Paintings on the 28 km Ghat Road from Karavalli in the foothills to Semmedu in Kolli Hills depicts notable incidents from the history.

Tourists have to pass through the 70-hairpin bends to reach atop the hills to enjoy the scenic beauty. Hence, in order not to make their journey tedious, the Highways Department of Senthamangalam Wing, decided to paint the walls along the Ghat Road at many places illustrating famous incidents in Tamil literature.On the 34th hairpin bend is a painting that depicts the archery skills of King Valvil Ori who ruled Kolli Hills in the second century. It shows how the king killed an elephant, a tiger, a deer, a boar and a monitor lizard with a single arrow.

“It helps us to know the history,” said P. Rithu Sri, a tourist from Hosur. The hectic journey along the Ghat Road turns joyous and informative as the paintings capture the interest of the tourists.

Other paintings include, one of the ‘Kadai Ezhu Vallalgal’ began offering shawl to a drenched peacock, Nalli giving a string of pearl chain to a poet and a scene from Silapathikaram where Kannagi demanding justice for the death of her husband Kovalan in the king’s court. These paintings were drawn at places where space is available for parking vehicles so that traffic is not disrupted.

Tourists also take photographs of the paintings and wanted more details to be displayed along with each paintings. S. Lakshmanan from Karnataka said that the details can be given in English also so that tourists from other States will understand them.

“Now, we have to seek the help of others to know what is written in Tamil,” he added.

Other tourists said that children learned to worship the nature and also learn history.

“No other Ghat Road carries messages like these,” said L.P. Jeyachandran from Chennai.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Staff Reporter / Dharmapuri – May 28th, 2016