Manjolai is a beautiful hill station near Ambasamudram, in Southern Tamilnadu, India. It is situated inside the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. It is at around 1000 to 1500 meters above sea level. Tea Estates and lush green forests add to the beauty of this hill station.

This photo of Manimuthar Waterfalls is courtesy of Tripadvisor

This hill station is blessed with scenic beauty. It is also very much a serene place. You can take a walk inside the tea estates, after getting permission from the Bombay Burma Trading Corporation Ltd. They have leased the land from the state government and planted the tea estates. You may also trek inside the forests, after getting the necessary permissions. This small hill station town is known as Poor Man’s Ooty for the southern Tamailnadu residents.

The small hill station town of Manjolai is situated above the Manimuthar dam. Manimuthar waterfall is a beautiful fall near the hill station. There are many small waterfalls, too. Upper Kodayar Dam is a viewpoint on your way to the hill station.

Kakkachi (or Kakachi) Lake is a beautiful lake here. Dasan pool, also known as Tarzen pool, is a small pool surrounded by lush green forests at around 12 kilometers distance from the hill station town.

November to March is the ideal time to visit this place.

How Do I Go to Manjolai Hill Station?

Manjolai is accessible by the Tamilnadu state government busses from the Tirunelveli New bus stand. These buses go up to KuthiraiVetti. It goes via Manimutharu Dam, Manimutharu Waterfalls, Manjolai, Kakkachi, Oothu, Nalumukku. This bus starts from Tirunelveli New Bus Stand at 02:00 a.m. The distance between Tirunelveli and the hill station town is around 70 kilometers.

There are buses from Ambai (Ambasamudram) Bus depot. The starting timings are 04:00, 08:30, 13:30, 15:20, and 20:00.

A few of the buses in the return direction are listed below. The bus timings are the departure time at Manjolai.
From Kuthiraivetti towards Ambasamudram at 4:30 a.m.
From Oothu towards Papanasam 11:30 a.m.
From Oothu towards Ambasamudram Bus Stand at 4 p.m.

Please verify the bus timings with the locals or at the State Government Bus Depots.

Accommodation at Manjolai

Mundanthurai Forest Rest House, a government guest house, is available for rent. It can be booked online or at the office of the Deputy Director and Wildlife Warden at Ambasamudram. The office phone number is  +91-4634-250594, and the e-mail ID is ddambai@yahoo.co.in.

You may also contact the Deputy Director & Wildlife Warden of the Kalakadu Tiger and Wildlife Sanctuary at +91-4635-261100. Email kmtr_kalakad@yahoo.in to learn more details about the sanctuary and the accommodations inside the sanctuary.

You can put up Tents also. But, beware of the owners of the forest: wild animals.