Theni Tourist Places to Visit in 2023

Theni is a dilapidated shack on the Western Ghats that is dotted with lush flora and lovely waterfalls. Theni’s geography is primarily made up of hills and mountain ranges. It is home to 27 kinds of wood, has several rivers and dams, and is, therefore, exceptionally green.

Theni’s tea estates, which are full of perfume, are a delight and one of the best Theni tourist attractions. The Kolukkumalai Tea estate is sometimes cited as the highest organic tea estate in the world. The hidden gems you can find while exploring Theni are the Suruli and Kumbakarai Falls.

How to Reach Theni?

By Air

The airport in Madurai, which is 87 kilometres away from Theni, is the closest one. You may take a cab from the airport to get to Theni once you are there.

By Train

Theni is conveniently reachable by train thanks to its railroad station, which links it to all the major cities and villages in the state. 

However, the two main railway connections closest to the town, Madurai and Dindigul, are for people coming from neighbouring states and are separated from it by 74 km and 76 km, respectively. One may take a cab or a local bus to get from the stations to Theni.

By Road

The road system makes it far too easy to go to Theni by plane, rail, or both. The town has excellent road and national highway connections to several places, including Madurai, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, and Tiruchirappalli. From such cities to Theni, there are both local and commercial Tamil Nadu state buses accessible.

 

15 Theni tourist places to visit for a fun-filled trip

Berijam Lake

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The Berijam Lake, a reservoir a few kilometres from Theni, is a well-liked tourist destination in the area. The water body gives some magnificent panoramas of the landscape because it is encircled on all sides by hills. 

For travellers, particularly those travelling with families, the lush vegetation offers fantastic picnic options. To visit Berijam Lake, one needs forest permission, though.

Distance: 106.1 km

Best Time to Visit: October-May

Entry Fee: Rs 100

Timings: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

How to Reach: Taxi/Drive

Vaigai Dam

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The Vaigai Dam is a vital source of irrigation and drinking water for the districts of Madurai and Dindigul. It’s also a great place for picnics and unscheduled afternoon outings with friends and family. 

The Vaigai Dam, which is situated in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district across the Vaigai River, is a significant irrigation water source for both Dindigul and Madurai districts. Madurai and Andipatti both receive drinking water from the dam. 

The Tamil Nadu government also built an Agricultural Research Station for the research and production of a diverse range of crops, including rice, sorghum, black gramme, cowpea, and cotton due to its 174,000,000 cubic metre capacity.

Distance: 16.4 km

Best Time to Visit: September-November

Entry Fee: Free of Cost

Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

How to Reach: Cab/Bus

 

Suruli Falls

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Suruli Falls is a stunning waterfall in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district and one of the area’s top tourist destinations. It is the ideal location for getting close to nature and cooling down in its crystal-clear waters.

The 18 caverns at the Suruli Falls are renowned for their 18th-century Indian rock-cut architecture. About 47 kilometres separate this waterfall from Theni. 

The waterfall rushes down from a height of 150 feet in two distinct periods. The water builds up into a pool before falling 40 feet or so further.

Distance: 48.1 km

Best Time to Visit: June-October

Entry Fee: Rs 5

Timings: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

How to Reach: It is far too simple to go to Theni by aircraft, train, or both, thanks to the road system. Through roads and national highways, the town is well connected to a variety of cities, notably Madurai, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, and Tiruchirappalli. Both municipal and private routes connect these cities with Theni via state buses run by Tamil Nadu.

Meghamalai

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Meghamalai, located in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats, is the type of secret paradise you encounter in books, replete with thrilling trek routes, magnificent scenery, and a great opportunity to unwind amid nature.

The Highways Mountain, also known as Meghamalai locally, is an undulating topography of peaks located in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district that is part of the Varusanadu Range of the Western Ghats. 

Meghamalai, which is 1,500 metres above sea level, was given the Tamil name “Pacha Komachi,” which translates to “Green Peaks,” since it is coated in the distinctive Sahyadri green.

Distance: 52.8 km

Best Time to Visit: October-March

How to Reach: Meghamalai’s closest airport, as well as its closest train station, are both in Madurai. You may also travel to Meghamalai from Madurai or Theni by renting a car, preferably an SUV due to the road’s potential for uneven surfaces. 

From Theni’s major city, it takes an hour and a half, and from Madurai, it takes around three hours. There are local buses from Chinnamanur that depart at 4:30 AM, 6 AM, and 10 AM as well as long-route buses from Madurai and even distant locations like Chennai and Bangalore.

Chinna Suruli Falls

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The Chinna Suruli Falls, which are surrounded by untamed, lush forests, are a beautiful place to visit from Theni. On the mountain’s slopes, it flows all the way down from Meghamalai to create a pool of refreshing water. 

The Chinna Suruli Falls in and around Theni are a gorgeous and peaceful site to explore. They are situated about 54 kilometres from the main centre, close to the town of Kombaithozhu. If you’re travelling to Theni and its neighbouring sites, you may add it to your schedule for local sightseeing.

Distance: 45.2 km

Best Time to Visit: October-December

Timings: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

How to Reach: Cab from Theni

Kuchanur

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The Sani Temple, being one of the temples only devoted to Lord Sani without the other attendant planets or a temple’s presiding god, is what makes Kuchanur notable. It’s thought that Lord Sani physically manifested in Swayambhu or that he did so spontaneously. 

Because of this, the place was given the name Kuchanur, which was eventually changed to Kanjanoor, one of Lord Sani’s names. 

Additionally, Kuchanur is home to the Lord Guru-dedicated Vadaguru Temple, which faces north. Legends claim that Lord Indra offered homage to the god of this ancient temple.

Distance: 20 km

Best Time to Visit: October-May

Places to visit: Saneeswarar Temple, Kollam Beach, Munroe Island, and many more

How to Reach: Taxi/Drive/Bus

Shanmuganathi Dam

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The Shanmuganathi Dam in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district provides water to agricultural communities in the drylands of Pusarikoundanpatti, Appipatti, Sukkangalpatti, Vellaiammalpuram, Odaipatti, and Sepalakottai. 

The dam is situated in a tranquil setting at the base of the Meghamalai Hills, not far from Rayappanpatti. The approximately kilometre-long Shanmuganathi Dam is constructed across the Shanmugha River. 

Since the nearby villages rely on the dam and its water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, irrigation, and the growth of essential cash crops like grapes and coconuts, it is appropriately named after Shanmugha or Lord Murugan, the most revered deity in Tamil Nadu and the Tamil incarnation of Lord Shiva’s ward and the War General of the Gods, Lord Karthikeya.

Distance: 38 km

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Timings: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

How to Reach: Via Cab from Theni

 

Bodinayakanur

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Theni’s Bodinayakanur is a town renowned for its breathtaking scenery. Despite being a Tamil town, the town enjoys beautiful weather all year round due to its height of 1,158 feet.

While there are a lot of cash crops grown here, it also has a lot of spice farms and is the Indian capital of cardamom. Rich trees amid rocky, steeply-cut mountains are breathtakingly beautiful. 

Here, several Tamil movies have also been filmed. Jawaharlal Nehru, a former prime minister, referred to Bodinayakanur as “South Kashmir.”

Distance: 15.5 km

Best Time to Visit: October-March

How to Reach: Train till Dindigul Junction then Cab/Bus

Mavoothu

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Mavoothu, a significant Theni tourist destination, is well-known for housing a Hindu shrine to Lord Vinayaka. The Velappar Temple is located atop Varushanad Hill and goes by that name. 

The temple, which was built by the Kandamanur Zamindars, is well-liked by both tourists and believers. The abundance of natural greenery in the surroundings around the temple contributes to the area’s overall attractiveness.

Distance: 85.5 km

Best Time to Visit: October-May

How to Reach: Taxi/Drive/Bus

Kumbakkarai Falls

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The Kumbakkarai Falls is a captivating waterfall that can be found in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul district close to Theni. It is situated at the base of the Kodaikanal hills. The water flows down in two stages; in the first, it gathers in the cracks and stones in the rock. 

The layer of rocks then drops down in the second step. These crevices have the names of several wild species, including the tiger, snake, elephant, and cheetah.

The location gives complete solitude and serenity in addition to vast visual splendour and the beautiful tinkling of the cascading rivers. 

The Kumbakkarai Falls, like the majority of waterfalls, also provide shallow waters where visitors are invited to swim or have a dip.

When the water level is elevated and the surrounding regions are lush with foliage during the rainy season, the popular tourist destination is the most crowded. Additionally, a Murugan monument has been erected nearby.

Distance: 24.4 km

Best Time to Visit: Summer or late winter months

Entry Fee: Rs 10 for kids and Rs 15 for adults

Timings: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

How to Reach: Cab/Bus

Bodi Mettu

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The picturesque hill town of Bodi Mettu is located in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district. It is located at a height of around 4500 feet above sea level on the Western Ghats’ slopes. 

Hundreds of tourists visit this lovely tourist destination each year to relax in the tranquillity of this hill town. The vegetation and wildlife of Bodi Mettu are abundant. 

Here, several uncommon bird and animal species have been spotted. It is located on the route from Theni to Bodinayakanur and is 43 kilometres away.

Distance: 41 km

Best Time to Visit: Winter Season

Places to Visit: Dam/Lakes/Reservoirs

How to Reach: Taxi/Drive

Arulmigu Balasubramanya Temple

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The Arulmigu Balasubramanya Temple, a renowned Hindu temple in the area that is situated on the riverbank Varaha, is one of the numerous holy sites in Theni. 

Lord Subramanyam, also known as Murugan, is the presiding deity of the temple, which is thought to be approximately 2000 years old. The six-headed idol at this location is highly regarded by followers. The temple complex also has an idol of Lord Murugan’s spouse.

Distance: 19.1 km

Best Time to Visit: October-May

Timings: 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM

How to Reach: Taxi/Drive

 

Kailasanathar Temple Cave

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The Suruli Falls are close to the location of the Kailasanathar Temple Cave. At 800 metres above sea level, the Temple cave is situated. It is said in the Tamil epic Silappadikaram that celebrations took place in the Kailasanathar Temple Cave during the festivals of Aadi, Thai, and Chithtirai. 

A spontaneous spring that is close to the temple is thought to have therapeutic qualities. A Dargah bearing the name of the Muslim Saint Abubacker Masthan from the 17th century is located near the temple cave. Devotees bring jars of milk to this shrine on Saturdays.

Distance: 14 km

Best Time to Visit: October-May

Timings: 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

How to Reach: Taxi/Drive/Bus

Sothuparai Dam

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Another well-liked tourist destination in Theni is the Sothuparai Dam, which was constructed over the Varaha River. The trail leading to the dam is one of its most intriguing features. The journey to the Sothuparai Dam is a fascinating one, lined by mango and coconut trees. Hills covered with vegetation and flora surround the dam, adding to its natural splendour.

Distance: 25 km

Best Time to Visit: Monsoon

Entry Fee: Rs 

Timings: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

How to Reach: Taxi/Drive/Bus

see also about: Megamalai Resorts

Kolukkumalai Tea Estate 

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A trip to the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate in Theni, which is regarded as the total organic tea estate in the globe, is essential. 

The tea estate, which was founded by a Scottish planter in the early 1900s, is still one of the few in India where the finished product is not produced using contemporary computerised machinery. The estate’s undulating tea plantations are a visual delight, especially because they are flanked by mountains.

Distance: 62.5 km

Best Time to Visit: September-March

Entry Fee: Rs 75

Timings: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

How to Reach: Taxi/Drive/Bus

 

FAQs

In Theni, what is renowned?

Pongal, which is celebrated in the Theni district, is renowned for being one of Tamil Nadu's most significant celebrations. During the Pongal festival, Pallavarayanpatti, Ayyampatti, and Pudupatti are well-known for their Jallikattu.

Which place in the globe is the secret paradise?

Is a trip to Meghamalai worthwhile?

Go to Megamalai if you would like to breathe clean air and be stress-free.