Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Valparai – Places of Interest – III

View Points & Interesting Places in & around valparai
Nallamudi Poonjolai Valley View
Nallamudi Poonjolai Viewpoint is 15 km from Valparai and is located in one of the private Tea estates, Nallamudi estate. Nallamudi valley view can be reached thorough a gateway in the tea garden. One must walk for about 1 km inside this estate to reach this viewpoint. On your way, you may see fresh elephant dung, Pugmarks & droppings of Leopards and Bears that visit here regularly at nights.


From here you can spot an excellent view Anaimudi peak, the highest peak in south India. There are few falls on the valley one of which appear as streaks. This is truly a sight to behold. The nearby tribal settlements provide ample opportunity to satisfy the explorer in you.
It is a grazing pasture surrounded by mountains This Valley is Situated in Anaimudi Estate Can see Iddliyar Valley from here.
Nallamudi Poonjolai offers an excellent view of Anaimudi peak (the tallest peak in south India located in Rajamalai National Park near Munnar), several waterfalls, tribal settlements and a valley that is over 1000 feet deep.

It was an interesting view point to sight the Anaimudi - South India’s highest peak, counting 8842ft. The valley covers almost dense forest, with little encroachment of tea gardens at far left and tribal settlement villages below the valley. The anaimudi was not clearly visible, except the shape like elephants back at far distance. This valley separates the states Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and the other side of the hills or anaimudi is Munnar.
Shakthi Thalanar View
This view point is located at 14 kms from Valparai to Pollachi direction. It gives excellent view of the surrounding mountains & Pollachi Town.

Attakatti view point

Attakatti view point - on the way to Valparai - 2.5kms from Loam's view point. Stop at Attakatti bus stop and ask locals about the view point. They will guide you.  
Selali Parai View
It’s a view point located in Valparai to Sholayar Dam Cochin Direction This View Point is located at 7 kms from Valparai.
Old Valparai Valley View
It’s a view point located in Valparai to Sholayar Dam Cochin Direction This View Point is located at 6 kms from Valparai.
Old Valparai Trucking Point
Old Valparai Trucking Point located in Valparai to Sholayar Dam Cochin Direction This place is located at 6 kms from Valparai.
Meen Parai
It’s a view point located in Valparai to Sholayar Dam Cochin Direction This View Point is located at 29 kms from Valparai.
Manomboli Watch Tower & Manomboli Power House
Manomboli Watch Tower & Manomboli Power House are located in Valparai to Sholayar Dam Cochin Direction This View Point is located at 26 kms from Valparai.
Ministers View
It’s a view point located in Valparai to Cinchona Direction. This View Point is located at 10 kms from Valparai. It gives excellent view of the surrounding mountains. Must Visit place for nature lovers.
Number Parai
This is also a beautiful view point nearby Sangiliroad close to Valparai town. Do not forget to visit this place when you travel to valparai. The mist will touch you and go often. This place is a private property. Now Entry to this point restricted. If you get a chance to visit this place. Don’t miss at any cost.

Grass Hills
It is a part of Anamalai Tiger Reserve. It is surrounded by a green grass environment. It is a beautiful site of high green grasses on a mountain slope, which is a protected area. Visitors have to obtain permission from the wildlife warden to enter the Grass Hills. It is situated at a distance of 15 km from Valparai town. Grass hills is a picturesque spot located in the Valparai hills range, at a height of approximately 2400 ft msl, with cool climate getting cooler at night, a part of Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Right now all efforts are being undertaken by the government to preserve the flora and fauna of this location. Nilgiri Thar is native of this place apart from Elephants, Bison, Indian Gaur, Bear, Nilgiri Langur etc. and a wide variety of birds including Hornbills. It’s a UNESCO World heritage Site.

Grass hills is a remnant of the unique shola grasslands found only in the higher reaches of the Western Ghats. The shola grasslands are a unique ecosystem. A host of species found here, like the Nilgiri tahr and Nilgiri Pipit, are not found anywhere in the world.The lush green meadows present there are those ones see in their romantic dreams. Patterns emerge in the unending carpet of grass a copse of shola trees resembles a mango and another, the outline of India. The fire lines drawn around them emphasise their shape. These are by far the only things man-made in Grass Hills. Nature lovers and geologists in search of 'Ox-bow' lakes are sure to find one too many. The door to this place is strictly opened to nature lovers only.Prior permission from the Forest Department required.

It is an ideal place for trekking from Chinnar via Eravikulam national park of Munnar (Kerala) to konalar kudil of Grass Hills.
Grass Hills National Park is a protected area in the Western Ghats, India, and a part of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, forming its boundary with Eravikulam National Park in neighbouring Kerala state. The landscape is a combination of peaks and high plateaus above 2000m MSL composed of montane shola-grassland ecosystem that is unique to the higher ranges of the Western Ghats of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The important peaks are, Attuparai kurukku top (6662ft), Oosi malai Theri, kazhuku chutti malai, silve medu. It is primarily a shola grassland eco system
It’s a part of Indra Gandhi wildlife sanctuary & national park. It is surrounded by a green grass environment. It’s a beautiful site of high green grasses on a mountain slope, which is a protected area. Visitors have to obtain permission from wildlife warden to enter the Grass Hills.
Loam’s View Point 
This beautiful view point is located in 9th hairpin bend towards Valparai from Pollachi. It offers the amazing view of the marvelous Aliyar Dam, the surrounding mountains of Western Ghats and the Pollachi town.


Loam’s view point is the important view point that one cannot afford to miss while making his way to Valparai. It is located on the 9th hairpin bend on the mountain road to Valparai from Pollachi. It offers an impeccable view of the Aliyar dam and its reservoir.


The place is also a good vantage point to look for out into the plains, as far as the town of Pollachi. A deep long look around might be well enough for one to attain nirvana, from the sight of the towering mountains of the Western Ghats. You feel dwarfed in their midst, before towering ranges, mist and the slow distant rumble of the Aliyar Hydroelectric power project. Consider yourself lucky if you spot endangered Nilgiri Tahr, the State animal of Tamil Nadu.
Carver marsh view point:
It is located in Kavarkal estate enroute valparai. A statue of Sir Carver Marsh, the father of Anamalais graces this place, which is covered in mist most of the year, but when the skies are clear one can witness a breathtaking view of the Sholayar Reservoir.
Tiger Valley
Tiger Valley is located approximately 22 kms enroute Valparai. It provides a spectacular view of Kadamparai and the upper Azhiyar projects. Wind mills situated on the plains can be a feast to the eyes.
This valley is situated between waterfalls Estate and Attakatti after 27 th hairpin bend. View the scenic beauties of the evergreen forests, the surrounding Upper Aliyar reservoir, the situated in udumalpettai area Valparai road.
This Valley is situated near Waterfalls Estate On the way to Valparai from Pollachi after 27th hairpin bend. An exotic view of evergreen forest, Upper Aliyar Resevoir, Udumelpet Wind Mills, etc.
Manompally forest:
This reserve forest truly provides the icing on the cake for Valparai located at about 20 km from the town, this place is sure to get your jaws dropping in fascination. Graced by the manompally river (with a few crocodiles, of course), this reserve forest provides adventurous treks, a high probability to sight some of endangered species. 

There is a trekking shed (rest house) on the banks of Manompally River which doubles up as a base camp for those bent on adventure. Prior permission from the Forest Department required. There are no words to describe this bejeweled beauty which adorns the crown of Valparai.

Topslip
Top slip, a part of Western Ghats, is located above 300 meters from the sea level on the Anamalai mountain ranges (Hills of elephants). It is an important tourist centre in Indra Gandhi National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (sanctuary covers 958 sq.kms) in the Coimbatore District of Tamilnadu at the southern part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. BUT there is a pass (Palaghat pass) between Nilgiris and Anamalai ranges. Further Topslip is the only entry point to Parambikulam Wild Life Reserve Forest which comes under the state of Kerala. The nearest access point to Topslip would be Pollachi in Tamilnadu (Pollachi – Topslip about 35Kms).

"The pollution free heavenly land" Topslip is located above the 900 feet from the sea level on the Anamalai mountain range and in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. It stands majestically with Green Spread Mountains and forest all around. The unique teak forests, Bamboo forest also located near Topslip.
The Sanctuary is highly diverse in its topography, altitude, rainfall, climate and temperature. Therefore, it naturally supports a wide variety of flora and fauna including several rare, endemic and endangered species of plants and animals. Diversity of landscape and its components enchants one and all alike be he a tourist, a trekker, an anthropologist, a wildlifer or a naturalist.
The two small Places with in the (958 km2) Anamalai Tiger Reserve (formerly Indira Gandhi National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary) lies in the Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu. At the southern part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Anamalai Hills. Separated from the Nilgiri Hills by the Palghat Gap on the north, the Park is contiguous to the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) to its west and to the Eravikulam National Park (Kerala) and Chinnar Wild life sanctuary. 
Reaching Topslip
Reaching Topslip from Pollachi and then by road to Top Slip (35 km), the entry point to Topslip. There are regular buses from Pollachi at 6 am and 3 pm. The bus returns to Pollachi at 8 am and 6 pm. Hired cars/taxis are also available at Pollachi.
Reaching Topslip from Valparai is abut 65 kms. Via Aliyar Dam, Annamalai Town and Sethumadai, Valparai to Topslip is itself an exotic experience. En route is the Anamalai Tiger Reserve Sanctuary where lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri and the common langur, Malabar giant squirrel, elephant, gaur, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer and wild boar reside. you can also visit the Monkey Falls, Aliyar Dam, Park, and several tourist spots. (Via Aliyar and Sethumadai)
Reaching Parambikulam from Topslip is about 2 kms. Parambikulam forest check post staffs will guide you to enter the santuary.
Topslip is about 37kms from Pollachi city. Topslip can be reached by the only in road travels. In Topslip the vacation can be enjoyed by staying at Tree Hut, Elephant raid, Forest tracking and enjoy in watching all kind of wild animals and beauty full birds.
Akka Malai
Akka Malai [Big Sister Mountain]is having the highest tea factory in Valparai, at 1620m above mean sea level.















Akka Malai is bordered by very dense shola forest at the base of the Grass Hills. The Grass Hills rise to 2350m. They can be seen from most parts of Valparai. These are shola – Grassland Mountains typical of the higher altitudes of the south Western Ghats. A jeep road leads from the tea estate into the grasslands of the Grass Hills. This is a restricted area. Permission to visit may be obtained from the Forest Office at Attakatti. The Grass Hills range joins the High Ranges of Kerala, home to Anai Mudi – the highest peak in India south of the Himalayas.
Koolangal River

It is located 3 kms away from Valparai. An ideal place for picnic & chatting with your loved ones. It’s a nice place to take bath and also to sit , chat and have lunch on the banks.