Valparai Rare Pictures

Route to Valparai

By Air:

Coimbatore is the nearest Airport from Valparai.

Route To Valparai From Coimbatore --> Pollachi --> Valparai

By Train:

Pollachi & coimbatore is the nearest railway station from Valparai.

By Car / Bus:

Valparai can be reached by cars & buses From Pollachi,Coimbatore,Palakkad.

Pollachi to Valparai - 65 km by road

Coimbatore to Valparai : 105 km - Travel time: 3 hr

Bus Fair From Coimbatore to Pollachi:Rs.12

Pollachi to Valparai : Rs.21

Valparai Map

More On Valparai

History of Valparai, Tamilnadu, South India

In 1846 Mr. Ramasamy Mudaliyar planted coffee in his own estate.

In 1864 Karnatic Coffee Company and some other peoples asked the Madras Government to provide some land for cultivation in the Anamallais. Government accepted the proposal and sold the waste land for Rs. 5.00 per acre. In the initial stages, Planters cultivated coffee. But they were not able to get the desired yield of coffee, which had a huge market. So the Karnatic Coffee company sold some part of the lands to some people. Now one part of the area is called Waverly Estate and another part is called Water Falls Estate.

In 1875 England's Honorable Prince A.P. WALES EDWARD VII visits India, he plans for hunting in Grass Hills via Konalar Valley. So people made a camp. In that camp many English people stayed. So that camp was called Aangilakurichi. (Now a days Angalakuruchi) All arrangements were made for him including Railway tracks, Roads and Guest houses.

Soldiers, Horses, Elephants were employed for the work. But due to some reasonable fact he cancelled his hunting program in Anamalais.

In 1877 Government had taken a decision that not to give any of the land to the people for plantation. They felt deforestation will spoil the valuable Rain, Forest and other important Plants.

Teak wood was completely vanished. This made the Estate owners and Forest officers in to a clash.

In 1890 Mr. W.WINTIL, and Mr. NORDAN asked the government to give land. They proved, all the water sources were wastly mingled in Arabic Ocean via Cochin. So the govt. planed to give the land again.

MR. WINTIL cutted all the trees in his land and made the land more fertile and planned to plant the coffee in his estate. For his estate he employed 17 years experienced great man Mr. CARWER MARSH for the salary of Rs. 250/- MR.CARWER MARSH was an excellent hard worker. His sweet co-operation with the people made more attracted. He was the medicine for the sick and an eligible worker so he was called as The Father of Anamalais. In olden days his hard work and his sufferings now made people to lead their happy. MR.CARWER MARSH statue was sent by his wife. Today his statue standing Majestically in Kavarkal Estate.

Tea Plantations and Coffee Estates

STANMORE GROUP: (M/s. Hindustan Lever Ltd.)

In 1898 Mr. E.J. Martin developed the Sirikundra Estates. In 1896 with the help of Passion Quince Company Agency. They made Rubee Tea company. In 1927 Nallakathu and Injiparai estates were bought by those personalities. They planted 5204.08 acre’s with the tea plant in 1939.

VELLAMALLAI GROUP: (M/s. Periya Karamalai Tea Produce Co. Ltd.)

Vellamallai, Kanchmallai tea estate was developed in the years 1925 to 1930 nearly 1038.5 acres are planted with tea.

PERIYA KARAMALLI TEA GROUP: (M/s.Periya Karamalai Tea Produce Co. Ltd.)

In 1911 Mr. Carwer Marsh started his work. Till 1927 with 777 acres. They Planted the tea plants.

SHEKALMUDI GROUPS: ( M/s. Parry Agro Industries Ltd.)

In 1904 Mr. Marsh and Mr. Congre planted Rubber in Kallayana Panthal Estate. The Name Kallayana Panthal derived from the name Kalyani the tribal GOD.

Tourist Spots

Valparai is located with in Anamalai Tiger Reserve

This Sanctuary is situated at an altitude of 1,400 meters in the Western Ghats near Pollachi (about 90 kms. from Coimbatore). The area of the sanctuary is 958 sq. kms. It has various kinds of fauna like elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sloth bear, deer, wild bear, wild dog, porcupine, flying squirrel, jackal, pangolin, civet cat and birds like rocket-tailed drongo, re-whiskered bulbul, black headed oriole, tree pie, spotted dove, green pigeon, etc. The Amaravathy reservoir in the Anamalais has a large number of crocodiles. There are also many places of scenic beauty such as Karainshola, Anaikunthi shola, grass hills, water falls, groves, teak forests, estates, dams and reservoirs.

Chinnakallar Falls with Trekking

Chinnakalar is a geographically important place. It is the second highest  rain fall area inIndia. Always found wet and misty. A greenish dense forest with tall majestic trees all along the road to Chinnakalar a pleasure to enjoy. There is a falls in Chinnakallar which sounds like a roaring lion. Situated  at a distance of 15kms from Valparai.

Karamalai Annai Vellankanni Church

Lot of miracles happened by Vellankanni Matha. Fesitivel takes place every year during September 8th. New church was built in the year 2003. A place to enjoy spiritual peaceful environment. Many people visit  this Church daily. Situated  at a distance of 10kms from Valparai.

Balaji temple

Balaji temple is owned by the Peria Karamalai tea Industries. Situated in Karamalai. Very famous beautiful temple. Situated  at a distance of 10kms from Valparai.

Grass Hills

Its a part of Anamalai Tiger Reserve wildlife sanctuary & national park. It is surrounded by a green grass environment. Its a beautiful site of high green grasses on a mountain slope, which is a protected area. Visitors has to obtain permission  from wildlife warden to enter the Grass Hills.

Situated  at a distance of 15 kms. from Valparai.  Grass hills is a picturesque  spot located in the Valparai hills range, at a height  of approx: 2400m msl, with cool climate getting cooler at night, a  part of  Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Right now all efforts are being undertaken by the government to preserve the flora and fauna of this location. Nilgiri Thar is native of this place apart from Elephants, Bison, Indian Gaur, Bear, Nilgiri Langurs etc.. and a wide variety of birds including Hornbills.

Sholayar dam

It is the second deepest dam of Asia. Situated  at a distance of 20 Kms., from Valparai.  An active tourist spot found always busy. A beautiful place to visit.

Nirar dam

This dam is built for multipurpose project such as irrigation, Hydro electricity production. Dam is situated in a wonderful location covered by a dense forest. There is a waterfalls near by the dam which resembles the Cascade. Situated  at a distance of 15kms from Valparai.

Chitti Vinayagar Temple

Chitti Vinayagar Temple is owned by Jayshree tea Industries, Sholayar the temple is situated in a beautiful garden environment. It is very close to Valparai. Situated  at a distance of 5kms from Valparai.

Aliyar Park

Aliyar park is a leisure place to enjoy the natural scenery  of Aliyar dam and chain mountains of western Ghats. Kids can have a pleasant time in the park.

Monkey Falls

Nearby Aliyar park is monkey falls. Its known as "Chinna Kuttralam". Enjoy the water showered by mother nature.

Loams View point

This is a beautiful view point to view Aliar Dam & surrounding mountains of western Ghats. This is situated in 9 th hairpin bend.

Number Parai

This is also a beautiful view point. Near by Sangiliroad near Valparai.

Nallamudi Poonjolai

This is also a beautiful view point. Near by Anaimudi and Nallamudi Estate.

Top Slip

Top slip is a national park and a medicinal plant conservation area in the Anamalai hills. It is about 37 kms. from Pollachi (about 90 kms from Coimbatore). It is famous for its elephant camp at Kollikamuthi and its wildlife. There are bungalows available within the sanctuary. For thrill seekers, accommodation is also available in a tree house. It got its name during the British era, as lots of timber slipped down to the plains below.

Athirapilly Falls

It is near to the entrance of the Sholayar range is a place of great scenic beauty. Here, the water plunges from a height of nearly 80 feet before joining the Chalakudi river.  this picturesque spot is adjacent to dense green forest, and is a part of Chalakudi River, 50 Kms. from Valparai towards Chalakudi, Kerala.

History Of Valparai

Earliest records of this area are from the year 1846 when Ramasamy Mudaliyar started coffee plantation here. In 1864 Karnatic Coffee Company began their coffee plantation here. But they could not make it profitable. Hence they sold some part of their land. In 1875, the roads and guest houses were built by soldiers for the visit of England’s Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII. Soldiers were posted here and horses and Elephants were used for this purpose. However, the visit was eventually cancelled. In 1890 W Wintil and Nordan bought a huge portion of land in Valparai from Madras State Government under the British Raj. Wintil deforested the area and planted tea and coffee. He was assisted by Carwer Marsh, an experienced planter for a salary of 250 rupees. Carwer Marsh was hardworking and built a close relationship with the local people. He was later known as The Father of Anamalais. A statue of Carwer Marsh has been erected Kavarkal Estate.

Valparai The Seventh Heaven

Valparai  is a hill station in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu,India. It is located 3,500 feet above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills range of the Western Ghats, at a distance of 100 km from Coimbatore and 65 km from Pollachi.There are 40 hairpin bendson the way to Valparai from Azhiyar. While major portions of the land is owned by private tea companies, large forest areas continue to be out of bounds. The Government of Tamil Nadu in collaboration with ITDC initiated Tourism promotion through infrastructure development including Resort hotels and Amusement parks to attract tourists.