After spending some time at Charpa falls I moved on towards Vaazchal falls. The road was still in great shape but narrower than what it was before Athirapally.
If Athirampally took my breath away, Vaazchal was simply out of the world. They are two extremes of waterfalls - One dropping down with a huge roar the other just gliding over but if you ask me which was better one I would not be able to pick one honestly am sure most would not be able to pick one either.
The river litter beyond Vaazchal hiding the rapid currents which is visible at Vaazchal.
The road beyond Vaazchal became even more narrower.
With some broken trees courtesy the elephants which roam these forests freely.
At times you literally see the end of the road because the forest masks the turns so effectively
A huge lake or possibly backwaters of a dam which keep dotting on this stretch time and again where I saw this wild dog trotting away. The waste discarded by passing tourists also show the apathy we have for nature.
The last vehicle which I saw in the opposite direction was at Charpa falls and the next vehicle to cross me was an Alto after almost 20 kms. The road conditions started to become bad progressively with some patches where water flows over during excessive rains in bad shape. The road upto the Peringalkuthu KEB power house which about 10 kms after Vaazchal is decent and beyond that is quite bad with some stretches needing extreme care while negotiating the potholes especially with rains etc.
If one had used the Hunsur - Nagarhole - Kutta road especially after Murkal a few years back then this road is certainly doable with a small car. But plan for atleast 7 hours between Chalakudy and Aliyar dam which is where the ghats to Valparai begins. I reached Aliyar dam at around 1.30 after starting from Trichur at 6.30 in the morning despite coming down Valparai ghats at a fairly brisk pace to ensure I reach Chennai in decent time.
With so much greenery around you are spoilt for choices where to stop and where not to.
The water pipes for the Sholayar power project
The backwaters of lower Sholayar dam
The tea estates of Malikapara where you start seeing human habitation once again.
The Upper Sholayar dam near Valparai
The Aliyar dam taken while coming down from Valparai
The highlight of the drive Nilgiri Thar taken near Hairpin Bend No. 8
Sorry for the poor quality of the picture am posting this just to highlight how nimble these animals are. Look closely to find the Thar tip toing its way through the rocks.
Post Aliyar dam I took the Anaimalai - Udumalaipet road to continue onwards Udumalaipet. This road joins NH 209 about 6 kms before Udumalaipet. From there I deviated Dharapuram instead of going to Dindigul via Palani as I was not sure of the state of roads between Dindigul and Trichi.
By this time I had a drained mobile which prevented to check on TBHP threads on any threads with some recent information. Stopped for a quick lunch of thali meals in a small hotel. From Dharapuram I took the State highway to Karur where I joined NH 67 until Kulithalai. The stretch between Karur and Kulithalai with all the diversions, some broken roads and slow moving traffic was the worst from Valparai until Chennai.
Crossed over Cauvery between Kulithalai and Musiri so that I could take the state highway between Musiri and Perambalur via Thurayur instead of wasting time going through Trichy joining NH45 at Perambalur. This is shorter by about 30 kms as well. Except for some culvert works happening at some of places in both the stretches between Dharapuram & Karur and Musiri to Perambalur are in great shape and one could comfortably maintain around 80 kmph.
With a quick fuel break at Ulundurpet reached home at around 9.45 PM completing my journey back from Thrissur via NH 47, NH 209, NH 67 & NH45. Took me about 15 hours and 15 minutes for a total distance of 700 kms which was about 80 kms more than what I travelled on my way to Thrissur via the almost regular route.
Finally I owe a special thanks to rippergeo who had created this urge in me to take the Athirapally - Valparai stetch when he posted this travelougue
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post1009763.
Will try to upload two videos if they are good one of the Athirapally falls and other of a short drive on the road.