A trip to Valparai is an excellent choice for nature lovers and those seeking a peaceful retreat. Valparai is a beautiful hill station located in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Here are some tips to make your trip to Valparai memorable:
- Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Valparai is from September to March when the weather is pleasant and ideal for exploring the outdoors. The monsoon season (June to August) brings heavy rainfall, which may affect your travel plans.
- Traveling to Valparai: The nearest airport to Valparai is Coimbatore International Airport, located approximately 120 kilometers away. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to Valparai. Coimbatore is also well-connected by train to major cities in India.
- Accommodation: Valparai offers a range of accommodation options, including resorts, hotels, and homestays. It is advisable to book your accommodation in advance, especially during weekends and holidays, as Valparai attracts a considerable number of visitors.
- Sightseeing: Valparai is known for its picturesque landscapes, tea plantations, and abundant wildlife. Some popular attractions include the Aliyar Dam, Sholayar Dam, Balaji Temple, Chinnakallar Falls, and the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. Don’t forget to carry your camera to capture the stunning vistas.
- Wildlife and Bird Watching: Valparai is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, leopards, gaur (Indian bison), and various species of birds. Take a jeep safari or a guided trek into the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary to explore the wilderness and spot wildlife.
- Tea Plantations: Valparai is known for its tea plantations, and a visit to these estates is a must. Take a leisurely stroll through the tea gardens, learn about the tea-making process, and enjoy the scenic beauty of the lush green plantations.
- Explore the Surroundings: Valparai is surrounded by several other scenic places worth visiting. Some nearby attractions include Athirapally Falls, Nallamudi Poonjolai, Topslip Tiger Reserve, and the hill station of Munnar. Plan your itinerary accordingly if you wish to explore these places.
- Local Cuisine: Don’t miss the opportunity to savor the local cuisine of Valparai. Try traditional South Indian dishes like dosas, idlis, and filter coffee. You can also enjoy freshly brewed tea made from the local tea leaves.
- Responsible Travel: When visiting Valparai, respect the environment and follow eco-friendly practices. Avoid littering, stay on designated trails during treks, and adhere to any rules and regulations set by the authorities.
As always, check for the latest travel advisories and guidelines before planning your trip to Valparai, as situations may change. Enjoy your journey amidst the serene beauty of Valparai!
Plan a trip to Valparai, a hill station in Tamil Nadu to experience the majestic splendor of the forest, sprawling tea plantations, and rich wildlife.
Do you want to experience the majestic splendor of the forest, sprawling tea plantations, and rich wildlife? If you are a nature lover, you should visit Valparai, a scenic hill station in Tamil Nadu. Tourists can enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of forests from the hilltops of this enchanting tourist destination. It is a beautiful place located at the base of the Sahya Mountain ranges. Plan a trip to Valpara to enjoy the misty mountains, scenic valleys, gorgeous streams, and unique flora and fauna.
The chalakkudy route is more appropriate to reach Valparai if you travel from Cochin. In fact, one can enjoy the real beauty of nature if he chooses this route. Besides, you can enjoy the beauty of Athirapally Waterfalls by selecting this route to reach Valparai. Charpa Falls is also promising during your trip to this astounding destination. You can also reach this hill station if you travel around 65 kilometers from Pollachi. Coimbatore is almost 100 kilometers from Valpara. It is interesting to know that you need to cover 41 hairpin curves to reach Valpara from Pollachi.
Athirapally
Athirapally is truly a photographer’s paradise because of its majestic Waterfall. It is certainly the Niagra of Kerala. You will be able to capture mesmerizing beauty of the waterfall from any angle. Athirapally waterfall can be a common scene in many of Indian films because of its matchless beauty. Your trip to Valpara gives you an unexpected opportunity to watch the most beautiful waterfall in Kerala.
Enjoy The Trip Through Forests
You need to travel through dense forests after visiting Athirapally Waterfall in order to reach Valparai. This trip can be a beautiful experience. The cool climate of the forest as well as the chilly winds makes your trip to Valpara a unique experience. A lot of astonishing and stunning sceneries are waiting for you at this majestic hill station. Once you reach this place, you will be mesmerized because of the scenic charm of this picnic spot.
A Crowded Town Area
Valparai is not just another small town in Tamil Nadu with a few small tea and grocery shops. The uniqueness of forests, dams, waterfalls, and tea estates suddenly gave way to the hustle and bustle of civilization. We can compare Valparai town to Munnar Town. Strict checking is there by forest officials at Athirapally and Malakkapara which are the start and end points of your forest trip. They scrutinize what we carry and take notes of them including all the items made up of plastics. Remember to avoid carrying anything made up of plastics whenever you plan trips to forests.
Enjoy The Excitement Of The Trip
Planning a trip to Valparai can be exciting because of its scenic nature and wild route. The journey through 47 kilometers of the dense forest between Malakkappara and Athirapally can be extremely enjoyable. But you must remember that it is difficult to find even a small tea shop on this route. See the wilderness of the forest as you move forward and watch several rare animals. It is absolutely amazing to watch those animals that you have seen only in zoos in its natural habitat.
Heart Soothing Greenery
Enjoy the trip through the zig-zag road and watch the rich greenery of the place. Thick Deciduous forests are there on both sides of the road. Visitors can also enjoy the beauty of a small lake named “Watchumaram”. It is your fine opportunity to enjoy some of the most scenic places like Aanakayam, Palam, Sholayar Powerhouse, and sprawling tea plantations. The famous Sholayar Dam is also on the way to Valpara. Surrounded by the Anamalai Hills in Kerala and Koorangmoodi in Tamil Nadu, you will love the beauty of this reservoir. There are several crossroads on either side that provide amazing sights of the dam and powerhouses.
Southern Chirapunji
Valpara is known as the “Southern Chirapunji” because it is one of the destinations in Tamil Nadu that gets rich rainfall. So, the area has high humidity and the sky is cloudy most of the time. Valpara can be a good recommendation for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. If you are a nature lover, you will love to visit this place because of its excellent wildlife parks. Valpara can be a photographer’s delight as they can capture amazing shots.
Thrilling Activities
Valparai offers excellent chances to enjoy trekking. You can find many good trekking trails at this spot. With several good churches and temples, Valparai is also a good choice for pilgrims. It must be a wonderful experience to walk through the rich tea plantations in this destination. Many people choose this immaculate place because it is rich with wide range of exotic flora and fauna. This area is also famous for varieties of bird species. The area is noted for wildlife like spotted dear, sambar, elephants, gaur, giant squirrels, and boars.
Other Tourist Attractions
In addition to exotic flora and fauna, there are many other striking attractions in Valparai. The tourist attractions near Valpara include Shaolayar Dam, Balaji Temple, Pancha Mukha Vinayakar Temple, Monkey Fall, and Aliyar Dam. Many viewpoints are also there on the Valparai-Pollachi road. The Loms View Point is the main one among them which is located on the 9th hairpin bend towards Valprai from Pollachi. Visitors can watch Aliyar Dam and nearby places from this viewpoint. You can also watch beautiful views of Pollachi town and valleys from this place.
The famous Chinnakalar waterfalls are situated almost 26 kilometers east of Valaparai Hill station. Chinnakallar receives the credit of getting the second maximum seasonal rainfall in India. So, it is known as the Chirapunji of South India. Nirar Dam situates almost 15 kilometers away from Valpara. Even if this dam was made as a part of the hydroelectric project, it has not spoiled the natural beauty of the place. Valparai is a must-visit place if you are a nature lover and would love to watch exotic wildlife and striking landscapes. The beauty of Nirar Dam is matchless. The spectacular sunrise and sunset views at Valparai are also commendable.