page_title: Kodaikanal–Munnar Road
section_title: Shelters
hierarchical_section_title: Kodaikanal–Munnar Road / Shelters
caption_attribution_description: English: Vandaravu Observation Tower has corrugated steel shed on first level that may be used for sleeping if necessary
context_page_description: The Kodaikanal–Munnar Road was located in Dindigul District and Theni District of Tamil Nadu and Idukki district of Kerala in South India. It covers 81 kilometers from Kodaikanal to Munnar. The road was improved by the British in 1942 as an evacuation route in preparation for a possible Japanese invasion of South India. With a maximum elevation of 2,480 meters just south of Vandaravu Peak, it was among the highest roads in India, south of the Himalayas, prior to its closure in 1990.
context_section_description: There are several structures on or near the road which may be available for overnight use by trekkers. Proceeding east to west, they are:
  The Forest Dept. checkpost at 10°12′39″N 77°26′53″E near Muir Point after Km 9 is not for overnight use but may offer temporary daytime shelter during a rain shower.
  Green Hut is an old Forest Dept. bungalow at 10°11′50″N 77°26′06″E near km 14, which has been used for overnight camping since at least 1943. It will be renovated soon.
  The Fire lookout tower at 10°11′32″N 77°25′11″E just past km 13, 8 km (5.0 mi) before Berijam lake, has a roofed hexagon structure not meant for overnight use but can offer short term safety from Gaur and elephants.
  There is a Forest Rest House at Berijam Lake, first developed as a British Transit Camp, at 10°10′54″N 77°23′20″E, at km 23, with limited accommodations, which serves as an overnight base camp for Forestry Department staff, researchers and trekkers. Trekkers must get advance permission to stay overnight there. Visitors must bring their own provisions, but cooking facilities are available.
  There are two huts at a place variously called Marian Shola Bungalow and Sebastian Camp on a trail south of the road at 10°8′47″N 77°20′38″E. These are shown on the Army map. The bungalow there was fixed up several years ago and equipped with flush toilets and an elephant ditch was built around it. There is a separate kitchen building out back.
  There is a Forest Department Hut and other Forest Department buildings at 10°8′56″N 77°20′9″E at the first trout stream. Tamil Nadu Forest Dept. built the buildings to house Dept. staff who lived there while supervising wood cutting enterprises and road work crews.  The laborers, mostly Sri Lankan Tamils, built temporary shacks of poles and matting.  The shacks were abandoned when the cutters moved on to another area. The supervisors' "pucca" huts remain and now provide basic overnight shelter for trekkers. Limited overnight accommodations may be used with advance permission.
  Pulavachiar Forest Quarters  is an old British Transit Camp at 10°9′56″N 77°17′42″E, near mile stone: "Top Station 12". This camp shows below a red star on the Army map. There is overnight shelter here for trekkers.
  Vandaravu camp is two structures at 10°9′26″N 77°16′26″E on the north slope of Vandaravu Peak, as shown on the 1959 Army Map. Current condition and suitability for shelter is unknown.
  There is a small corrugated steel shelter on the lower square platform of the observation tower at Pampadum Shola National Park on the west slope of Vandaravu Peak at 10°8′42″N 77°16′18″E This is a poor alternative shelter to the nice Forest Quarters less than 1 km (0.62 mi) away.
  There is a well maintained Kerala Forest quarters at 10°8′22″N 77°16′24″E near the Bandar Wireless Station on the south slope of Vandaravu Peak.
  There are limited commercial cabins and hotels at Top Station and many commercial accommodations of all classes at Munnar.
caption: Pampadum Shola N.P. - Vandaravu observation tower
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