Valparai

Valparai is the place where we (me, my sister and brother) used to go during our summer vacations when we were young school going kids; because our dad and mom was in Valparai. My dad was working in a tea estate which comes under BBTC and mom was a high school teacher. Because of the lack of good schools in Valparai; we were forced to stay along with our grandmother and completed our studies in Kochi, Kerala. After a long time, along with my kid and husband I visited Valparai during Sept. 2009.

The most prestigious, impressive, inspiring and pollution free greenish heavenly land Valparai, a Municipality of Coimbatore district in Tamilnadu, is located above 3,500 feet from the sea level on the Anamalai Hills range of Western Ghats.

We went to Valparai, in a rented tempo traveller, through Pollachi route which was incredible and unforgettable. It was an exotic experience. The road was completely covered by mist.

To reach Valparai from Pollachi we have to cover 40 hairpin bends. This route is the Indiragandhi Wild Life Sanctuary where we can see lion-tailed macaque, Malabar giant squirrel, elephant , spotted deer,sambar and barking deer.

We can also see different types of birds including the Great Indian Hornbill.

We stopped all most all places to capture the beauty of the place.

Travel through the forest and hairpin bends were very interesting. We can see big rocks and mountains both sides of the road. If you are lucky, you can see the deers too.

The best time to visit Valparai is March , April and May. From June onwards rainy season begins and December to February it will be very cold and misty.

View from 13th hairpin bend.

Valparai has a concentration of tea and coffee estates. Most of the people in Valparai work in these estates.

All major tea companies have presence here including TATA, BBTC and PKT.

It was raining when we reached Valapari. The wet atmosphere increased its beauty. The rain stopped in between just for us to take photos.

While travelling we found one beautiful lake surrounded by tea plants.

We had a feeling that we were in heaven........ heaven on earth. We couldn't get out here from the vehicle because of the rain. My sis-in law took this picture sitting in the traveller while travelling.

View from my house (Valparai Town)

From our house we saw a water fall and we decided to find out its origin . My dad knows all most all places in Valparai and we all went with him.

On the way we found the waterfalls and a church near to the water falls.

The water level was high because of the rain and rocks were very slippery.

Here is the beautiful water falls.

This is the way to reach near the waterfalls. We really scared of leeches, which was plenty in the grass areas because of rain and cool atmosphere.

British built bungalow. Some of the bungalow are available for tourists for rent. They will arrange one cook for us. We can buy things from Valparai city and our cook will prepare good food for us.

Lot of new water falls found both sides of the road because of the rain and during summer most of them will disappear.

From Valparai you can visit Aliar, Sholayar and Neerar dams and there are short cut roads through the jungle to reach Munnar, Parambikulam etc.,

Dam view

During our return trip we visited Aliar dam which was well maintained, neat and clean. The dam area was covered with beautiful flowers and trees.

View from the top of the dam was really mind breaking. The air and atmosphere was very fresh.

To reach Valparai (From Coimbatore, Tamilnadu)
Nearest airport and railway station is Coimbatore. Valparai is at a distance of 95 km from Coimbatore and around 100 kilometers from the airport.
From Coimbatore – Pollachi – Valparai (through 40 hairpin bends , Indiragandi Wild Life Sanctuary)

From Kerala
Nearest airport is Kochi airport and railway station is Chalakudy
Details of buses available to valparai from Kerala
1) From Chalakudy K.S.R.T.C stand we will get Kerala Government bus to Malakkaparai

(border of Kerala and Tamilnadu) and from Malakkaparai to Valparai buses are available in

every half an hour.

2) TamilNadu Government Bus (CTC – Cheran Transport Corporation) will come everyday by

1.30 p.m. to Chalakudy KSRTC stand and will start the return trip to Valparai by 2.00p.m.

and reach Valparai around 6.00 p.m.

3) Pvt Bus is also having service to Valparai. It will reach Chalakudy by 12.30 p.m. and starts its

return trip to Valparai by 1.00 p.m. and reach Valparai by 5.30 p.m. To catch this bus you

have to stand outside the KSRTC bus stand, Chalakudy or Pvt bus stand Chalakudy.

If you are planning to go by your own vehicle
From Anamalai Junction, Chalakkudy (NH47)- through the interstate highway- Athirappilly, vazhachal (waterfalls)- Poringal Kuthu dam reservoir ,PowerHouse, Sholayar Dam reservoir –through the forests - Tea plantations - Malakkapara, (border point of Kerala and Tamilnadu). Then along the Upper Sholayar Dam reservoir the road reaches a small town called Valpaarai,

Hotels available:
Green inn – 04253 222861, 222863
Treat – 04253 222981
Krishna – 04253 222387
Lot of home stays are also available in valparai.