Escape the bustle of the city and drive through the charming countryside of Pollachi to alight at the destination of Aliyar. Embark on a delightful walk along the forested banks of the Aliyar Project canal for an immersive experience. The trail boasts vibrant bird life and manifests myriad signs of animal activity, easily establishing a connection with nature.
KEY ATTRACTIONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Maximum Elevation: 475 MSL(Approx.) Meters
Forest Type: Dry Deciduous Forest
Nearby Medical Facility: Sethumadai - 5 KM
Nearby Bus Stand: Pollachi - 25 km
Nearby Airport: Coimbatore - 74 km
Nearby Railway Station: Pollachi - 24 km
Parking Facilities: Yes
My wife, daughter, and I had a wonderful morning trekking the Aliyar Canal Bank. We completed the trail in about 3 hours, and it was a relatively easy, refreshing walk through lush greenery. The path follows the same routes used by elephants and other wildlife, which made it feel truly authentic. A huge thanks to our three guides, especially Suresh, who was excellent. He made the trek fun and informative, helping us spot hornbills, tiger paw marks, and elephant tracks. We even witnessed a poignant moment of nature: a crane-like bird that had passed away mid-meal, still standing by the canal. It was a beautiful, fresh environment and a perfect way to spend family time.
This is the best place to enjoy for all nature lovers. Visited on 29th Nov 2025 . It gave a nice memory. I was the solo traveller and accompanied by 5 guides and they took me very safely, explained about birds, animals, trees with more interest and they made the trip very interesting. Really happy and enjoyed the trip. You can try even if you are a solo traveller like me. It was a safe and enjoyable trip.
The trek felt safe for my 6 yr old daughter. The guides who accompanied us were knowledgeable and motivated to show us animals and birds. They made sure there were enough breaks in between to make the entire experience a wonderful stroll into the jungle. We saw a couple of Sambhar Deers, Indian Gaur (Bison), Great-Pied-Hornbill, plenty of Malabar Giant Squirrels and lots of fresh Elephant dung. Half of the trek was on the banks of the Contour Canal and we returned back to the starting point through the forest. The trek was a circuit trail that started and ended at Sarkarpathy temple and so the route is different from what is being displayed in the website. Since the chance of animal sighting is better and the route more adventurous, there is no complaints regarding the change in the route. However, the website can be updated to show the current route map.
This trek is a wonderfully scenic trail, perfect for a day out with the family. Contrary to the information in site, the trek reception point is from the Sarkarpathy Power House (not in Sethumadai Anamalaiyagam Conservation Centre), which is slightly further into the area than the starting point. The trail itself offers a beautiful journey, with the man-made water canal on one side near the lush hill on one side and the breathtaking panoramic views of the entire Pollachi landscape in other. The first part of the walk follows the scenic canal bank, and the return journey takes you through a tranquil forest trail, which offers a different perspective. We spotted traces of wildlife, including elephant (Chillikomban as per our guide) and mountain cats. The presence of forest department staff and knowledgeable guides made the experience even more enriching and secure. Overall, this is a very pleasant stroll, suitable even for young kids.
Completed the trek on the 26th of July 2025. I was lucky to be the only person who had booked for the trek that day. Guards Murugesan, Suresh and I started walking from the staring point at around 8Am through an easy pathway slowly climbing up to the canal banks. Witnessing the historically and architecturally significant Contour Canal up close and personal was breathtaking. The overall trip route was halfway through the canal banks and halfway through the forest. This enabled a great trek experience witnessing a variety of wildlife ranging like Monkeys, Common Langurs, Lion-tailed Macaques to birds like the Red Whiskered Bulbuls, White-throated Kingfisher, Hill Mynas, White-cheeked Barbets, Red-vented Bulbuls, Flame-backs and even the majestic Crested Serpent Eagle. I was also able to sight Sambar Deer, a herd of Elephants and also the endangered Malabar Giant Squirrel. Walking through mud, rocks, grass streams all while the heavy monsoon showers drench you makes you truly connect with nature. The guides were very helpful along the way helping me sight wonderful wildlife and experience few of the best views that i have ever witnessed.