A wet and wild weekend in Valparai
![Valparai - Lion tailed macaque](https://lakshmisharath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/valparai-LTM-750x375.jpg)
It begins as a drizzle but within moments, it becomes a downpour and a deafening thundershows, drowning all other sounds of nature. The grey sky becomes darker but it is the greenery in front of us that greets me. I am in a wet and wild Valparai as the dense forests surround me. The trees close in on me while the creepers entwining around the branches take me into a magical world. We are driving around some of the places to visit in Valparai, in the quest to see some endemic wildlife in Valparai.
![places to visit in Valparai](https://lakshmisharath.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/valparai-waterfalls4-1024x678.jpg)
Waterfalls gushing out in Valparai
But there is something about the rains in a tropical evergreen forest that brings out the real wild person in you. Valparai is a plantation town, a hill station, a bio diversity hotspot and a tropical rain forest – all rolled into one. Located in the Anaimalai Range of the Western Ghats, this is one of the most pristine spots in Tamil Nadu.
The rains become a part of the landscape as we stop for the first glimpse of the Anaimalais. The mountains are in your face and intimidating, but the scenery is breathtaking. Low hanging clouds merging with the mist, playing hide and seek with the mountains, roaring waterfalls, quiet lakes – there is no dearth of them. I count the many shades of blues and greens as the weather turns nippy. The road curves and the winding hair pen bends treat me to some of the most beautiful vistas of nature. There are about forty of them and the mist comes calling as we climb uphill .
The rains come down in full force, but sometimes it is the gentle drop that drips from the ferns and leaves that refreshes you. I feel a gamut of emotions inside me. Initially it is all about gay abandon, then the rains rejuvenate you as the forests come alive. Then as the earth gets wet and the skies are forever wrapped in dark clouds veiling the sun out of view, you long for some warmth . However the rain forest eventually wraps you into a world of magic, a world which is green, misty and wet. There are ferns and orchids everywhere with droplets of water dripping from them . The mist and the rains take turns to come calling. The waterfalls beckon. I learn to ignore the leeches and lose myself in the roaring cascades . And for a moment, I almost throw my umbrella and rain coats and rain poncho and let the rains drench me to the bone.
There are patches of tropical evergreen forests and then there are rolling tea and coffee estates .But it is in this rich bio diversity hotspot, that some of the endangered and endemic species live, fighting for survival. And I am hoping to spot a few of them – from the critically endangered primate lion tailed macaque to the nilgiri tahr, to the great hornbill among several others.
Our journey comes to a halt as we have company on the road on the way from Pollachi. A herd of nilgiri tahr is effortlessly climbing uphill, only to lock horns and engage in a mock fight. The birds call as a lone nilgiri tahr comfortably sits high up in the grassy patch overlooking the entire valley.
We look for the endangered primates, lion tailed macaques and find them in their own world, blissfully unaware of the dangers that face them. Today there are barely few hundreds of them in the Anaimalais. Locals, NGOs and wildlife conservationists are striving to protect these species in this pristine environment. You can find them in and around Puduthottam Annexe or sometimes they meet you on the roads. Some villagers learn to coexist with these primates as we see them in their own habitat, busy with their day.
The birds are next on our agenda. We spot woodpeckers, eagles, babblers, coucals, thrushes, mynahs but the moment that I have been waiting for is yet to arrive. We squint through the greenery and look for the Great Indian Hornbill . As we almost give hope, we see them hiding amidst the leaves. We wait patiently and saw the majestic colourful birds fly away , a spectacle to behold and an image that will never fade away from my eyes .
We head out in the night and catch a glimpse of the flying squirrels gliding gracefully from the trees . We look for frogs, civets, insects and several other nocturnal creatures and attempt to photograph a few through our macro lens.
Valparai is not just a story about a tourist destination . It is about a journey through the forests that opens our eyes to conservation , to the shrinking rain forests and to the endangered species. We go on a wilderness trail across lush forests, encountering wildlife, soaking in the waterfalls and getting drenched in the rains, learning a bit about wildlife photography understanding the bio diversity of the region from conservationists . We drive through dense forests from Valparai to Athirapally, one of the most beautiful stretches . I would have loved to go to Chalakudy as well, although I have been on the road from Chalakudy to Athirapally earlier. This is one of the places to visit in Valparai.
However it is an understatement to say Valparai is beautiful . The plantations and the forests present a fabric of green . The mists are everywhere ; the rivers and the waterfalls follow you wherever you go . And the legend goes, that an old man called Velu claims to have “Seen God” in the human form here. Velu still comes to the viewpoint at Seen God or Nalamudi Poonjolai everyday,one of the places to visit in Valparai hoping for a second darshan . You should probably believe him, because in that rich dense canopy, there is a possibility that God does exist somewhere .
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Western Ghats will show you all its colour in Monsoon. I had been on a Bike trip to Bangalore to Dhudhsagar Falls in Monsoon.
It was experience of lifetime.
Your opening paragraph describes my experience perfectly.
Brilliant narration!!
http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
well narrated Lakshmi,you have created strong zeal in me to visit this place soon.thanks for sharing.
Lovely post with attractive images.Tamil Nadu is a great place to visit for exhilarating sights, fine arts and cuisine.Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
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Very beautiful place to visit.I can see the beauty of nature from the pictures.Thanks for sharing those.
Valparai is always close to my heart and cherish. Both the time my visit to Valparai was bright and dry, but cool after evening.
You captured some awesome scenes and I adore them all 🙂 We could see tahri mostly on the hill near the Loam’s view, and I am so glad alike checking the 3 endangers and the sight and swish sound of the great horn creates above the Solaiyar dam was mesmerizing.
I enjoyed this post, Lakshmi!
Both your national park and rain forest posts are good. I must say very refreshing!
Beautiful pictures…Your thoughts on rain and raindrops reminded me of my trip to ‘Nandi hills’long time back…mist, rain drops, chill in the air and a beautiful view from uphill:)it’s a memory that I still cherish.
Nice article and stunning pictures. If you are planning for a trip to Topslip (Anamalai Tiger Reserve), Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Valparai, Athirapally, Munnar, etc, please visit http://www.grasshillstravels.com or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h-a-nACN-Y
Well written. i like the way you narrate the beauty of the places.
Thanks Maria
Hi Lakshmi,
Im planning a trip with my girl pals in oct. could you give us some info about the stay and the must see places?
Hi,
Try to visit Athirapally from Valparai. Very fascinating route, but a challenging one. Fine if you have own vehicle, but a bus service available from Valparai as well.
Hi, I have been on the road trip..
Hai lakshmi , this is padmasri from Hyderabad. Just now I shared you experiences. Thrilled. We are planning to visit Valparai this June. Can you guide me like where to stay,, two days are sufficient to experience the wkldlife?
Hi Yes..two days is good enough but three days will be great if you want to relax as well
Lovely Narration and Pics Lucky, Valparai is my next month destination .