2017: a year of treks
Apart from the typical touristy/personal trips to places like Coorg, Chennai, and Mysore, it was an eventful year for me, of treks - long and short. Velliangiri hills - [March 11-12] This chain of 7 hills situated on the outskirts of Coimbatore (near Isha Yoga Foundation) holds spiritual significance in Hindu religion. At the summit, there is swayambhu (self-manifested) idol of Shiva in a cave - also known as Southern Kailash. Although trekking/hiking is involved, it is better referred as a pilgrimage. The plan was made from casual conversation among a group of friends. Full moon nights during summer are the best time for this yatra , as it is a 6 hour hike one way. We undertook the pilgrimage bare foot (along with most other pilgrims) as the hills are considered sacred. Combination of darkness and uneven terrain posed different type of challenges. The view of shining lights of Coimbatore city and cool breeze make up for the challenging climb through the seven hills. Some local