Vattakanal hill station near Bangalore looks like the set of Avatar movie!

If you are living in Bengaluru, you must drive to Vattakanal in Tamil Nadu, the off-beaten hill station located close to the city of Kodaikanal. In Vattakanal, you may come across sights that might seem straight from a Hollywood sci-fi movie. A quiet, sleepy town, it is also called the ‘Mini Israel of India’. During the winter months of October to January, Israelis throng this town in huge numbers, either in search of ‘magic mushrooms’ or to simply enjoy a vacation.
For a first-timer in Vattakanal, we have a few experiences in and around the hamlet, that are worth visiting.

Test your courage at Dolphin's Nose

Located at a height of 6600 ft, Dolphin’s Nose is a flat rock protruding out of a mountain in Vattakanal. The dizzying but short trail leading to Dolphin’s Nose tests the stamina of trekkers here. Nonetheless, from here, one can watch both the Periyakulam town as well as the Vattakanal Valley. There is a parking space at the base of the hill. The best time to visit this place is during daytime.
Feel lucky at the Vattakanal Fall

Imagine a waterfall located in the middle of a serene forest. It may sound like a scene from some fairy tale, but Vattakanal Fall in reality is a wonderful reality that only the lucky ones can pore over. Surrounded by thriving plant and animal life, this waterfall is an ideal escape from the mundane world. Plan a visit to Vattakanal Fall during monsoon season when the spate of water is in full flow.

P.S. You would be fortunate if a bison (gaur), a species of bull known for its muscular body, crosses your path.

Embrace simple living at Karuna Farms

A guesthouse located in the idyllic setting of Vattakanal, Karuna Farms offer an experience which helps the guests disconnect from the artificial and connect with almost everything au naturel. The guesthouse is run on solar and hydroelectric energy and has village-kind cottages, huts and rooms. Guests can cook their meals the way they want in the in-house kitchen or opt for organic farming sessions on the premises to learn the nuances of sowing, tilling and reaping. There is also a vegetarian restaurant that serves homely meals.

Go in 'avatar' mode at the Pillar Rocks

Pillar Rocks are vertical granite boulders, three in number, standing at an equal height in the middle of beautiful and verdant rainforests. For a sci-fi movie buff, this site would look like the set of Avatar movie. Pillar Rocks, by all means, looks otherworldly.