Trip to Valparai

Its been some weeks that we are discussing where can we go for this 01-May-2015 long weekend in done family. After lots of discussion, it was decided Megha and Ram with their not 2 years old daughter Bhadra and Runai and Me will visit Valparai. Akshi and Ashwin backed out. We booked the hotel rather a home stay and all set to move.

It's 01-May-2015, we got up at 3:00 am and started from home at 4:00 am. We reached Megha's house in Ejipura at 4:30 am and finially we started at 5:00 am. It took us till 10:00 am to cross Krishnagiri. Each toll gate had heavy traffic. Anyway we stopped for breakfast and the place was crowded like anything. To get our table and finish breakfast it took 1 1/4 hour. Anyway we started again and reached Avinashi and took the diversion. Just in the corner we stopped for lunch. It was normal home food there. We started again at 2:30 pm and with all twisty turn road and on our way, we passed Aaliyar Dam. We didn't stop here because it was over crowded and continued. There is a toll gate and after crossing it, next we went to Monkey Falls.

Monkey Falls

We stopped there and went to the fall. It was over crowded and we saw it took some photos and returned back. Of course saw a snake in water. Next we found nilgiri tahr climbing a steep rocky mountain and eating grass. We stopped in Loam's view point but couldn't find any goat except people and tea stalls.

Loam's view point

We started again and reached Valparai at 4:30 pm. After some back and forth we found our home stay which was right in the junction. The guy told me that all rooms were booked, so made some arrangement for us in another place. We went there and found a new building meant for dormitory but gave us 2 rooms for 2 families. He then asked for extra charges which we were not comfortable with. Anyway after freshen up we decided to go for a walk and see what is available in nearby place. We also asked for nice place for dinner and everybody told that Hotel plaza is a good place. We walked there and on our way Megha found some good veggies in the market. It's a usualy eat out and the staff told us that most of the items are over. Anyway we got porota and dhosa and biryani, etc. It was late at 10:00 pm when we returned home and decided we will start next day at 7:00 am.

It's 02-May-2015, I got up at 5:30 am and was googling all places that we can cover in a day. Suddenly Megha comes and knocks in our door. She did her morning puja in nearby temple and came to see whether we got up. We chatted for sometime and then we all started to get ready. Runai and I finished little early and wanted to walk around to see what is there nearby. Found the bus stop, government food storage and Bharathiar University. After we all got ready we walked for 100 m and went to a place for breakfast. We had appam, iddli, egg masala, etc. Then we started to drive and got down in first curve for some photos. Next we went to Sholayar Dam.

Sholayar Dam

We spent some time there and also an ice cream for each. From there we went further down from where we can see the dam gate right in front of us.

Lion Tailed Macaque

From there we went to Nirar Dam.

Nirar Dam

Nirar Dam - Inside Dam Tunnel

Nirar Dam

There is a toll gate which gives you option for 2 different ticket to visit different places. In this dam you can climb down. There was a care taker who told us if we want to go inside the dam and we were ready. He told to pay him Rs. 300 and we will let us in. It was a life time experience. The length of the dam is huge and a narrow wet tunnel goes across the length with a small bulb in some interval and it goes ups and downs. First I was little scared to go in. But then saw that there was another group who were already in. I can hear their voice echoing but can see them. So Ram and I went in slowly and then suddenly we were half way in and I was thinking we are deep down tons and tons of lake water separated by concrete tunnel in the dam. After we went till the other end of the tunnel we returned back and then Megha and Runai came with me because Ram was taking care of Bhadra outside. Looks like water needs to come inside the tunnel in slow stream. This will help engineers to find if there are any cracks or defects in the dam. Once we are outside the dam, we figured out that we have to climb all the way up till the dam. We did that slowly and the care taker on top of the dam was kind enough to let us in and walk across the dam. We spent some good time there and the view was magnificent. After we came out of the place, there was a stall selling bajji, tea etc. We had those at 4 pm as our lunch. It was hot and fresh which made it even tastier. Next from there Nallamudi Poonjolai view point at 5:30 pm.

Nallamudi Poonjolai

They told that it is closed and to come tomorrow. After some talk they were again kind enough to let us in. We had to walk for a km to reach the point inside the tea estate. The view is awesome. We spent a good amount of time there and while returning back we saw bison grazing.

Bison

It was late in the evening and Megha and Ram drank tea and we had biscuit. It was dark, so we drove slowly and came to town. We headed straight to hotel plaza but couldn't find parking place. So Ram, Megha and Bhadra got down and we went back to our place and parked there. We then walked down to hotel plaza and on our way inquired about when the petrol bunk opens in morning and where is an ATM. the ATM place was crowded and after 15 min our turn came and we got cash. Then we went to hotel plaza and Ram and Megha were waiting for us there. We had good dinner and while we 5 of us started to walk back at night 9:30 pm, Megha bought some veggies and next day we planned to start by 7 am,

Its 03-May-2015, we started to pack and gave the hotel guy extra Rs. 500 and the moved on. On our way we parked to the bakery next to hotel plazza and had our breakfast. Had tea, vada, puffs. We liked it so much that we parceled few other items. The shopkeeper was very happy that early morning we bought so many things. On our way back we saw nilgiri tahr right on the road eating grasses.

Nilgiri Tahr

We took so many photos. Next we got down till the foothill where there is a checkpost. We went for the restroom and Megha and Ram wanted to freshen up Bhadra. We also went to the souvenir shop and got a T-shirt plus some items to grow plants. After we meet Megha and Ram, we found that the place is beautiful and we also saw nilgiri giant squirrel.

Malabar Squirrel

It was sleeping right in the tree branch waiting for us to take picture of it. After spending good amount of time, we started again and stopped in Salem for lunch right in the junction. From there we are back to Bangalore. First we dropped Megha and Ram at 8:00 pm and then we reached home at 9:30 pm.

Loam's view point

Nature

Nature

Nature

Nature

Nature

Nature

Nature

Nature

Nirar Dam

Nirar Dam

Nirar Dam - Inside Dam Tunnel

Nirar Dam

Nirar Dam

Nirar Dam

Nirar Dam - Top of the dam

Bison

Nallamudi Poonjolai

Valparai Road

Foot Hill

Foot Hill

Foot Hill

Crane

Double Crested Cormorant

Lion Tailed Macaque

Lion Tailed Macaque

Lion Tailed Macaque

Lion Tailed Macaque

Malabar Squirrel

Malabar Squirrel

Malabar Squirrel

Malabar Squirrel

Mynah

Windmill