SNAKE FALLS

The Snake River is a 126-mile-long (203 km)[1] tributary of the Niobrara River. Entirely located within the Sandhills of north-central Nebraska, the Snake River rises near the eastern edge of Sheridan County. It flows eastward into Cherry County and passes along the southern edge of Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest. On the southeast edge of the national forest, the river is dammed to form Merritt Reservoir. At this point, the river makes a sharp turn to the north.

Snake River Falls is immediately to the north of Merritt Reservoir; it is the largest waterfall, as measured by volume, in the state. (Nebraska's highest waterfall is Smith Falls.) The Snake River joins the Niobrara River about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Valentine, Nebraska.

Snake River Falls
Among Nebraska’s most spectacular waterfalls, Snake River Falls rushes over a 54-foot-wide ledge. When the Snake is full, it rushes over the edge at a rate of 230 cubic feet per second and sprays mist across the canyon.

Nebraska Waterfalls – Part One
BY JEREMY DIXON | PUBLISHED OCT 03 2011
Most folks will read the title to this post and wonder if I hit my head on something while out shooting or if this is a typo but I assure you it is not! When you think about waterfalls often you think of scenic places such as Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, or Colorado… not Nebraska. Despite contrary belief their really are waterfalls in Nebraska and all of them are located within an hour of eachother near the small town of Valentine, Nebraska in the North-Central portion of the state near the South Dakota border. My goal was to document that my lovely homestate does in fact have waterfalls and they while they don’t quite compete with what I’ve seen in other states, they do hold their own for Midwest waterfalls and unlike certain unnamed Southern states, whom I shall not name, these ones flow year-round because they are spring-fed which means anytime you go you will see water!


Nebraska's largest waterfall soon will sit on public land.
The Nebraska Environmental Trust on Thursday approved a grant to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission that will allow it to purchase land containing Snake River Falls.
Although the five members voting in favor of the award didn't represent a majority, opponents fell short of the eight votes necessary to kill the controversial sale. Six members voted no and one abstained.
“We've only got one chance. If it comes up for sale again, we'll have no control over it,” board member Vince Kramper said in urging approval of the measure.
The 3,100-acre Snake Falls Ranch is about 20 miles south of Valentine in Cherry County.
The Game and Parks Commission will pay $3.5 million for a 1,300-acre parcel that contains Snake River Falls and about three miles of river upstream.
The trust approved a grant of approximately $2.4 million. The parks commission will fund the remaining $1.1 million from revenue produced by the sales of hunting and fishing permits and excise taxes on goods such as guns and boat fuel.
Although the commission has been forced to cut its budget in other areas, the game cash fund is solvent.
The remaining 1,800 acres, costing about $5 million, will be sold to the 110-member Snake Falls Sportsmen's Club, which has leased fishing rights since the area was closed to public access 20 years ago.
“I've fished it for so many years, it's in my soul,” said Dave Baxter, a Lincoln resident and member of the club. “I just want to see it protected.”
The sale was strongly opposed by many neighboring residents, who fear that an onslaught of visitors would harm the fragile ecosystem. That portion of the Snake River is widely considered among the region's finest trout-fishing streams.
The parks commission is considering allowing only barbless hooks or fly fishing — or limiting access to the river through a lottery.
“The Environmental Trust Fund, to me, is about providing good access to the citizens of the state,” said board member Gloria Erickson, who voted against the measure. “This includes families and young people who might not meet the requirements to fish.”
Heirs of Les and Betty Kime own the Snake Falls Ranch and initially offered to sell the entire property to the private Snake Falls Sportsmen's Club.
The fishing club couldn't afford to buy the entire ranch so it approached the Game and Parks Commission about buying part of the property. The agency turned to the Nebraska Environmental Trust, which distributes funds from the state lottery.

KUNE FALLS

Kune Falls is one of the main places of tourist attraction in Khandala, Maharashtra. Located bang in the center of Lonavla and Khandala valley, the falls attracts tourists in large numbers during the rainy season when the waterfall is in its peak form and flows down with a huge gush. Stated to be the 14th highest waterfall in India, the Kune Falls comes down from an imposing height of about 200 meters or approximately 650 feet. The highest drop at this three-tier waterfall is of about 100 meters.

History

The Kune Falls is located amongst the twin hills of Lonavla and Khandala. The area is located 622 meters above sea level and set against the stunning backdrop of the famous Sahayadri Mountains of Western Maharashtra. The place is completely surrounded by lush green vegetation and provides a great visual experience. It is one of the most majestic forms of natural beauty that reveals itself in its full glory in the monsoon season. Khandala is known as one of the major hill stations of Maharashtra and draws the interest of millions of travelers, not only from India but from across the globe.
What Attract Tourists to Kune Falls
The Kune Falls is a must-visit tourist spot for those visiting this part of Maharashtra. The falls provide tourists with a view that’s truly breathtaking as it reveals the dazzling side of nature. The scenery improves as the monsoon season progresses and the surrounding areas turn into a calming green landscape even as the waterfalls turn a milky white.
The exceptionally heavy rains the hill station receives add to the beauty of the place. In fact, the Kune Falls lasts for quite a few weeks even after the monsoon season is over. The serenity and the stunning beauty of the place is indescribable and must be experienced in person to fully understand the blessing that nature has bestowed on the valley in absolute abundance.

How to Reach Kune Falls

Travelers from Mumbai can take the famous Mumbai-Pune expressway to reach Lonavla bypass. Local transport is available to travel to Khandala and from thereon to Kune. The Kune Missionary Church is the landmark to look for. It is a tourist attraction in itself, so visitors can spend some time in the Church before proceeding to Kune. From the church, it takes just a short walk to reach Kune falls. Travelers from Pune can get down at Khandala and follow the same route. Kune Falls are on the old Mumbai-Pune Highway and not the new Expressway.

The Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Kune Falls is during the monsoon season. The ideal time is mid-monsoon when the falls are in full flow and the entire valley has been painted a brilliant lush green by the artistry of nature. There are many hotels near Kune Waterfalls and also in Lonavla and Khandala. Visitors can choose from luxurious suites to well-appointed cottages for a comfortable stay within their budget. Tourists can also use many other low-budget staying options available in plenty near Kune Waterfalls.

SIGUR FALLS

Sigur Plateau (Segur Plateau) is a plateau in the north and east of Nilgiri District in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, South India. It covers the 778.8 square kilometres (300.7 sq mi) portion of the Moyar River drainage basin on the northern slopes of the Nilgiri Hills, south of the Moyar River.
The Sigur Plateau is notable as an important wildlife corridor maintaining connectivity between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats to sustain elephant and tiger numbers and their genetic diversity.
It is an important link between several contiguous protected areas forming the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected forest area in India. This area supports over 6,300 elephants, that represents the largest single population of elephants and tigers in India.

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which includes Sigur Plateau and the Nilgiri Hills, is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.The Western Ghats, the Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (more than 6,000 square kilometres (2,316.6 sq mi)), including all of Mudumalai National Park and the reserve forests of the Sigur Plateau, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site. A proposal has been initiated to notify Sigur and adjoining forest areas as a wildlife sanctuary for Vultures.Sigur Plateau (Segur Plateau) is a plateau in the north and east of Nilgiri District in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, South India. It covers the 778.8 square kilometres (300.7 sq mi) portion of the Moyar River drainage basin on the northern slopes of the Nilgiri Hills, south of the Moyar River.
It is an important link between several contiguous protected areas forming the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected forest area in India. This area supports over 6,300 elephants,[4] that represents the largest single population of elephants and tigers in India.

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which includes Sigur Plateau and the Nilgiri Hills, is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The Western Ghats, the Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (more than 6,000 square kilometres (2,316.6 sq mi)), including all of Mudumalai National Park and the reserve forests of the Sigur Plateau, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site. A proposal has been initiated to notify Sigur and adjoining forest areas as a wildlife sanctuary for Vultures.

HISTORY

On August 26, 2010, Jairam Ramesh the Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests asked Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi for the Tamil Nadu government to favourably consider a proposal from his ministry to declare the Sigur Plateau in the Nilgiris as a buffer zone of the Mudumalai National Park.
In 1954, the tiger was still classified as vermin in the Nilgiri Hills. As agriculture expanded and tiger habitat shrank, Tamil Nadu stopped all tiger hunting in the Sigur reserve in 1965.
In 1954, a young man-eating male Bengal tiger named the "Tiger of Segur" killed 5 people between Sigur and Anaikatty villages in the Sigur Plateau.
In May 1859, a small monthly sanction was granted by the Government for the conservation and working of Sigur Forest. With only a small a sum to commence with, it was some time before any wood could be collected. However, the means for working the forest on a larger scale were obtained by an early sale of sandal wood, However by this time the Conservator of Forests of Madras Presidency, Dr. Hugh Cleghorn stated that "This forest has been much exhausted by a succession of unscrupulous contractors, and there is very little teak or Bombay Blackwood (Rosewood) at present fit for felling. It is important that the forest should be allowed to recover, as it is the main source of supply to Utakamund for house-building purposes.
In the late 1700s, Tipu Sultan maintained a fort and trading route between the Kingdom of Mysore and Travancore, along the Moyar River here.

Geography

The five major streams in the Sigur plateau are the Moyar River, the Sigur River, the Avarahalla River, the Kedarhalla River and the Gundattihalla River, which originate in the Nilgiris plateau.The Sigur Plateau is an important watershed area for the Cauvery River and its ecological health is important to the many people dependent on the Cauvery.The Sigur Ghat Road (SH 67) crosses the Sigur Plateau for 33 kilometres (20.5 mi) from Ooty to Theppakadu
Climate


Flora and fauna

There are several major threats to the Sigur area caused mostly by expanding human population. These are cattle grazing, coffee and tea plantations and other crops cultivation, private tourist resorts, Invasive weeds, fuel wood collection, non-timber forest products (NTFP) collection, legal status of the corridor, and vehicular traffic particularly during night hours. An estimated 1,801 tons of firewood are collected from the Sigur Plateau annually.Weed species, especially Lantana camara but also Parthenium, Stachytarpheta indica, Dodonaea viscosa, Euphorbia antiquorum, and Opuntia dillennii are widely distributed and are invading and degrading the quality of forage on the plateau.The major impact of private resorts on the corridor areas are: fragmentation and destruction of habitats due to invasion of unpalatable weeds, loss of forest connectivity between habitats due new buildings construction and agriculture fields, including installation of barbed wire and electric fences, increasing rate of dependence by local communities on natural resources for fuel wood collection, cattle grazing, fresh water supply and waste disposal.[30] Having said that though, there are private resorts that are also doing their bit in countering this threat and promoting eco-tourism in the region.

KUANG SI FALLS

The Kuang Si Falls, sometimes spelled Kuang Xi or known as Tat Kuang Si Waterfalls, is a three tier waterfall about 29 kilometres (18 mi) south of Luang Prabang. These waterfalls are a favourite side trip for tourists in Luang Prabang. The falls begin in shallow pools atop a steep hillside. These lead to the main fall with a 60 metres (200 ft)cascade. The falls are accessed via a trail to a left of the falls. The water collects in numerous turquoise blue pools as it flows downstream. The many cascades that result are typical of travertine waterfalls.

The Falls

To enter the Kuang Si Park everyone must pay an entry fee (20,000kip). 
From the entry you can walk through a forested area where there are enclosures housing Asian black bears rescued from poachers.

At the very bottom of the falls there are several blue pools of water and small cascades (3-5 metres high); some of the falls are multi-tiered. Most of the pools are open for swimming (one is closed as being a sacred site) though the water is a bit cold because this area is shaded by big trees. This makes the falls a popular cool-off place among locals and tourists alike during the hot season.

There are small wooden huts to change in. Picnic benches are also available all around the park. The whole park area is shaded and cool that makes it perfect for a relaxing family outing and picnic. Sitting under the shade watching children swimming or jumping up and down in the pools can be relaxing and enjoyable. Jumping in the pool yourself can be fun too. 

The site is well maintained with walkways and bridges to guide the visitors. 
There are also trails to climb to the top of the falls where there are more natural pools for swimming.  The trails are steep and can be extremely slippery, especially in rainy season…so you’ll need proper shoes to climb to the top, but the climb is well worth the effort. However it not suitable for unfit people or small children. Don’t forget to take a bottle of water with you; I’m sure you’ll need it.

If you climb up to the top at the left hand side (of the entrance) trails you’ll arrive at a huge and very impressive pool and its source. At the top you actually cross the top of the falls and this is a great place to get a good view down.

If you want to recharge your energy after exhausting yourself exploring the trails or swimming, there are many stalls selling food and drinks near the picnic area at the entrance to the falls.

The Bear Rescue Center

Rather than taking the asphalt road to the top section of the Kuang Si Falls, take the signed trail that veers off to the right for better scenery and a chance to see the bears lounging around their enclosure at the bear rescue center. The Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre began in 2003 to house bears that were rescued from the illegal pet and Chinese medicine trades.

Climbing the Falls

Starting from a trail to the right of the top tier of the waterfalls, it is possible to climb to the top of the falls. The trail is steep, slippery, and especially difficult in flip-flops. The view from the top is incredible and you can carefully wade in the shallow water literally to the edge of a potentially deadly drop.

Cross the viewing bridge to the right side of the falls to begin your climb.

Safety Around the Waterfalls

While swimming at the Kuang Si Falls is very popular, the current can get strong enough during the rainy season to sweep people down the cascades. Know your limitations, watch out for strong currents, and swim with others well away from the edges of each tier.

With so many people milling around, keeping an eye on your valuables while swimming can be a challenge. Keeping everything together in a waterproof bag works best.

The small fish that ferociously attack unsuspecting swimmers' feet are completely harmless; people pay for the same dead-skin removal at fish spas around Asia!

Read more about staying safe in Asia.
Learn about the weather in Laos.

ILLILOUETTE FALLS

Illilouette Fall represents several polar extremes among the waterfalls in Yosemite Valley. On one hand, it is the most difficult of the major waterfalls in Yosemite Valley to properly view - requiring a moderate 4-mile hike from Glacier Point to reach - and as such is without question the least visited of the valley's major waterfalls. Though the falls can be distantly seen from the John Muir Trail between Happy Isles and the Vernal Falls bridge, the angle at which the falls drop makes it nearly invisible outside of the heavy flow season (and even then the profile view is that of a very narrow column of water). Proper up-close views of the falls require a head-on view from the rim of the gorge, where the true nature of the explosive 381-foot tempest can be appreciated as it thunders into the craggy canyon. 

On the other hand, Illilouette Creek is the most voluminous and consistent tributary of the Merced River within Yosemite Valley and in following the falls are in full display for a longer period than any other waterfall in the valley, and do not run dry during the late summer months. We have not yet been able to find trustworthy data documenting the volume of water present in Illilouette Creek itself, but operating under the assumption that it's volume is - on average - greater than Yosemite Creek, we can infer based on the stream gauge on the Merced at the Happy Isles bridge that the springtime volume of Illilouette Creek can regularly eclipse 300 cubic feet per second, thanks to the 62-square mile drainage area.

HISTORY AND NAMES

Also Known as: Glacier Fall, South Canyon Fall, Too-lool-lo-we-ak
Illilouette Fall is the Official name of this waterfall
According to Lafayette Bunnell the Indian name for this waterfall was Too-lool-lo-we-ak, but suggested that it's literal interpretation was not appropriate for everyday use (what that translation is seems to have been lost in time). Bunnell proposed the name South Canyon Fall in following but this led to confusion in that the stream was thought to be the South Fork of the Merced River (which in actuality lies much further south). Josiah Whitney proposed the fall be called by its Indian name, which may have been bastardized into Illilouette, to which Bunnell then countered with the name Glacier Fall (for nearby Glacier Point) because the word "Illilouette" isn't an Indian word. In the end Whitney's suggested naming convention won out, but the real meaning of Illilouette remains unknown to this day.

OUR THOUGHTS

Even though it's one of the five largest waterfalls in Yosemite Valley, Illilouette Fall doesn't quite have the 
same luster and visual impact as the others do - whether this is due to the fairly limited viewpoint looking down on the falls from above, or because you aren't afforded the same kind of grand, sweeping vistas of the falls as are available at Yosemite, Bridalveil or Nevada Falls is not immediately clear and is probably subject to individual interpretation. Don't take this as an indictment against the falls however, Illilouette Fall is still an extremely impressive waterfall, and for those who find themselves at Glacier Point looking for something to do, the hike down is certainly highly recommended, and all personal feelings aside it is still one of the best waterfalls in California. 

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

Illilouette Fall is best accessed from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park - itself located about 30 circuitous miles from Yosemite Village via the Wawona Road and the Glacier Point Road (consult a park map when visiting). From the parking area find the large metal signs indicating the Panorama Trail which heads south from the trails heading to the viewpoints. The signs seem to have their distances a bit off, because one suggests the falls are 2-miles away, while the next says 1.6 miles. The actual distance is about 2 1/4 miles each way - stay left at the signed junction at the 1.7 mile mark. The viewpoint for the falls is unsigned but is fairly obvious. No guardrails are present at the viewpoint, and the ground is somewhat crumbly, so get no closer to the edge than your are comfortable with.


Getting There:  The trailhead is at the terminus of Glacier Point Road - a 16-mile (25 km) drive from the Glacier Point turnoff. From the South entrance to Yosemite, swing left on highway 41 and head 17 miles (28 km) to Glacier Point Road. From Yosemite Valley, take highway 41 nine miles (14.5 km) to the same road.

Illilouette Fall is a 370 feet (110 m) waterfall in Yosemite National Park. It is located on the Illilouette Creek, a left tributary of the Merced River, in a small side canyon directly across from Vernal Falls, and is visible from the trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls. The best vantage point is from the Panorama Trail as it descends from Glacier Point.

To get to this waterfall you need to drive to the top of Glacier Point and hike down to the waterfall. When you get to Glacier Point, walk toward the rim and you will see a dirt path and trail head sign on your right. This will be the trail head for the Panorama hike. 

ERAWAN FALLS

The Erawan Waterfall was really an impressive series of seven waterfalls each with a shape and character all its own. All the waterfalls typically fell over limestone cliffs resulting in colorful plunge pools as well as interestingly rounded rock formations reminiscent of something that would belong in a cave. Moreover, we also saw some unsigned waterfalls that seemed legitimate but didn't appear to count towards the seven.

In any case, we thought this waterfall had it all - the scenery, the swimming, and the exercise. It was no wonder why it was popular and quite busy here. Of course, given how typically hot it was in this part of Thailand, I guess the swimming or playing in the many plunge pools of beneath these waterfalls were enticing as well as scenically alluring. It seemed like this waterfall epitomized the universal appeal of swimming beneath waterfalls in the typically humid tropical climate.

From the car park, the trail started off flat and mostly paved as it ultimately reached the first waterfall, which was called Ly Kung Lung (I also saw it spelled Hlai Keun Lung). A sign indicated that it was only a 20m walk from the visitor center area. Believe it or not, it was possible to bypass this section of walking by taking a tram to that visitor center area. We didn't do the tram option as we thought it was a little overkill.

The Erawan Waterfall was really an impressive series of seven waterfalls each with a shape and character all its own. All the waterfalls typically fell over limestone cliffs resulting in colorful plunge pools as well as interestingly rounded rock formations reminiscent of something that would belong in a cave. Moreover, we also saw some unsigned waterfalls that seemed legitimate but didn't appear to count towards the seven.

In any case, we thought this waterfall had it all - the scenery, the swimming, and the exercise. It was no wonder why it was popular and quite busy here. Of course, given how typically hot it was in this part of Thailand, I guess the swimming or playing in the many plunge pools of beneath these waterfalls were enticing as well as scenically alluring. It seemed like this waterfall epitomized the universal appeal of swimming beneath waterfalls in the typically humid tropical climate.

From the car park, the trail started off flat and mostly paved as it ultimately reached the first waterfall, which was called Ly Kung Lung (I also saw it spelled Hlai Keun Lung). A sign indicated that it was only a 20m walk from the visitor center area. Believe it or not, it was possible to bypass this section of walking by taking a tram to that visitor center area. We didn't do the tram option as we thought it was a little overkill.

Given how pretty the falls was, it was no wonder why there was such bustle of activity. We had a good time taking photos from here while also chilling out and basking in the atmosphere of the scene. Come to think of it, perhaps the first waterfall might have been a perfectly fine swimming hole, but the second waterfall completely overshadowed it thereby causing it to become a victim of the lemmings effect.

After having our fill of the second waterfall (I recalled we spent quite a bit of time here), we finally started the race against time and climbed up to the waterfalls further ahead. It was a race against time because the park was said to close at 4:30pm with the last admissions at 4pm. We started hiking at 1:30pm.

On the way up, we were stopped at a check point where we had to register with the authorities there. In addition, I recalled having to leave some kind of collateral (a Thai baht deposit I believe) in exchange for the plastic water bottles we were carrying with us. Perhaps the thought was that the deposit would cover the potential clean-up costs in case the plastic was left behind.

I thought it was a good system (to minimize the amount of litter in the ecologically sensitive areas) though they probably should've charge a little more money to really make it attractive to bring the water bottles back here and get back the desposit.

It took a few more minutes of uphill hiking before we finally encountered the third Erawan Waterfall, which was called Pha Num tok (or Pha Nom Tok) and 220m from the visitor center. And like the first waterfall, this one also had lots of fish swimming in its plunge pool because most of the people chilled out at the second waterfall. However, this one was significantly taller than the first two (possibly 20-25m I think) though not nearly as wide.

Adding to the scenic allure of this waterfall was the colorful blue-green water of the plunge pool keeping us from getting all the way to the falls without swimming. It was up there with the 2nd waterfall as one of our favorites in the lot.

Further up the hike, the fourth Erawan Waterfall was more of a water slide. It also had a larger drop further downstream, but it was hard to see. We saw one person scoot himself on the rounded rock of the waterslide before finally letting gravity take over. This falls was called Oke Nank Phee Seah, and it was about 520m from the visitor center.

Continuing beyond the fourth waterfall, the trail became a little less steep as it followed the watercourse responsible for all the Erawan Waterfalls. Along the way, we noticed quite a few trees wrapped around with prayer flags as well as colorful silk-like garments. Our guide said that these were meant to have religious significance while also doubling as informal trail markers.

SURULI FALLS

Suruli falls (Tamil: சுருளி அருவி), is located 56 km (35 mi) from Theni and 10 km (6.2 mi) from Cumbum in the Theni District in Tamil Nadu, India. It is a 2 stage Cascading water fall. The Suruli River supplying the falls originates from the Meghamalai mountain range. The falls drop from a height of 150 feet (46 m) gathers into a pool, flows for a short distance and again plummets an additional 40 feet (12 m).


History

The beauty of this falls finds mention in the ancient Tamil epic, Silappathikaram written by the poet Ilango Adigal. Near Suruli Falls are 5 caves which represent Indian rock-cut architecture of the 11th Century.On the Suruli river, The water is said to act as medicine and cure diseases.

Tourism

It is one of the major tourist attractions in the Theni district and draws tourists from different parts of the state, particularly during the southwest monsoon. June - October is the best season due to monsoon activity, though there is some flow year round. This falls is tourist friendly with showers and changing area near the falls. There are frequent bus services available from Cumbum and Uthamapalayam to reach this falls on the way to Periyar National Park. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department celebrates summer festival at Suruli falls every year.Construction of a bridge across the Suruli River at a cost of Rs.45 lakhs has increased tourist flow to the falls significantly.

Temples

Suruli hills is the part of the Pothigai Malai. Pothigai hills is a highly divine and spiritual center. There is a story that when Shiva and Parvati entered into divine matrimony at Mount Kailash in the north, the place was unbalanced because of the large number of holy beings witnessing the wedding. Lord Shiva asked Agastya Maharishi to proceed to the South of India to balance the world. Agastya Maharishi then proceeded to Pothigai hills and balanced the world. Agastya Maharishi was able to visualise the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati on a Shivalingam that was at Tiru Kalyana Teertham at Pothigai hills. These hills are visited by several saints and sages from Himalayas particularly on a full moon day. The striking similarity between the profiles of Mt. Kailash and Agasthyamalai strengthen the mythological connections of these sacred peaks.

In November 2009, Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, in a letter to Anil Kakodkar, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy (India) (DAE) and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission of India (AEC), denied permission for the Department of Atomic Energy to set up the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project at Singara in Nilgiris, as it falls in the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).

Instead, he suggested an alternate site near Suruli Falls. The Minister said this site did not pose the same problems that Singara posed and environmental and forest clearances should not be a serious issue. He also assured the DAE that the Ministry would facilitate necessary approvals for the alternative location.