Jawadhu Hills

Routes, drives & experiences here

• Restricted Official

  Vainu Bappu (Kavalur) Observatory drive

  Viewpoint drive

  sealed hill road

  India's largest optical telescope sits at Kavalur inside the Javadi Hills, on the Vaniyambadi/Alangayam (Tirupattur–Vellore) side of the range — a drivable, sealed-road destination and one of the few places on these hills you can plan a fixed visit to. The observatory runs a public outreach programme: entry is on Saturdays only, from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a ticket bought at the security gate; weather-permitting evening sky-observation has a separate later slot. Educational/institutional groups need prior approval. It is a working research campus, so stay within the visitor programme and times.

  Indian Institute of Astrophysics — Visiting Vainu Bappu Observatory (opens in new tab)
• Open

  Ghat climb to Jamunamarathoor

  Scenic drive

  winding ghat road

  The signature approach into the hills — a ghat climb up to Jamunamarathoor, the hill town at the centre of the range and a natural base for the interior. Drive slowly in daylight with good brakes; avoid the climb in heavy rain or fog, and avoid travelling after dark as the area is secluded.

  Source: compiled from public information
• Forest permit

  Jamunamarathoor–Amirthi forest road

  Scenic drive

  39 km single-lane forest ghat road

  The interior route that links the Jamunamarathoor plateau down to Amirthi on the north-eastern (Vellore) side — a roughly 39 km single-lane forest road climbing through the hills via the Polur and Amirthi mountain routes. It runs through reserve forest (a proposed concrete-road upgrade was stopped in 2024 over a pending forest No-Objection Certificate, and a widening project was later sanctioned), so treat it as forest-department land: drive slowly in daylight, do not enter or camp off the road without authorisation, and confirm the road is open and any current restrictions locally before relying on it — it is secluded and can be affected by works.

  Source: compiled from public information

• Forest permitPattarakadu Reserve Forest & megalithic sites— Parts of the range are reserve forest — including the Pattarakadu Reserve Forest atop the hills, where over 100 megalithic burials were unearthed in 2024 near Keel Cheppili and Mel Cheppili. Reserve-forest and archaeological sites are access-restricted under Tamil Nadu Forest Department control — do not enter or disturb protected or archaeological sites without authorisation.
• RestrictedSandalwood forests— The hills are historically noted for sandalwood, and the fragrance still carries on the drive toward Jamunamarathoor — but the trees are protected and illegal logging is actively policed. Do not cut, collect or transport sandalwood or forest produce.
• Forest permitBeemanmadavu Falls— A waterfall about 5 km from Jamunamarathoor that flows through dense forest for most of the year — the best-known natural stop on the plateau, reached by a short forest track and walk rather than a drive-up. It sits within the hills' forest belt, so keep to marked access, do not light fires or camp without permission, and check locally whether the falls are open and safe (flow and access change with the season). Not a drive.
• Forest permitAmirthi Zoological Park & falls (foothills)— At the north-eastern foot of the range in the Amirthi forest range (about 25 km from Vellore), a small state zoological park set in reserve forest, with a seasonal waterfall reached by roughly a 1 km walk. It is the natural start/finish point for the forest road up to Jamunamarathoor. Reached by public road to the park gate; it is a ticketed, gated forest-department park with its own visiting hours, so check current timings and any monsoon closure locally, and stay on the marked trail to the falls.

Open to all: Jawadhu Hills ghat roads — public access, no permit.

Not every access detail here is officially confirmed — some are compiled from public information. Always verify current permits and closures with the Forest Department / governing authority before you go.