Chinnar - Kottar Trek
Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu
Opens without signal on this phone, with the map file and checklist. Saved for offline →
- Max altitude
- 470 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 5 km
- Difficulty
- Easy
A 5 km out-and-back walk (2.5 km each way) beside the Chinnar river with almost no climbing; the official portal rates it Easy and allows 2 hours. The footing is rocks, tree roots and sand beds, and the valley can be hot by mid-morning.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Chinnar Checkpost → Chinnar Checkpost (via Kottar, the Chinnar-Pambar confluence)
470 m → 470 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Chinnar Checkpost (Tamil Nadu forest border check post)
at 470 mLoading forecast…
High point · Chinnar Checkpost reception point (start and highest point of the riverside trail)
at 470 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Chinnar Checkpost (Tamil Nadu forest border check post) (nearest town: Udumalpet)
- Nearest railway
- Udumalpet (about 29 km)
- Nearest airport
- Coimbatore International Airport (about 105 km)
- By road
- Udumalpet (about 30 km on the Udumalpet-Munnar road via Amaravathi; buses run from Udumalpet bus stand); Coimbatore (about 105 km via Pollachi and Udumalpet); Munnar (about 60 km via Marayoor, Kerala side)
- Drive
- About 2.5 h from Coimbatore
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
| Permit | Issued by | Fee (Indian) | Fee (foreign) | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trek Tamil Nadu trail booking: Chinnar - Kottar | Tamil Nadu Forest Department / Tamil Nadu Wilderness Experiences Corporation (Trek Tamil Nadu) | ₹699 | — | Book online at trektamilnadu.com (trail 'Chinnar - Kottar', Tiruppur). ₹699 per adult (18+) plus 5% GST; minors aged 6-17 pay ₹599. The fee includes the trek permit, a forest guide and trek insurance on the route. One slot at 7:00 am, up to 15 people. Report at the Chinnar Checkpost reception point with photo ID; your own transport to the checkpost is extra. |
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹1,000–3,000
With an operator
₹734
Per person, ex-Udumalpet. The official Trek Tamil Nadu booking is ₹699 + 5% GST (about ₹734) per adult and ₹599 for ages 6-17 (seen 18 Oct 2026), and already includes a forest guide, so every walk here is guided; no private operator sells this trail. Independent trekking is not allowed. The 'self-guided' range is our estimate of the full day ex-Udumalpet: the portal fee plus a bus (cheap but infrequent) or a shared or hired taxi to Chinnar (about 30 km each way) and food.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link- Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Store buttons open a search on that store, not a product we picked. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Photos show the kind of item, not a specific product. Affiliate disclosure
Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 16
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Not confirmed by our sources; the checkpost sits in a forest valley on the Kerala border, so expect a weak or patchy signal.
- Last ATM
- Not confirmed; carry cash from Udumalpet.
- Nearest hospital
- Medical facility at Manupatty (about 16 km, per Trek Tamil Nadu); Udumalpet for serious cases
- Water
- The Chinnar river runs beside the whole trail, but treat or filter river water before drinking. Carry at least 1.5-2 litres per person.
Highlights
- Walking the Tamil Nadu bank of the Chinnar river through riverine forest, over boulders, roots and sand beds
- Turn-around at Kottar, where the Chinnar meets the Pambar and the two streams begin the Amaravathi river
- One of the few places to see the grizzled giant squirrel, the trail's keystone species, with bonnet macaques and Nilgiri langurs
- Good birding and butterflies: crested hawk-eagle, oriental honey-buzzard, white-throated kingfisher and southern birdwing
- Short, easy official Trek Tamil Nadu trail with a forest guide, close to Amaravathi Dam and Thirumoorthy Dam
Risks
- Elephants, gaur and sambar live in this part of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (Trek Tamil Nadu); stay with the forest guide and keep quiet.
- The confluence at Kottar is deep, and the guide warned trekkers that mugger crocodiles can come upstream from the Amaravathi (trip report); do not swim.
- Wet rocks, roots and thorny bushes along the bank cause slips and scratches; wear shoes with grip and long trousers.
- The valley lies in a rain shadow and gets hot by mid-morning even in December; start at the 7 am slot and carry water.
- Trekking here is allowed only through the official Trek Tamil Nadu booking; entering the forest without it is not permitted. Heavy rain can raise the river, so check the portal before you travel.
Know before you go
Questions
How long is the Chinnar - Kottar trek?
The official Trek Tamil Nadu trail is 5 km in total: 2.5 km from Chinnar Checkpost to Kottar and 2.5 km back. The portal allows about 2 hours, and it rates the trail Easy.
How much does the Chinnar - Kottar trek cost and how do I book?
Book on trektamilnadu.com. In October 2026 the portal charged ₹699 + 5% GST per adult (18+) and ₹599 for ages 6-17, including the trek permit, a forest guide and trek insurance on the route. Transport to Chinnar Checkpost is extra.
Can I do the trek on my own?
No. The trail is in forest land in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, and Trek Tamil Nadu is the only authority that runs treks in Tamil Nadu forests. Every booking goes with a forest guide.
How do I reach Chinnar Checkpost?
Chinnar Checkpost is on the Udumalpet-Munnar road at the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, about 30 km from Udumalpet bus stand and 29 km from Udumalpet railway station. Coimbatore airport is about 105 km away. There is parking at the reception point.
Is it suitable for children and beginners?
Yes. The portal sells tickets for ages 6 and up and rates the trail Easy; trekkers describe it as more of a nature walk along the river, though you will step over rocks and roots and may get your shoes wet.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: TiruppurTamil Nadu
- Nearest hospital
- Medical facility at Manupatty (about 16 km, per Trek Tamil Nadu); Udumalpet for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Not confirmed; carry cash from Udumalpet.
- Phone network
- Not confirmed by our sources; the checkpost sits in a forest valley on the Kerala border, so expect a weak or patchy signal.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Chinnar - Kottar
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
Share your trek photo with #TreksAndTrails
I trekked this
Did Chinnar - Kottar look different from this page? Tell us what changed and we will check it.
Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Chinnar - Kottar — Trek Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu Forest Department / TNWEC) (official)
- Trek Tamil Nadu trail list, July 2026 — Trek Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu Forest Department / TNWEC) (official)
- Chinnar Checkpost - Kottar | Trek Tamil Nadu Atlas — Trek Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu Forest Department / TNWEC) (official)
- Trekking alongside River Chinnar — Trailing Into the Unknown (trip report)
Photos: Jaseem Hamza, CC BY 3.0; Jaseem Hamza, CC BY 3.0; Jaseem Hamza, CC BY 3.0; Jaseem Hamza, CC BY 3.0
