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-   -   White Lightning strikes Valparai (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/81955-white-lightning-strikes-valparai.html)

Its been a long time since I actually took a vacation with family. With my schedule dependent on my kids' school & my wife's schedule for her play school, was left with no option but to take vacation when most of India takes - summer holidays.

This meant looking at a place which is good enough to go during summers but not crowded to end up crawling in traffic trying to move around. Finally decided on Valparai, hoping that the place has some decent climate, clubbing it with a trip to Top Slip & Parambikulam.

With too many "Bollywood" style travelogues around in the forum with all those teasers / suspense filled "breaks" here is one from my side with "No Ad Breaks".

Hope I do justice to this fabulous place through my photos.

Some information on the trip.

Dates: 15th May - 20th May

15th May - Chennai - Salem (via Vellore, Krishnagiri)
16th May - Salem - Sethumadai (via Namakkal, Karur, Dharapuram, Udumalaipettai)
17th May - Sethumdadai - Valparai
18th May - Valparai
19th May - Valparai - Athirapally & back
20th May - Valparai - Chennai (via Udumalaipettai, Dharapuram, Kangeyam, Perundurai, Salem, Krishnagiri, Vellore)

PS: White Lightning = My 2005 Wagon R.

The thread title is not appropriate considering the current climatic conditions.:eek:

What a title to start with !

Waiting to hear more about Valparai, what all can be done, different stay options etc. In short every thing! :D

PS: The windmills of Dharapuram/Udumalpet have become an Anthem at TBHP!

Top Slip Reception Centre

Dining Hall at Top Slip - the forest departments of Kerala & Tamil Nadu are competing with each other hard to remove any semblance of wilderness these forests have.

Lovely place to have your residence

Aspiring Model? - My daughter

One for the Memories

A brief mention on the history of Top Slip

The farm house which we stayed at Sethumadai

Dinner under swaying coconut trees, stars and sky.

Early Morning Sunrise on the way to Topslip

At the Sethumadai Check post

I heard the top slip roads were closed? Have they been opened?

Breakfast at the famous Ambuli Illam canteen at Top Slip, the dosas' costed Rs.10/- each great VFM considering they tasted good as well.

On the way to Parambikulam



Glasshouse being built at Parambikulam information centre - possibly getting ready to be used as a "Super Luxury Accomodation" - on overkill of eco tourism

Cottages at Parambikulam

Sightings during the Parambikulam safari




Thunukadavu Dam

Windmills make up nice photographs no doubt. I stayed at the Ravi's Estate at Sethumadai and at Monica Garden Bungalow of the Stanmore group at Valparai.

They have been opened though the forests are still dry and possibly would be best to visit around 1st week of June when it would receive possibly a couple of more showers.

Thanks for that input. Will plan accordingly. By the way the last snap is very nice. The floating water body!

Valley of Evergreen forests

Parambikulam Dam

Kerala Forest Department seem to have used a lot of creativity at Parambikulam

The famous Kannimara Teak - possibly the largest living teak tree

A wonderful place to laze around - at the banks of Parambikulam reservoir

Parambikulam, Top Slip, Athirapally & Valparai! Glued to this thread:thumbs up

Srikanth - Did you drive your white lightning inside parambikulam or did you take the safari bus? Was this a day trip from your home stay in Sethumadai or an overnight stay at Parambikulam


Nutty - your valaprai log is long overdue :)

Lovely views as you drive up the ghats towards Valparai

Monica Garden Bungalow - part of the Stanmore group. Our place of stay at Valparai.

View from the Guest House


Sunrise

Morning Safari Trip to the Puthuthottam Estates gave us a Gaur sighting

and the famous LTM

Through the tiny tracks of the tea estates

Tea Pruning

Jack fruits favorite of both LTMs' & elephants

My day made with the lovely ten minutes spent with the group of LTMs'

It was a day trip from Sethumadai, we parked our car at the Information Centre, and took the safari tempo traveller. Rs.140/- per person is the cost of safari. You need to have 13 people to go or you pay for the entire van. You will have to collect your tickets near the Top Slip checkpost. Kerala Forest department has a room which is manned by a guard who issues these tickets.

What I was told is these days private vehicles are not allowed all the way upto the dam.

Thanks for that info.
What is the normal rooute the safari tempo takes - basically if it is a day trip what choices do one get there to do.

kannimara trek, and the tram trek - is it separately available for a day tripper? Or is it only for the ones who prefers to stay there ?

My kids enjoyed the stay thoroughly at the guest house


Every turn at Valparai would provide a spell bounding view of the green carpet



Nirar Dam


Sidhi Vinayak Temple, maintained by the Birla Estate, which houses a replica of the idol in the Mumbai temple made out of marble.

Nalla Mudi Pooncholai - view point where one can see the Munnar side of Kerala

Sholayar Dam backwaters - waiting for the monsoon to get filled up to brim again.

Kids enjoying the backwaters

View from the Upper Sholayar dam


All of us enjoying the views offered by the dam


Upper Sholayar Dam