[subbarp]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Some queries...

Isn't there an exit on the Coimbatore bypass for Pollachi? I remember seeing one long back. Are you talking about the Perundurai - Kangayam - Dharapuram - Pollachi route?

Yup. Completely missed turn at Perundurai and in the flow went via Avinashi . Luckily did not cost us too much time.

Originally Posted by cool_dube

What route did you take for Valparai - Palani? Was it via Pollachi again?

NO, you don't have to come back all the way to Pollachi. A short distance after Aliyar, there is a right turn after Angalakuruchi. The road is called Annaimalai- udumalaipetai road. We did not go till Udumalaipetai road, just followed road signs to Palani and used google maps to check we are headed in the right direction. Road quality is not great on these stretches, so progress isn't great but distance is not much so manageable.

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Also, how is the Oddanchatiram-Vedasandur-Karur stretch?

From Vedasandur, you are on the NH-7 that is great.
Oddanchaitram-Vedasandur is an excellent road though it doesn't have the divider etc. No worries on quality of these roads.

[rallygeek]

Awesome travelogue and pictures. I loved the landscape with bits of clouds and hills. Great writeup too

Among the birds, I can identify a few:
The pigeon in orange coat looks to me like a spotted dove,
The unknown birdie(1) looks like Rufous Babbler .
The unknown birdie(2) is Greater Coucal.
The unknown birdie(3) looks like Oriental Magpie Robin.
The bird just below the "LTM,Langur" text is Bay backed Shrike.

So kudos sir, you also had a great birding trip as well.

[rulerofsun]

[quote=rallygeek;2880437]Awesome travelogue and pictures. I loved the landscape with bits of clouds and hills. Great writeup too

Among the birds, I can identify a few:
The pigeon in orange coat looks to me like a spotted dove,
The unknown birdie(1) looks like Rufous Babbler .
The unknown birdie(2) is Greater Coucal.
The unknown birdie(3) looks like Oriental Magpie Robin.
The bird just below the "LTM,Langur" text is Bay backed Shrike.

You got all of them correct...

Its a beautiful place... I plan to visit this place some time. Have to check on how to reach from mumbai.

[anand_hc]

Wow ! Great Pics.. We did visit Valparai on 10th-12th August. It was awesome.. Have not been able to pen down. Drive was awesome.

Visiting Balaji temple amidst pouring rain around 6:30PM & returning was one memorable part of it. Hardly could see more than 10 -15 ft..

[seqar]

This should be on my list to visit. Awesome pics.

Let me fill in the names for some of the birds in there.

unnamed 1 - rufous babbler
unnamed 2 - southern coucal
unnamed 3 - oriental magpie robin

The last 2 are
bay-backed or long tailed shrike ( viewing angle doesn't help here)
spotted dove

The pair of birds are not parakeets but vernal hanging parrots.

Nice spotting and great pics once again. thanks for sharing.

Sekhar.

[bullet-tooth]

Hmm missing my home town. I was born and brought up in Paralai estate. The place where the Sinna Dorai's bungalow is located. We were in that estate for till i was 9 years old. I could see how much you enjoyed your trip. Did you get to visit the tea factories? Just let me know if this bungalow is in Upper paralai or Lower paralai. Because we grew up in a bungalow very similar to this one. And my dad was also a Sinna Dorai in Parry Agro Industries Limited.