'''Dindigul district''' [http://www.dindigul.tn.nic.in/] is in Tamilnadu. Dindigul district was carved out of the composite Madurai District in September 1985. This district has many places of tourist interest like Kodaikanal, Palani temple, some historical forts and temples. This district is bound by Erode, Coimbatore, Karur and Trichy districts on the North, by Sivaganga and Tiruchi District on the East, by Madurai district on the South and by Theni and Coimbatore Districts and Kerala State on the West.
Cities
Dindigul City is the headquarters of this District.
Batlagundu (Tamil '''''Vattalakkundu'''''), is a town on the foothills of Kodaikanal. It is approximately forty kilometres away from Dindigul by road. There are regular buses (every 15 minutes) from Dindigul bus stand and it is a 45 minute ride to this town. Kodaikanal road railway station is on the Chennai-Madurai main railway route and is twenty kilometres by road to Batlagundu on the way to Kodaikanal Hill station. It may be noted by the travellers that not all express trains on this route stop in Kodaikanal road railway station. Batlagundu, which is on the Madurai-Kodaikanal road, can also be reached from Madurai by bus. There are regular buses (every 10 minutes) from Arappalyam bus stand in Madurai and is a comfortable 1.5 hour drive (approx. 60 km). This area is famous for many ancient temples of worship.
Kodaikanal
Palani
Other destinations
Understand
Get in
By plane
The nearest airports are at Madurai (1.5 hours away) and Trichy.
By train
Dindigul junction is on the main train route from Chennai-Madurai-Kanyakumari and is approximately 440 kilometres from Chennai.
Kodaikanal road station is approximately 30 kilometres from Dindigul Junction
By road
Dindigul is on the NH7 highway from Chennai to Madurai.
Get around
By car
'''Madurai Car Rental''', [http://www.carrentalmadurai.com].
See
'''Dindigul Fort''' - This 280-foot-tall fort was constructed in 1605 by Madurai King Muthi Krishna Naicker and Thirumalai Naicker. It was a witness to many wars between rulers like Tipu Sultan and the English men.
'''Sirumalai - Hill Resort''' - This is a Hill resort for weary travellers and is on the way to Natham from Dindigul. This place is accessible from Madurai also.
'''Thadikombu - Perumal Temple''' - This is 5 Km. from Dindigul on the way to Karur. The main deity is Lord Alagar and the main festival is during the Tamil month of Chitrai.(April-May)
'''Begambur Big Mosque''' - This is a famous mosque in Begambur and is around 200-300 years old.
'''Sri Kottai Mariamman Kovil''' - This is an ancient temple believed to be 200 years old and the idol is believed to have been installed by the King Tipu Sultan. There are many deities in this temple like Mariamman which is the main deity, Vinayaka, Muruga, Madurai Veeran, Kali and Durga. The temple structure is in the form of a square. The temple is run by a board of Trustees.
''' Visalakshi-Vishwanathar Temple''' in Kunnuvarankottai or Kunnapatti is eight kilometers on the Batlagundu-Usilampatti road. This is the birth place of the 25th Pontiff of the Sringeri Sarada Peetam Sri Sacchidananda Bharathi I. There are regular buses every 30 minutes from Batlagundu bus stand to Usilampatti (the bus stop is Kunnapatti). It is advisable to visit the temple in the mornings from 7:30 am - 11:30 am. Shri V.Viswanathan is the priest of this temple. There are budget restaurants in Batlagundu that serve South-Indian dishes. An added attraction is the point of confluence of the three rivers Vaigai, Manjalaru and Maruda. This is an important pilgrimage point where devotees take holy bath in the rivers during auspicious days.
'''Kamakshiamman Temple''' in Devadanapatti is eight kilometers away on the Batlagundu-Peryakulam road. The deity here is called as Moongilanai Kamakshi. There are regular buses from Batlagundu bus stand (every 10 minutes) to Periyakulam. (the bus stop is Devadanapatti).
'''Anjaneyar Temple''' in Anapatti is 5 kilometers from Nilakottai Taluk is quite popular among residents of this area. Nilakottai is 11 kilomteres from Batlagundu bus stand. This is said to be 300 year old temple built by Queen of Madurai Rani Mangamma. The idol will be half buried when the water is in full flow here. This temple is near the Peranai bridge (see site below) and regulator constructed by the British.
'''Sendraya Perumal Temple''' This is an ancient temple of Sri Sendraya Perumal situated in a hill near old Batlagundu. Mr Kannan is a priest in this temple. He is involved in developmental activities like Anna Thaanam (To provide free meals) in the temple. The people of all faiths and religions visit this temple.
'''Peranai''' It is a reservoir and a fine picnic spot from October to late February, provided the north-east monsoon sets properly and water is released from the Vaigai Dam. Peranai is a unique confluence of waters from several dams - the Vaigai Dam, the Maruthanathi Dam in Dindigul, the Manjalar, and Varadhanathi Dams in Theni. It is not a separate catchment area but collects and diverts water released from the Vaigai every year. This is in Nilakottai taluk of Dindigul. It is approximately 15 kilometres from Nilakottai town on the Madurai-Kodaikanal road.
'''Manjalar Dam''' This is a reservoir that stores water from Manjalar river on the foothills of Kodiakanal hillstation. This is roughly 8-10 kms away from Batlagundu bus stand. This is a place to visit during monsoons from October to March if the monsoon sets properly.
'''Siddharmalai''' - A hillock 2 kiometres from Peranai and near the Vikkiramangalam village on the Usilampatti main road. There is a large natural cavern on the southern side of the hillock called the ''Pancha Pandava Padukkai'' (Bed of the Five Pandavas'). There are two rows of beds with raised pillows chiselled out of the rock inside. There is an inscription on the rock face that traces the origin of the name of Madurai city ? `Mathirai' (City of Walls).
'''Dindigul - St.Joseph Church''' - This 100-year-old church was constructed between 1866 to 1872. This is the head church of all other Roman Catholic churches in Dindigul District.
Do
Buy
Eat
'''' Hotels in Batlagundu or Vattalakundu ''''
There are a few budget restaurants like Meenakshi Bavan, Arya Bavan in Batlagundu that serve South Indian Vegetarian dishes.
'''' Hotels in Dindigul ''''
Request travelers to add more detail like type of food, hot , spicy, bland and other details. Some Hotels offer lodging options only. Please check before.
'''ALAGARSAMY P HOTEL RAJENDRA''' 174/G MAIN ROAD DINDIGUL-624001, Phone - 0451-2433947
'''HOTEL MAHAJYOTHI''' 1111/1B-17 SPENCER COMPOUND DINDIGUL, Phone - 0451-2434317
'''HOTEL MALAJYOTHI''' 1111/1B-17 SPENCER COMPOUND DINDIGUL, Phone - 0451-2434316
'''HOTEL PAARVATHIY'S(P) LTD''' 14 KOIL STREET DINDIGUL, Phone - 0451-2435426
'''HOTEL PADMA P LTD''' TRICHY ROAD DINDIGUL-624007, Phone - 0451-2430541
'''HOTEL VALES PARK''' 49A DINDIGUL-624003, Phone - 0451-2420943
'''KARPAGAM M HOTEL SUGANYA A/C LODGE''' 43 2 Near Bus stand DINDIGUL, Phone - 0451-2429675
'''THE DINDIGUL PARVATHY NATARAJAN HOTEL (P)LTD''' ,DINDIGUL-624001, Phone - 0451-2433349
'''LAKSHMI VILAS HOTEL ''' 36A KOIL STREET, NAGAL NAGAR DINDIGUL-624003, Phone - 0451-2421575
'''RAMALINGAM P DHALPIN HOTELS ''' 14 CHATRAM STREET, DINDIGUL-624003, Phone - 0451-2431791
'''RENGASAMY K HOTEL ARUNA ''' 259 MAIN ROAD (NEAR PERIYAR STATUE), DINDIGUL, Phone - 0451-2433463
Drink
Sleep
There are many lodging options in Dindigul. Request travelers to add more details who stay here.
Budget
Kurunji Hotel. Spencer Compound, Near Bus Stand, Dindigul 624001. ttp://www.holidayiq.com/Popular-Dindigul-Hotels-Resorts-Reviews-Ratings-Tariff-Rates-1142-12-yes-destination.html. s. 400-800.
Rockfort Palace. 32A, Madurai Road, Begampur, Dindigul 624002. ttp://www.holidayiq.com/Popular-Dindigul-Hotels-Resorts-Reviews-Ratings-Tariff-Rates-1142-12-yes-destination.html. s. 400-1000.
Venkateswar Lodge. cheme Road, New Bus stand, Y M R Patty, Dindigul 624001. 91-(0451)-2425881.
Gomath Lodge. 6, Pensioner Street, Dindigul 624001. 91-(0451)-2430042.
Pandiyarajan K S Prop Pandiyan Lodge. 1, Koil Street, Dindigul 624001. 91-(0451)-2430013.
Ziauddin Ahmed K A The Lodge liberty. 3, New Agraharam, Dindigul 624001. 91-(0451)-2431988.
Abdul Vazeed J S corner Loadge. 5, Railway Station road, Dindigul 624001. 91-(0451)-2422228.
Mid-range
Parsons Court. 5, Mengles Road, Dindigul 624003. ttp://www.holidayiq.com/Popular-Dindigul-Hotels-Resorts-Reviews-Ratings-Tariff-Rates-1142-12-yes-destination.html. s. 1600-2000.
Stay safe
It is advisable to visit the village temples in the forenoon (before 11:00 am) as the temples usually will be closed later. The travelers to the villages in this area are advised to pick up a few essential sentences in the local language Tamil as many do not speak English although familiar with a few English words.
Get out
The travelers can go to places like Madurai , Trichy, Munnar , Kodaikanal, Palani from here