Located in the picturesque Amirthi Reserve Forest near Vellore, the Amirthi Zoo – Perumal Koil Temple Trail offers an immersive nature experience through a landscape of dry deciduous and riverine forests. This easy circuit trail is ideal for beginners and families, providing a comfortable trek amidst rich natural surroundings.
The trail passes through shaded forest stretches characterized by native vegetation and diverse ecosystems. Along the route, visitors can enjoy the tranquil ambience of the forest while observing the region's natural flora and fauna. The highlight of the trek is the scenic Perumal Koil Temple, situated amidst the forested hills, offering a peaceful setting and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Combining natural beauty, cultural significance, and accessibility, the Amirthi Zoo – Perumal Koil Temple Trail is an excellent destination for those seeking a short and refreshing outdoor experience in the Vellore region.
Maximum Elevation: 309.7 Meters
Forest Type: Dry Deciduous and Reverine Forest
Nearby Medical Facility: Vellore Government Hospital - 19 KM
Nearby Bus Stand: Old Bus Stand - 27 KM
Nearby Airport: Chennai Airport - 163 KM
Nearby Railway Station: Katpadi Junction - 32 KM
Parking Facilities: Yes
Here’s a quick review of our recent day-hike on the Amrithi Zoo trail from this past Wednesday (Aug 26th). The Group & Preparation We were a group of 5 (3 kids and 2 adults). The day before the hike, one of the official guides reached out to give us the best route to the trailhead, along with a quick packing checklist—most importantly, bringing plenty of water! Trail Highlights & The Guides We had a team of 3 guides with us, and they were fantastic throughout: Kid-Friendly Adventure: The guides were super watchful of the kids and took them on a slightly more adventurous path along the riverbed. They got to scramble over rocks and tackle some fun, light terrain. Dry Waterfall Climb: At the dry waterfall, the guides helped the kids climb up a small rock face and carefully assisted each of them on the way back down. Flora, Fauna & Tree Climbing: Walking through the bamboo forest, the guides pointed out local plants and wildlife. They were completely fine with letting the kids stop, admire nature, and climb trees along the way. Supportive Pace: One of the adults in our group had a knee injury, but there was always a guide walking right beside them to ensure safety and keep a comfortable, relaxed pace. Overall Verdict If you have zero hiking experience or are looking for a fantastic, safe outdoor activity to do with kids, I’d easily recommend this trail! However it might be a bit unstimulating for those who are of moderate to expert trekkers.
We were a group of 5, 3 kids and 2 adults who went on the 26th of August. The day before the hike, one of the guides (Saran), had gotten in touch and explained the shortest way there, and also gave me a quick checklist of things to bring (bring lots of water!) The guides, 3 of them all, were always watchful of all, especially the kids and took the kids on a slightly more adventurous way along the river bed where the had to climb over rocks and navigate a bit more challenging terrain. At the dry waterfall they were taken up the small rock face to climb and helped each one of them with dismount. They took us through the bamboo forest, explaining the local flora and fauna and walked with us at our pace. The kids loved stopping and admiring the nature, climbing up on trees and so on, and there was always a guide to indulge them. One of the adult had a knee injury so was slow and again there was always a guide to walk at their pace and keep a watchful eye on us. Overall I really appreciate the guide team to have kept such a watchful eye on all of us. I would easily recommend this trail for anyone with no previous experience with hiking or those with a group of kids. Kudos to the team and would to see you again.