[RSimonS]

Hi @ranjitp1/All,

I am planning to visit Valparai from Thrissur with family during the Onam week. We would be travelling in a Honda City. Would you suggest taking the Athirapally - Valparai route? Would it be risky? Any idea on the road condition?

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by RSimonS

Hi @ranjitp1/All,

I am planning to visit Valparai from Thrissur with family during the Onam week. We would be travelling in a Honda City. Would you suggest taking the Athirapally - Valparai route? Would it be risky? Any idea on the road condition?

Road condition was reported to be better than it was couple of years back (when I traveled). I had done this in my Alto without any issue, you too will not be having any trouble in Honda City unless you have full load (hence decreased GC).

Do note that this road is closed for the night, hence plan crossing the same in day time if you plan for stopping at Athirapally.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by RSimonS

I am planning to visit Valparai from Thrissur with family during the Onam week. We would be travelling in a Honda City. Would you suggest taking the Athirapally - Valparai route? Would it be risky? Any idea on the road condition?

The road condition is mostly good, except for a small stretch less than 10Km before you reach Malakkapara check post. No safety issues.
Also there is a check on plastic items to prevent littering the forest area.
The check posts at Vazhachal and Malakkapara will verify the plastic items.

[dhanushmenon]

Intend driving from Pollachi- Valparai- Athirappaly- Thrissur- Kochi next week.

Any idea what is the current road conditions?

Driving alone.
Vehicle- XUV

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Intend driving from Pollachi- Valparai- Athirappaly- Thrissur- Kochi next week.

Any idea what is the current road conditions?

On the TN side its very good. Bad roads around the border. And there on its OK.

[Sivasankar]

Hi ampere,

we are travelling to Valparai from Chennai on the 1st Jan. Google Maps suggests Chennai - Perambalur - Karur - Dharapuram - Udumalpet route.

Are the roads from Perambalur to Udumalpet in good condition? Or is the Chennai - Trichy - Dindigul - Palani - Udumalpet route advisable?

we will be leaving Valparai on the 4th.

need suggestions on good places for food and fuel.

best regards,

siva

Originally Posted by ampere

On the TN side its very good. Bad roads around the border. And there on its OK.

Originally Posted by Sivasankar

Or is the Chennai - Trichy - Dindigul - Palani - Udumalpet route advisable?

I took this route to Sholayar Dam/Athirapilly on 24 Dec 2014. The details are here. I feel this route is faster and stress-free than the other routes. The volume of traffic was more between Dindigul and Palani on the 2-lane SH due to Sabarimalai season.

need suggestions on good places for food and fuel.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Sivasankar

Or is the Chennai - Trichy - Dindigul - Palani - Udumalpet route advisable?

As Ravi mentioned, you can either try the Palani route or also do:

Chennai-Ulundurpet-Salem-Avinashi-Mangalam-Pollachi-Valparai.

Either of the roads are good.

[Sivasankar]

Thank you very very much for the tips, Ravi Sir & Ampere!

Ravi sir, my simple mind is still reeling from reading your trip summary. A one day trip almost!!!

We are doing the trip in an Ecosport

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

I took this route to Sholayar Dam/Athirapilly on 24 Dec 2014. The details are here. I feel this route is faster and stress-free than the other routes. The volume of traffic was more between Dindigul and Palani on the 2-lane SH due to Sabarimalai season.

Originally Posted by ampere

As Ravi mentioned, you can either try the Palani route or also do:

Chennai-Ulundurpet-Salem-Avinashi-Mangalam-Pollachi-Valparai.

Either of the roads are good.

[nilanjanray]

Is night driving to Valparai from Coimbatore allowed?

And anyone has the number for Waterfall Estates? Their site is down, the numbers given on Team BHP threads is not working.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Is night driving to Valparai from Coimbatore allowed?

And anyone has the number for Waterfall Estates? Their site is down, the numbers given on Team BHP threads is not working.

From Coimbatore your route would be via Pollachi-Aliyar-Valparai.
As far as I know there is no night time driving restrictions and there are no forest check posts. However, do check with the estate bungalow where you will be staying, some of them have barriers that will be locked preventing movement on the estate's private roads.
*This may not be a problem for Waterfall estate since it is almost just off the ghat road going from Aliyar to Valparai.

On the other route via Chalakudy-Sholayar-Valparai one drives through a forest on the Kerala side and there is a check post at Malakkapara. Beyond 6.30pm, they may let you go if you have a confirmed booking at one of the estate bungalows but even then I wouldn't recommend this during late evenings due to possibility of wild life movement and any vehicle emergencies you may encounter, there was a 10 odd Km that was bit rough as well, don't know if that has been relaid.

Waterfall estate - I had this contact, but not too sure if it's still valid/operational, you may want to give it a try:
Contact person: Rasha - 9443337022
Hope this helps.

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by NPV

From Coimbatore your route would be via Pollachi-Aliyar-Valparai.
As far as I know there is no night time driving restrictions and there are no forest check posts. However, do check with the estate bungalow where you will be staying, some of them have barriers that will be locked preventing movement on the estate's private roads.
*This may not be a problem for Waterfall estate since it is almost just off the ghat road going from Aliyar to Valparai.

On the other route via Chalakudy-Sholayar-Valparai one drives through a forest on the Kerala side and there is a check post at Malakkapara. Beyond 6.30pm, they may let you go if you have a confirmed booking at one of the estate bungalows but even then I wouldn't recommend this during late evenings due to possibility of wild life movement and any vehicle emergencies you may encounter, there was a 10 odd Km that was bit rough as well, don't know if that has been relaid.

Waterfall estate - I had this contact, but not too sure if it's still valid/operational, you may want to give it a try:
Contact person: Rasha - 9443337022
Hope this helps.

Thanks. I reached around midnight, the checkposts didn't stop me. Stayed at Waterfalls. Had good sightings of the endangered primates. Went for an interesting evening drive on a restricted road (with forest department permisson). Had elephants charging at our vehicle, and saw a Sambar deer kill. Fruitful, hectic trip.

[mallumowgli]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Thanks. I reached around midnight, the checkposts didn't stop me. Stayed at Waterfalls. Had good sightings of the endangered primates.

Great. Hope we can look forward to a complete travelogue at least this time!

Went for an interesting evening drive on a restricted road (with forest department permisson).

Would be interested in knowing more about this

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Thanks. I reached around midnight, the checkposts didn't stop me. Stayed at Waterfalls. Had good sightings of the endangered primates. Went for an interesting evening drive on a restricted road (with forest department permisson). Had elephants charging at our vehicle, and saw a Sambar deer kill. Fruitful, hectic trip.

Now that is one photologue we'll eagerly look forward to! Looks like the onset of summer has brought out the primates!

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by luvurride

Now that is one photologue we'll eagerly look forward to! Looks like the onset of summer has brought out the primates!

I don't know about winter sightings of the LTMs, since this was my first time. But I had some decent luck, for a half day stay . Thanks to some friends I made over there.