Enquired the hotel reception about places worth visiting in valparai . He mentioned 3 for the day
1. nallamudi cholai view point (10 km)
2. number parai (12 km)
3. nirar dam (16km)
decided to tackle nallamudi 1st. road started off very bad and improved after .5km. Nice scenery on the way
Even after 10kms we couldn't see any boards directing to this. Enquired with a goods lorry driver and he said we have to go back 1/2 km and take the 1st right. There was a guard here and paid 15 rs each for an entrance ticket. Could take the car half kms further and then we walked through tea estates up. 2-3 mins more and we reached the view point. there is an electric fence to seperate the teas estate from the forest beyond the view point. But elephants apparently had destroyed the fencing and we could see the smashed up remains of the fence. But the view from the view point is breath taking with a nice breeze. We were the only people there and stood enjoying mother nature . Spend around half an hour there and we proceeded to number parai.
crested serpent eagle with a pair of red whiskered bul buls ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_8956.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306107d1692688401t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_8956.jpg)
view from nallamudi pooncholai view point ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_8957.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306108d1692688401t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_8957.jpg)
the un-invited!! ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_8976.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306111d1692688437t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_8976.jpg)
Going further around 1.5 km and a sign board indicated a right to number parai. the road didnt look nice but we decided to take a chance and proceeed. Man!! this was the worst road i had ever driven in my life. It was pathetic. Spots of tar here and there with sharp stones ![Frustration](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/Frustration.gif) . Nightmare for cars. We drove around .5km in 15 mins and asked the locals where is this place. He pointed to a distant hill top . That was around 5-6kms from there and he advised not to go there as we would reach there by 5.30 only and its the elephant kingdom afterwards. 3 skulls broken by elephants didn't look too good in our imagination ![LOL](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/LOL.png) and so we turned around disappointed and proceeded to nirar. We had to drive all the way back to valparai to take the road to nirar. Road to nirar was pretty good and we reached there in half an hour . here also we were the only visitors and so sat there and relaxed.
nirar dam ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_9000.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306112d1692688437t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_9000.jpg)
reservoir ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_9004.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306113d1692688437t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_9004.jpg) ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_9010.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306114d1692688437t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_9010.jpg) ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_9031.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306115d1692688437t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_9031.jpg) ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_9036.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306116d1692688437t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_9036.jpg) ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_9044.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306117d1692688437t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_9044.jpg) ![Yet another valparai trip to bore you!!-img_9066.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/306118d1692688437t-yet-another-valparai-trip-bore-you-img_9066.jpg)
One important diff that i noted about dams in kerala and tamilanadu - In kerala phototgraphy is prohibited in all dams while its allowed in tamilnadu. any idea why? Dams are strategic locations and are supposed not to be photographed in Kerala.
Anyway we returned back by around 6.30PM to hotel . Took a bath and had dinner. Roti, Chappathi etc were available and they were quite good. Ordered Gobi manjurian (40 rs) and chicken 65 (60 rs), Chicken 65 had around 14 pieces and it tasted very good. Great VFM. Gobi manjurian also tasted very good. Filled up our stomach and we retired for a good sleep as we had to get up early to tackle the hair pins to pollachi... |