It was back in 2005 when I first heard rumour about the beauty of Athirapally falls. Planned quite a number of times for a visit, but then it remained as plan. Was in Mangalore till 2006, some 400 odd kms from athirapally, then i was in kolar for higher studies some 520 kms away. Time flew by and 2012 july brought me within 160 kms of the falls. I had shifted to Coimbatore for a fellowship degree. Over the period of time I also had come across Valparai, heard about its pristine beauty. Endless tea estates , forests, the route, the weather. Then when I looked up, I came to know that Valparai connects to chalakudy and it's on this stretch the Athirapally takes the plunge.
It was 11th August. I was having a cup of tea with a friend when we decided to do a small trip somewhere close by. We needed to be back by Sunday night as Monday d get very busy with patients pouring in tons. I ll be in Coimbatore for at least 3 years so I ll ve enough time to explore Valparai and around. So decided to to do a rough survey of the places on the way so that subsequent trips can be planned well. Then drive on to Athirapally towards latter half of the day. Plan was decided . Sunday morning we finished the rounds a bit early and by 9 Am we headed south of Coimbatore towards Valparai.
Pollachi is 42 kms south of Coimbatore. Roads in Tamil Nadu are gorgeous to drive, was not any exception. Even with moderate traffic we managed to hit Pollachi in about 40 mins. You need to drive into the city and look for sign boards to Valparai. It took bout 15 mins to exit the city. Drive another 20kms south to aliyar dam, you get first glimpse of what lies ahead.
The mighty western ghats suddenly rises up and you can't help think if continent of Africa decided to come back and collide with India and push these mountain up. There's this sharp mountain which looks like a sphere contrasting itself with a blunt rockface which looks like a mace, and the road you are driving is to the base. These mountains obliterates most of the horizon. The grey rain clouds engulfed the lush green mountain. A waterfall on the mountain was an awesome spectacle.
Driving past the Aliyar reserve there was a small road diverging from the main road at a long right curve which mentioned towards 'Aliyar reserve'. Did not explore it though. A little ahead comes the first forest check post. They just ask details of where you are headed and from where.
The drive leading to Valparai is one of the best I ve come across. A steep climb up the mountain with 40 hairpin bends, beautiful flat roads with one corner flowing into the next. Thar floated up the mountain without breaking a sweat, like its counterpart Tahr.
We reached the place where on GPS i had marked Monkey Falls ( N10.45807 Lat/ E 76.96985 Lon), when we reached the place there was neither the monkey nor the falls. We didnt realise at first and took a road which leaves the main road down thinking there might be a mistake in GPS. drove 200mts and realised it was a restricted road leading to Aliyar power house, reversed back and when we reached the junction back we found two forest officers who stopped us and politely told us that was a restricted area. We apologised and found from them that we cannot enter the monkey falls or the mystic falls( Lat 10.45391 N/ Lon 76.971122 E) area due to supreme court orders. A little further ahead comes up the 9th hairpin bend, which is the Loams view point, a wonderful view of the Aliyar reserve and dam right in front and to the left the never ending mountain ranges with their peaks blending into the clouds.
We continued along and after series of hairpins at the coordinates Lat 10.41564N Lon 76.99603E you hit the Waterfall Gateway estate entrance.
A kilometer or two along the narrow estate road u pass next to a what looks like a small village, further up on the left u first see the bunglow called Indraprastha which has three rooms for stay. then they have valley view with 2 rooms and finally tennis court bungalows with 2 rooms. contact details are available on the website. Pick up the number and call, book it by paying a advance.
Driving further along the road opposite to a long left hander was a temple amidst the thick blanket of fog and a small tea hut next to it. Hot delicious tea with biscuits in the cold drizzle was heaven.
Next series of hairpin bends takes you past the statue of the founder of Valparai, Craver Marsh.
There was a downpour around so could not get down and explore around. Taking the left at the next junction takes you to valparai and continue along the road towards Sholayar reservoir.There s a sign board so no confusion.
The sholayar reservoir comes up on your left, the road runs parallel to the bank of the reservoir. That stretch is itself a fabulous drive to the dam.
you can park anywhere along there and take a small walk over the dam, one side was the reservoir and on the other side the wall falls steeply away towards the downstream, where it runs beneath a arched bridge.
Half a km from the dam is where you get food in case u need it badly. As we did not go towards Valparai, this was the only place where u get food till athirapally. As you drive down from the dam you come to a junction , one road goes to the left and through the arched bridge seen from the dam. The other road which is in continuation of the road from the dam, hits a small place which looks like market, at the other end is a hotel.
Its very small boxy hotel. i think there were two. we went into the better looking of the two. Did not know what to expect. The food was served on a green paper made to look like a plantain leaf with a plastic film on the serving side. Found it very interesting. They serve both veg as well as non veg (fish curry). The rice they served that day was the most perfectly cook, not squishy not hard not pasty , just about soft steamingly hot. Very spicy curry to go with it, potato brinjal green chillies and drumstick. Two side dishes.. Rasam and spiced up buttermilk. We ate it to our hearts content. Cleared the bill and soon on our way.