Enchanting Valparai ( western ghats - Tamil Nadu )

Valparai is full of Tea estates owned by Tatas, Birlas,Tamil Nadu Govt tea estate( Tan tea ),Kannan devan & other private estates.It is 5000 feet above sea level in the western ghats. Anaimalai wild life reserve ( Tiger & Elephants ) is well maintained by Tamil Nadu  forest department. They are taking strict actions  to protect ecology.Plastics  are strictly banned.In the check post, they count the water cans we are taking & advises not to throw any plastic materials.You can't take food except in selected places as wild animals  like elephants & tiger may cross that area. Adjacent to this  is Kerala forest area.There are no. of water dams with hydro electric power houses. Aliyar, Solaiyar,Nirar  dams are some of them.Water for irrigation is shared by Both by Tamil Nadu & Kerala states.Photos here are taken from Nallamudi Poonjolai estate.There are many lodges catering to the visitors. Staying expenses are comparatively cheaper in other hill resorts.Roads are mostly in good condition.This is  a good place for natural scene lovers.We  visited Balaji temple maintained by a private Tea estate.Chiti Vinayagar temple is maintained by Birla group.Best season to visit there is Jan, Feb, Mar,Sep, Oct, Noc & Dec. You have to go in the night time to  have a chance of spotting wild animals.We spotted horn bill & lion tailed monkeys , malabar giant squirrel in day time.One famous Atharappalli falls is around 80 kms from here, 80 feet high, in Kerala forest range.Kamal Hassan's Punnagai mannan  was mostly shot in this area.We saw the shooting of Sundar C's Mutrina Kathrikai  nearby river area amid forest in Kerala forest.

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