Trekking Near Chennai, Stone Age Cudiyam Caves in Chennai,

Sengandham(TN state flower)

Finding a nature which recharge and refresh your mind is difficult near Chennai as it is crowded Metropolitan city & people habituated to earn, earn, earn and that is transformed to the generation by generation. On long run you need to learn yourself & teach your generation to break from the routine work, routine crowd, routine theatres...etc which may empty your pocket & make you stressful considerably in Chennai.

Hence,you have to practice yourself and duplicate your younger generation to involve in physical activity like trekking which burn more calories and trekking through dense plants will give your rich oxygen & refreshment to take the stress for considerable period. Practice trekking once in 2 months as a mandatory hobby

You will be surprised to know nature in just 1-2 hours of journey from Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. Majority of Chennai-ties are yet to know such a historical, wonderful nature.

Details 
Human race - Paleolithic Man
First invention - Robert Bruce Foote, Year during 1863
Later research by Archaeology - 1963 to 1964
Distance from Chennai - 60 KM (Chennai-Tiruvallure-Poondi-Koonippalayam-Cudiyam)
Evidences- Major evidences are available in Poondi Museum en-route to Cudiyam caves trekking. Few items are preserved in Egmore Museum, second oldest in India.

Goal
5KM trekking in wonderful nature, Human shelters believed to be 1,00,000 years old, Hill view, Evidences at Poondi Museum (If you have time while return)

What will be the best time?
Any time during August & September. Ensure you are going for trekking after few weeks of rainfall in Tiruvallure area so that it will be a pleasant visit. Avoid going in summers as it will be dry trip

Who can visit ?
If you love nature, drive through nature, walk in hills, trekking, love rural & villages, want to burn some calories

What will be the best transport?
As public transport is rare, choosing own transport is best to reach & return before it gets dark.

Route Map
From East Chennai
Chennai-Poonamallee-Tiruvallure-Poondi dam-Koonippalayam-Cudiyam
Chennai-Avadi-Tiruvallure-Poondi dam-Koonippalayam-Cudiyam
From South Chennai
Vandalur or Tambaram (ORR)-Poonamallee-Tiruvallure-Poondi dam-Koonippalayam-Cudiyam
From North Chennai
Chennai-Avadi-Tiruvallure-Poondi dam-Koonippalayam-Cudiyam
Chennai-Periyapalayam-Uthukkottai-Seethanjeri-Koonippalayam-Cudiyam
From West Chennai
Chennai-Sriperumbudur-Tiruvallure-Poondi dam-Koonippalayam-Cudiyam

Best Route - Click the link to select the best route suits to you

Parking
There is no parking lot. You have to park the vehicle in the nearby village called Koonippalayam in your own risk. Villagers are friendly and your vehicle will be safe. If you come by bike, you can travel a bit  (around 0.5 KM) from Koonippalayam towards Cudiyam caves and you have to park at open area at your risk. You can travel only as single as the roads are laid by stones

What to take ?
Take a first aid kit for safety, Umbrella (if you need), Lunch & plenty of water as you require a lot while walking and a safety stick

What to avoid?
Polythene packing, plastic tumblers & bottles, any kind of alcohol. If you take few plastic items due to unavoidable conditions, please bring back the empty and dispose.

Safety Advice
1. We have not seen any snakes, poisonous insects but beware
2. We have seen plenty of Honey bee from the rocks, it is poisonous
3. We have seen Sengandha malar (State flower of Tamilnadu, National flower of Zimbabwe) which is poisonous as I read. In case of emergency, you may use the leaf to reduce the snake, scorpion poison. But please take expert advice & read
4. Avoid climbing in steep hill as it is 1000's of years old and may slip
5. Avoid tasting, chewing, smelling any unknown plants, leaf
Any ignorance may lead to accident & fatal and recovery is almost critical as you have to run through stone roads, rocks for 5 KM from dense hill area to approach the village to go to nearby hospitals

Links
1. Stone age evidence in India- Documentary in France Cannes Film Festival-Tamil magazine news
2. Stone age evidence in India- Article in Hindu (English version)
3. Article in Indian express

Photos