore, monkeys and beautiful variety of birds picking on the grass seeds and insects and great Indian pied horn bill fly across to their nests to and fro to feed their young once on the hills, there nests are located on the trunks of the tall trees.

Lion tailed macaque, nilgiri monkeys, hanuman langurs; red-faced monkey and many more play their tricks on the ground also on the treetops. Red and gray jungle fowl’s frequent the area. Wild elephant cross the forest tracks and can be sighted from the jeep and also from elephant back. One can see wild animals through out the day and in the late evening. Visitors are allowed to drive only on tracks layed-out by the Forest Department. In the park one can see fear less wild bores come very close to the visitors near the canteen, which is very unusual please do not take chance with wild bores since they are very daring and dangerous animals, avoid teasing or chasing them. It is recommended to carry torch while going to canteen for dinner on foot.

While on Safari when you approaches the elephants do not turn the ignition off keep the engine running, since elephant are very unpredictable they can charge with out any reason. Try to view the elephant from a respectable distance always.

Nights are beautiful with star lit sky if lucky with golden moon Light, top slips beauty can not be described it has to be visited and enjoyed and experienced. The wild calls in the night makes a beginner nervous and experienced wild lifer will enjoy recognizing the animals by their calls. In the dark night if you flash the torch light you will see hundred of stars staring at you and it is a great thrill to see chital grazing in the grass land opposite to the guest house. Some times it is red glaring pair of eyes, which may be leapord, or a tiger so be careful do not go out of the guesthouse. Do not play this game to many times, which will disturb the wildlife.

Reach to Polachi from coimbatore or sailam from polachi Top Slip is just 35 kms (Approx) situated on a hill. Base of the hill surrounded by coconut and paddy fields, the golden rays of the sunset in newly planted paddy fields with water and the parrot green colour rice crop, with the dark people with basic colours such as red, green, yellow sarees make the place look like a painting. The beautiful people well built, soft-spoken with their healthy cattle. One can enjoy a ride on their bulla-cart free of cost on request.

The drive through the ghat road is very scenic with many hair pin bend turning, the climb gives birds eye view of the entire Polachi village, stone formation with age-old worn-out rocks with different Shapes and colours looks great on either side of the road. Thick-patched jungle on slopes, valleys and on foothills. Are known for sholla forest while driving you will find wildlife, be care full in turning for elephants.

Top slip main attractions are:

Great Indian pied hornbill

Nilgiri Langures / Loin tailed macaque

Gaint Squirrel

Variety of wild flowers

Of course Elephants.

Please ensure that you taste the mouth watering snacks of south India in the polachi before heading for the climb, idly sambar and other steaming hot items will give ultimate satisfaction of the taste buds Specially to those who are not south Indians. I really love it.

The place has great potential to develop in to a national park for international tourists. However forest department has to train mahavaths, van drivers and guides to take care of the tourist for the future.

Please book your accommodation well in advance to fix your stay other wise one has to return to the polachi, in the night they do not allow to travel through the ghat road of the forest. Since it will be closed.

Contact DFO Polachi or Coimbatore for accommodation, after reaching polachi re confirm your guest house, place is having a small canteen and they serve very simple food, if you want to have any of your grocery to prepare food for your self, buy it in Polachi. Cooking facility is available in rooms.

Important place to visit with children is the elephant camp in your own vehicle or forest department vehicle one can spent 2- 3hours with the elephants in the camp. You can give bath to elephants along with mahawath in the small nalla. Show your small kids touch me not plants and let them play with them they really enjoy.

One can see beautiful forest flowers, which is the specialty of the place. For me it is floral heaven.

Please visit and give your view. A great eco friendly place, 2-3 days one can spend happily and freely, with out much rules and regulations like other important national parks.

B.A. SURESH BABU

An eco-friendly writer.

Sureshbabu_travelwriter@yahoo.co.in