For a family that travels almost every weekend to Kerala, a railway pass would have been the best option, But our family staying in different places of Kerala, and for the ease of commute in Kerala we always end up travelling in car, our second home.
This time too we did.We had a wedding to attend in first week February, although we could have managed the train tickets if we had booked well in advance,
we delayed booking the tickets and justified our self the need to drive so that we can reach Bangalore back on Sunday night itself to ensure we have smooth Monday.
This time too we did.We had a wedding to attend in first week February, although we could have managed the train tickets if we had booked well in advance,
we delayed booking the tickets and justified our self the need to drive so that we can reach Bangalore back on Sunday night itself to ensure we have smooth Monday.
Unplanned school holiday prompted us to start on Friday morning and take an unusual route for an eye teasing experience…
The easiest route from Bangalore to Cochin is the one through Coimbatore, Palakkad and Thrissur. But we wanted some excitement from the usual route and we decided to take the offbeat Valparai route
We started at 6 in the morning from the comforts of our Bangalore home and took the golden quadrilateral till Avinashi, Since I had already packed pav butter jam(Leftover from our last night pav baajji dinner) for all we did not stop for breakfast. But we did stop once for diesel and once for a good refreshing coffee at the aavins outlet near avinashi, we grabbed a pack of aavins fresh and delicious palgova(dhood pedha) as well.
On the Avinashi-Comibatore road we took the LnT By pass to Palghat and took the Pollachi exit. The route to Pollachi from the bye pass is about 34 kms but was covered with coconut trees on both sides.We stopped to buy delicious guavas from the one of the many roadside vendors, Its been a while since I had such delicious guava . These have been grown in Palani and left me feeling guilty that we bought just 3kgs. From a family of fruit lovers, all of us including my 10 month daughter couldn’t stop eating them.The vendor rightly put in that they taste so nice that we will want more.
It was around 12 noon when we reached Pollachi, and with kids sleeping decided to delay lunch until Valparai
The drive from Pollachi was through beautiful roads with beautiful well maintained coconut farms spawning on both sides.
One can see the majestic western ghats behind the these farms. Which indeed was next stop.
The drive from Pollachi was through beautiful roads with beautiful well maintained coconut farms spawning on both sides.
One can see the majestic western ghats behind the these farms. Which indeed was next stop.
Pollachi to Aliyar road
We reached Aliyar Dam, Although we did not stop to take a walk on the dam, we could get a good view of the dam from top of the mountains. Which on a bright sunny day would be picturesque with the farm lands of pollachi in the background.
Aliyar Dam
The assent to Valparai covers 40 haripin bends with comfortable roads, with every turn one can better view of the Aliyar dam. We stopped for a brief routine forest official checking in monkey falls and proceeded to valparai.
We passed through the annamalia tiger reserve, The valparai area is quite popular for tiger and leopard spotting but we did not get to see any of majesties.
When you reach Ayerpaddi you are suddenly engulfed in acres of tea hills.I have seen many tea hills but this was beautiful, serene and untouched.The green hills will tempt anyone to get down and take a walk, and so we did. We stopped on the road side for a cup of hot tea and for a walk in the hills.
Tea Hills in ayerpadi
We could reach chalakudi without going to valparai, but our hunger and the desire to see around took us to Valparai
It is a small beautiful town with hotels, cottages and home stays in every corner. We stopped by for lunch at Ayyappas hotel around 2 PM. This hotel is near the deviation we had to take to chalakudi. The food was awesome with dishes made from the local produce.
It is a small beautiful town with hotels, cottages and home stays in every corner. We stopped by for lunch at Ayyappas hotel around 2 PM. This hotel is near the deviation we had to take to chalakudi. The food was awesome with dishes made from the local produce.
After making our tummies happy we continued on chalakudi road passing through Sholayar dam, malakkapara (Angel’s rock). We saw few elephants near valparai tata tea estate.We stopped to take pictures even though they were quite far from the main road, our stopping of the vehicle caught their attention and they started trumpeting
ensuring that they are not photographed without permission.
ensuring that they are not photographed without permission.
Near malakkapara forest officials check your car for bottles and plastic covers. Do ensure that you give the correct numbers as they enter the data in a slip and give it to you.This slip needs to be provided to the officials in vazhachal for checking during exit from the Idamalayar forest.We reached malakkapara at 3pm, the forest is closed for road travel from 6PM to 6am.
Drive From malakkapara to vazhachal is through narrow roads. The road is good except for a stretch of 1-2 km which is under repair.The drive is beautiful with thick forest, beautiful hills, sholayar dam and Poringalkuthu Reservoir giving you company.I am sure this stretch would be beautiful during the monsoons
.
Upper and Lower Sholayar dam
We were tempted to stop on the road side streams and during elephant spotting, but having seen tigers at close encounters in nagerhole forest. We never stop on the roads if the forest rules say so.
We reached vazhachal at 5.15 and were told that the entry to both athirapally and vazhachal closed at 5PM,
even though we never planned to stop by the falls we were tempted to catch a glance of the majestic falls. So we stopped at Athirapally view point for some time.
even though we never planned to stop by the falls we were tempted to catch a glance of the majestic falls. So we stopped at Athirapally view point for some time.
Athirapally falls
From Athirapally we made a short stop to take bath in the chalakudy river to make the kids in the car and inside our hearts happy.
Chalakudi river
After this stop we traveled to chalakudi and then joined the golden quadrilateral to reach cochin our destination at 7.30PM.
The offbeat drive was tiring but was a beautiful experience which would stay with us for years.
For people travelling through this route couple of notes from my experience.
1. From Pollachi to Valparai there are not many hotels, so either have food in Pollachi or wait until you reach Valparai.
2. Ensure your fuel tanks will take you to Valparai.
3. There are no petrol bunks on the malagamalai-vazhachal road in the Idamalayar forest stretch you will not find anything or any body.
4. The vehicle population is very less so stopping is not a good idea.
5. Valparai region is quite famous for its tiger attacks so abide by the rules.
6. The roads inside the Idamalayar reserve forest are narrow but good. Sunlight might be less at few places, so entering this area before 5.30 pm is better.
7. Travel, relax , have fun and Take care.
2. Ensure your fuel tanks will take you to Valparai.
3. There are no petrol bunks on the malagamalai-vazhachal road in the Idamalayar forest stretch you will not find anything or any body.
4. The vehicle population is very less so stopping is not a good idea.
5. Valparai region is quite famous for its tiger attacks so abide by the rules.
6. The roads inside the Idamalayar reserve forest are narrow but good. Sunlight might be less at few places, so entering this area before 5.30 pm is better.
7. Travel, relax , have fun and Take care.
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