White Lightning strikes Valparai

pypkmsrikanth · 21st May 2010, 19:21

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.

arun1100 · 21st May 2010, 19:27

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

ampere · 21st May 2010, 19:27

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!

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

pypkmsrikanth · 21st May 2010, 19:40

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

ampere · 21st May 2010, 19:52

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

pypkmsrikanth · 21st May 2010, 19:54

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

pypkmsrikanth · 21st May 2010, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

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!

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

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

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

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.

ampere · 21st May 2010, 20:00

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

pypkmsrikanth · 21st May 2010, 20:01

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

Nutty Nair · 21st May 2010, 20:19

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

laluks · 21st May 2010, 20:28

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

pypkmsrikanth · 21st May 2010, 20:45

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'

pypkmsrikanth · 21st May 2010, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by laluks

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

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.

laluks · 21st May 2010, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

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 ?

pypkmsrikanth · 21st May 2010, 21:03

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

21st May 2010, 19:21	#1
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	White Lightning strikes Valparai 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. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 19:27	#2
arun1100 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,087 Thanked: 5,577 Times View My Garage	The thread title is not appropriate considering the current climatic conditions.
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 19:27	#3
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,952 Thanked: 12,944 Times View My Garage	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! PS: The windmills of Dharapuram/Udumalpet have become an Anthem at TBHP! Last edited by ampere : 21st May 2010 at 19:28.
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 19:40	#4
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	Sethumadai, Topslip & Parambikulam 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
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 19:52	#5
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,952 Thanked: 12,944 Times View My Garage	I heard the top slip roads were closed? Have they been opened?
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 19:54	#6
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	Sethumadai, Topslip & Parambikulam ...contd 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
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 20:00	#8
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,952 Thanked: 12,944 Times View My Garage	Thanks for that input. Will plan accordingly. By the way the last snap is very nice. The floating water body!
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 20:01	#9
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	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 Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 20:19	#10
Nutty Nair BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Trivandrum, Kerala Posts: 284 Thanked: 39 Times View My Garage	Parambikulam, Top Slip, Athirapally & Valparai! Glued to this thread
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 20:28	#11
laluks Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,552 Thanked: 16,404 Times	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
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 20:45	#12
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	Valparai - Sights 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'
	() Thanks

21st May 2010, 21:03	#15
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	Valparai - Sights...contd 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
	() Thanks