[safe_rider]

Good one, mate!

I recently did a solo trip to Valparai in my R15 v3 from Tirupur. One thing to mention here is that I have got leech bites around the afternoon and lost a lot of blood without my knowledge and realized this only by evening :/ Usually, this is not a scary thing so I just ignored it but sadly, I got an infection after 10 days of my visit and had to take an injection/medication to cure it. So, beware of the leeches



Anyhow, coming back to the point, I have stayed in some cheap lodge located near bus stand and been to places like Nallamudi view point, Sholayar Dam, Niran Dam, Balaji temple (private managed), Kuzhankal River, Nirar tunnel exit.

Here, I have made a simple video out of it for my memory

https://youtu.be/8ZdB67RoatU

Mod Note: Post Edited. Smiley usage is restricted to two per post on Team-BHP. Please do NOT use more than 2 smileys in a post.

[sunilinasu]

Lovely writeup and pictures, Dr. AD.

The forest bungalow looks very interesting, could you pls share the location / details?

[fiat_tarun]

Having grown up on the tea plantations in Valparai, seeing such travelogues brings back good memories. It is truly a beautiful place and I appreciate it more only after moving out and living in the city

Valparai is also home to the Great Indian Hornbill and it is truly a sight to see this magnificent bird. Their size really takes you by surprise.



To really be able to see Valparai one needs to know people who live there as access to most place is via private estate roads or is controlled by the forest department.

The Sinna Dorai's bungalow, run by the Murugappa group on their estate is a good option to stay with some tours they also help arrange.

Like you have mentioned, the roads there are so enjoyable and I literally cursed my luck that my parents moved out just as I turned 18 and got my license Have gone back at every chance I've got since then.

Dashcam footage of this awesome road from my last trip

[worldcrawler]

Extremely engaging writeup and awesome pictures!!! Loved the perspective of the pictures, they were so refreshing...

I haven't been to Valparai, yet but I can imagine how serene it would be due to less commercialisation. After looking at your pictures, I would like to drive down immediately

Please ping me next time you guys are driving, if you don't mind to expand the squad

[kiran_aithal]

Nice travelogue and lovely pics, both of the cars and others...

Valparai is one place that has not been overexploited and has fairly good roads as well. May be due to lack of accommodation options or less marketing of it...

[Dr.AD]

Originally Posted by ampere

Also if you really need to experience those awesome 2-Lanes of TN, then nothing better than trying Avinashi-Mangalam-Palladam-Pollachi SH.

Thank you ampere! I will surely try this road in one of the future trips.

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I won't be surprised if the Thar continued to keep company with your BMW on the highways.
Great trip and thanks for sharing.

Thanks you, jkrishnakj! Yes, Thar in the capable hands of Robi can keep company with the BMWs :-) BTW your A6 would have loved the hilly roads of Valparai. If you have not been there already, this is a must drive location for you and your A6!

Originally Posted by ribsofman

Amazing experience to read! Loved the photos! Your post makes me to crave for my next travel.

Thank you very much.

Originally Posted by NPV

Awesome pictures to go well with your cool narration, as always another gem from Dr. AD (actually the three musketeers AD, robi and graaja!), thanks for sharing

Thank you very much NPV.

I guess you have enough reasons to go back to Valparai and maybe extend over to the Kerala side to see other places like the Nirar Dam, Athirapally & Vazhachal falls, the Balaji temple, etc

Yes very true. There are many nice places nearby there, and we must go back with more time in hand to explore these places.

Brought back nostalgic memories from a visit almoat exactly a decade ago, we'd stayed at Sinnadorai then, a lovely place.
Here's my travelogue of that experience - Link (Dizzy Drive® : Wonderful Valparai (enchanted by Sinnadorai's Bungalow) and more!)

Lovely report! Thanks for sharing it. I have heard a lot about Sinna Dorai's bungalow there. That would be on the list for next visit. I have stayed at Sinna Dorai's bungalow at Kadamane recently, but not in Valparai.

Originally Posted by safe_rider

Good one, mate!
...
So, beware of the leeches

Thanks. Yes leeches are in plenty there. I got similar experience like yours with leeches in Kadamane recently. But thankfully, here in Valparai, none of us had any bad experience with leeches. Guess we got lucky this time in Valparai.

Here, I have made a simple video out of it for my memory

Nice video. Thanks for sharing it.

Originally Posted by sunilinasu

Lovely writeup and pictures, Dr. AD.

The forest bungalow looks very interesting, could you pls share the location / details?

Thank you very much. The bungalow is a place called " Puthuthottam Annexe". You can google it and you will find the details. You have to contact them directly on phone for booking. It is a lovely place (very clean and comfortable rooms in the middle of forest), but not a luxury place. Great place as long as one if happy to experience a comfortable jungle stay without expecting any 5-star luxuries.

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

Valparai is also home to the Great Indian Hornbill and it is truly a sight to see this magnificent bird. Their size really takes you by surprise.

Yes, Great Indian Hornbill are one of the attraction in Valparai. We saw one during the morning walk. Unfortunately we did not see any after that, and could not manage to take any photos of that.

Originally Posted by worldcrawler

Extremely engaging writeup and awesome pictures!!! Loved the perspective of the pictures, they were so refreshing...

I haven't been to Valparai, yet but I can imagine how serene it would be due to less commercialisation. After looking at your pictures, I would like to drive down immediately

Thank you very much. Your X3 would love that place. That is a place where your X3 will enjoy both the twists and turns on the tarmac, as well as some off-roading through tea plantations!

Originally Posted by kiran_aithal

Nice travelogue and lovely pics, both of the cars and others...

Valparai is one place that has not been overexploited and has fairly good roads as well. May be due to lack of accommodation options or less marketing of it...

Thank you very much. Yes, Valparai is not overly commercialized (or not commercialized at all), and that remains one of the USPs of this place.

[ramnath_77]

Lovely travelogue with some nice pictures of the landscape as well as of the LTM

[RGK]

Dr Sir, You've demonstrated your skill as a true professional photographer once more.

Greenery in Valparai is amazing at all times. A few years ago, after a schoolboy was snatched by a leopard, people were afraid to go and roam.

The route from Valparai to Chalakudi is also very exciting.

[Pratham_V12]

Amazing write-up as always Dr.AD sir. Can you please share the details of the accomodation as it seems like a really good place to stay during the visit in my opinion.

[graaja]

Originally Posted by Pratham_V12

Amazing write-up as always Dr.AD sir. Can you please share the details of the accomodation as it seems like a really good place to stay during the visit in my opinion.

The place is called Puthuthottam and managed by Briar group. Booking is done directly either through their website or by mail/call. Google for “Briar bungalows” or “Puthuthottam”.

[gasinveins]

Originally Posted by Dr.AD

Monkey Business

And finally, we saw a lone "common macaque" sitting there, watching the large group of LTMs playing around:
Attachment 2321574

To be more specific here, This is a Bonnet Macaque endemic to western ghats/ Southern India.

[Dr.AD]

Originally Posted by ramnath_77

Lovely travelogue with some nice pictures of the landscape as well as of the LTM

Thank you very much!

Originally Posted by RGK

Dr Sir, You've demonstrated your skill as a true professional photographer once more.

Thank you very much!

Originally Posted by Pratham_V12

Amazing write-up as always Dr.AD sir. Can you please share the details of the accomodation as it seems like a really good place to stay during the visit in my opinion.

Thank you very much!

To add to the information given by @graaja, and as I also mentioned above in my previous post, this property is specifically called "Puthuthottam Annexe". You can google it and you will find the details. You have to contact them directly on phone for booking.

[saleem_k]

Wow! What a sweet and simple travelogue with amazing vistas and endearing wildlife. The cars look perfectly in sync with the surroundings and the place of stay is amazing as well. Add to all these ingredients an engaging narration and we have a 5-star travelogue here.

Valparai is on my list for the next vacation with the sole aim of enjoying a relaxed stay and capturing some decent shots of Hornbills as well as the LTMs. Is this a safe place to stay for couples/family or preferred only for singles or groups?

[Dr.AD]

Originally Posted by saleem_k

Wow! What a sweet and simple travelogue with amazing vistas and endearing wildlife. The cars look perfectly in sync with the surroundings and the place of stay is amazing as well. Add to all these ingredients an engaging narration and we have a 5-star travelogue here.

Thank you very much!

Is this a safe place to stay for couples/family or preferred only for singles or groups?

This is absolutely safe for couples/family. This particular place is quite clean and comfortable, and would be a nice place to stay with family. Just that do not expect any luxuries such as swimming pool or bath tubs :-) As long the family is OK with staying in a clean, comfortable, spacious place but located in the middle of jungle with no other amenities, this place is great.

In fact, Valparai has a few more options. Sinna Dorai's bungalow is the best place to stay in Valparai. That is actually quite an upscale place with well appointed rooms and quite nice interiors. That place is certainly a great place for a family vacation. But getting a booking there (especially on a weekend) can be difficult. You might have to book well in advance (a couple of months at least) to get a booking there on a weekend.

[Kosfactor]

Beautiful pictures and a fantastic travelogue Dr. , Thanks for sharing.

Valparai reminds me of Tea and elephants , it's always in the back of your head. You wake up in the middle of the night looking out of the window, especially when you know that they have been inside the very roof you are sleeping under. The elephant calf pushed right through the front door!!

Started going there when I was in high school to accompany my mother, even today that place is more or less the same.

LTMs are having quite some run ins with humans these days, they were very shy of humans a few decades ago. Now we have to close the doors and keep kids inside the vehicle when they are around. Last time I spotted them in Nilgiris, I sensed that it's not the same animal in behaviour I used to see as a kid, hurriedly moved the car away from their spot.