Valparai
Encyclopedia
Valparai is a hill station
in Coimbatore district
of Tamil Nadu
,India. It is located 3,500 feet above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills
range of the Western Ghats
, at a distance of 100 km from Coimbatore
and 65 km from Pollachi
.There are 40 hairpin bends on the way to Valparai from Azhiyar. While major portions of the land is owned by private tea companies, large forest areas continue to be out of bounds. The Government of Tamil Nadu
in collaboration
with ITDC initiated Tourism
promotion through infrastructure development including Resort
hotels and Amusement park
s to attract tourists.
plantation
here. In 1864 Karnatic Coffee Company began their coffee plantation here. But they could not make it profitable. Hence they sold some part of their land. In 1875, the roads and guest houses were built by soldiers for the visit of England’s Prince of Wales
, the future Edward VII. Soldiers were posted here and horses and Elephants were used for this purpose. However, the visit was eventually cancelled. In 1890 W Wintil and Nordan bought a huge portion of land in Valparai from Madras State
Government under the British Raj
. Wintil deforested
the area and planted tea and coffee. He was assisted by Carwer Marsh, an experienced planter for a salary of 250 rupee
s. Carwer Marsh was hardworking and built a close relationship with the local people. He was later known as The Father of Anamalais. A statue of Carwer Marsh has been erected Kavarkal Estate.
. Valparai has a high concentration of tea
and coffee
estates. Most of the people living here work in these estates. Some of the major Plantation Companies are :
in three sides. Near to this is Siddashram.
is situated just after the Siddashram on the way to Valparai from Azhiyar Dam. This is also known as Chinna Kuttralam. Thousands of people visits this place every year.
located at a distance of 20 km, from Valparai.It is also the 2nd dam in Asia.The Ravi Lodge is a nice place to stay along the dam.
y and wet. A waterfall which sounds like a Roaring Lion
also located at Chinnakallar.
Valparai is a mid-elevation hill station (Ootacamund
is considerably higher). The tea plantations are surrounded by evergreen forest
. The region is also a rich elephant
tract and is known to have many leopard
s.
The scenic drive to the town from Pollachi
passes through the Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary noted for elephant
s, boars, lion-tailed macaque
s, gaur
, spotted deer, sambar
, and Giant Squirrel
s. The area is also rich in birds, including the great hornbill
. Water bodies at Monkey falls and Aliyar Dam are also seen en route. A famous place of worship, Balaji Temple also attracts pilgrims. Valparai receives among the highest rainfall in the region during the monsoons (around June).
The Valparai range is also habitat the Nilgiri Tahr
, an endemic wild goat. These mountain goats inhabit the high ranges and prefer open terrain, cliffs and grass-covered hills, a habitat largely confined to altitudes from 1200 to 2600m in the southern Western Ghats. Their territory extended far and wide all along these hills in the past, but, because of hunting and large-scale habitat destruction, they now exist only in a few isolated sites like the Anaimalai Hills.
The human-elephant conflict here is a delicate issue. The tea plantations are a hindrance to the movement of wildlife, particularly elephants who walk large distances to reach water bodies and feeding areas.
assembly constituency is a Scheduled Caste constituency and forms part of Pollachi
Lok Sabha constituency.
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
in Coimbatore district
Coimbatore District
Coimbatore District is one of the more affluent and industrially advanced districts of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Coimbatore is known as the Manchester of South India. It one of the most industrialized towns of Tamil Nadu. It has the highest GDP among the districts of Tamil Nadu, even ahead...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
,India. It is located 3,500 feet above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills
Anaimalai Hills
The Anaimalai Hills is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India. The name "Anaimalai" derives from the Tamil word 'Ana' meaning elephant and 'Mala' meaning hill, thus Elephant Hill. The highest peak of the Anaimalai Hills is Anamudi, , located in the...
range of the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, at a distance of 100 km from Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
and 65 km from Pollachi
Pollachi
Pollachi is a taluk of Coimbatore Rural district of the Tamil Nadu state of India. It lies in the southern part of the Coimbatore city around 40 kilometres from downtown Coimbatore. This is the second largest town in the District after Corporation of Coimbatore. Owing to the proximity to the...
.There are 40 hairpin bends on the way to Valparai from Azhiyar. While major portions of the land is owned by private tea companies, large forest areas continue to be out of bounds. The Government of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
in collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
with ITDC initiated Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
promotion through infrastructure development including Resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
hotels and Amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
s to attract tourists.
Geography
Valparai is located at 10.37°N 76.97°E. It has an average elevation of 1193 metres (3914 feet).Demography
According to the Census of India 2001, the population of Valparai is about 94,962. Males making up 49% of the population and females 51%. Valparai has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%.History
Earliest records of this area are from the year 1846 when Ramasamy Mudaliyar started coffeeCoffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
here. In 1864 Karnatic Coffee Company began their coffee plantation here. But they could not make it profitable. Hence they sold some part of their land. In 1875, the roads and guest houses were built by soldiers for the visit of England’s Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, the future Edward VII. Soldiers were posted here and horses and Elephants were used for this purpose. However, the visit was eventually cancelled. In 1890 W Wintil and Nordan bought a huge portion of land in Valparai from Madras State
Madras State
Madras State was the name by which the Indian districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Northern Kerala, Bellary and Dakshina Kannada were collectively known as from 1950 to 1953....
Government under the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
. Wintil deforested
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
the area and planted tea and coffee. He was assisted by Carwer Marsh, an experienced planter for a salary of 250 rupee
Rupee
The rupee is the common name for the monetary unit of account in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and formerly in Burma, and Afghanistan. Historically, the first currency called "rupee" was introduced in the 16th century...
s. Carwer Marsh was hardworking and built a close relationship with the local people. He was later known as The Father of Anamalais. A statue of Carwer Marsh has been erected Kavarkal Estate.
Economy
The economy of Valparai depends on plantation cropsPlantation Crops Symposium
PLACROSYM is the abbreviation for Plantation Crops Symposium, which is a series of scientific conferences held in India at different locations.-Background:...
. Valparai has a high concentration of tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
and coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
estates. Most of the people living here work in these estates. Some of the major Plantation Companies are :
- Tamil Nadu Tea Plantation Corporation (TNTPC)
- The Bombay Burma Trading Corporation (MUDIS Group)
- Tata Tea Estates Ltd (Tata Tea)
- Tea Estates India Ltd (TEIL)
- Woodbriar Ltd (Stanmoore Group)
- Parry Agro Ltd
- N.E.P.C Tea Ltd
- Jayshree Tea Industries Ltd (Birla Group)
- Periya Karamalai Tea Estates Ltd
- Puthuthottam Tea Estate Ltd
- Watersfalls Tea Estate Ltd
Tourism
Valparai lacks Tourism Industry infrastructure. Most of the land is used for plantations and the space for new construction is limited. Some of the tourist attractions near the town are:Azhiyar Park
This Park is situated on the banks of Azhiyar Dam and surrounded by western ghatsWestern Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
in three sides. Near to this is Siddashram.
Monkey Falls
This waterfallWaterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
is situated just after the Siddashram on the way to Valparai from Azhiyar Dam. This is also known as Chinna Kuttralam. Thousands of people visits this place every year.
Sholayar dam
This is a very deep damDam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
located at a distance of 20 km, from Valparai.It is also the 2nd dam in Asia.The Ravi Lodge is a nice place to stay along the dam.
Chinnakallar
This is the second highest rain fall area in India. This area always lies greenish, mistMist
Mist is a phenomenon of small droplets suspended in air. It can occur as part of natural weather or volcanic activity, and is common in cold air above warmer water, in exhaled air in the cold, and in a steam room of a sauna. It can also be created artificially with aerosol canisters if the...
y and wet. A waterfall which sounds like a Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion
Roaring Lion was a calypsonian...
also located at Chinnakallar.
Nirar dam
Dam is situated in a wonderful location covered by a dense forest. This dam is built for multipurpose project such as irrigation, Hydro electricity production. There is a waterfalls near the dam which resembles the Cascade.Valparai General Info
When you plan your trip http://www.kannantours.com to Valparai do not expect it to be similar to any other hill station that you might have previously visited. Keep in mind that it is a small hill station with very little man made tourist attractions. Without any major attractions why do people flock to this destination all year around? Well the answer is simple, Nature at its Best. It’s because they are looking for something more realistic, a place with very less human interference. There are still wild streams running across this place where one can stop by and quench their thirst without the fear of any contamination. Go for a morning walk around the estates and you will instantly notice how refreshing the air can be. Experience the spiritual part of Valparai where one can visit some of the most scenic places of worship found nowhere else in the state. Drive through the rain forest and the Tea estates that have made Valparai what it is. This makes it a perfect place for people who enjoy being surrounded by nature, for wild life photographers and wild life enthusiasts, for families who are looking for a quite get away to a less populated hill station.Wildlife
Ootacamund
Ootacamund , is a town, a municipality and the district capital of the Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Ootacamund is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills...
is considerably higher). The tea plantations are surrounded by evergreen forest
Evergreen forest
An temperate evergreen forest is a forest consisting entirely or mainly of evergreen trees that retain green foliage all year round. Such forests exist in the tropics primarily as broadleaf evergreens, and in temperate and boreal latitudes primarily as coniferous evergreens.-Tropical evergreen...
. The region is also a rich elephant
Asian Elephant
The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
tract and is known to have many leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
s.
The scenic drive to the town from Pollachi
Pollachi
Pollachi is a taluk of Coimbatore Rural district of the Tamil Nadu state of India. It lies in the southern part of the Coimbatore city around 40 kilometres from downtown Coimbatore. This is the second largest town in the District after Corporation of Coimbatore. Owing to the proximity to the...
passes through the Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary noted for elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
s, boars, lion-tailed macaque
Lion-tailed Macaque
The lion-tailed macaque is an Old World monkey that is endemic to the Western Ghats of South India.-Physical Characteristics:...
s, gaur
Gaur
The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
, spotted deer, sambar
Sambar
Sambar may refer to:*Sambar , a kind of deer*Sambar , a lentil-based dish common in South India and Sri Lanka*Sambhar, Rajasthan, a city and a municipality in Rajasthan, India**Sambhar Salt Lake, a lake in Rajasthan...
, and Giant Squirrel
Indian Giant Squirrel
The Indian giant squirrel, or Malabar giant squirrel, is a large tree squirrel species genus Ratufa native to India. It is a large-bodied diurnal, arboreal, and herbivorous squirrel found in South Asia.-Description:...
s. The area is also rich in birds, including the great hornbill
Great Hornbill
The Great Hornbill also known as Great Indian Hornbill or Great Pied Hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. Great Hornbills are found in the forests of Nepal, India, the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, Indonesia. Their impressive size and colour have made them important in...
. Water bodies at Monkey falls and Aliyar Dam are also seen en route. A famous place of worship, Balaji Temple also attracts pilgrims. Valparai receives among the highest rainfall in the region during the monsoons (around June).
The Valparai range is also habitat the Nilgiri Tahr
Nilgiri Tahr
The Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiritragus hylocrius, known locally as the Nilgiri Ibex or simply Ibex, is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu...
, an endemic wild goat. These mountain goats inhabit the high ranges and prefer open terrain, cliffs and grass-covered hills, a habitat largely confined to altitudes from 1200 to 2600m in the southern Western Ghats. Their territory extended far and wide all along these hills in the past, but, because of hunting and large-scale habitat destruction, they now exist only in a few isolated sites like the Anaimalai Hills.
The human-elephant conflict here is a delicate issue. The tea plantations are a hindrance to the movement of wildlife, particularly elephants who walk large distances to reach water bodies and feeding areas.
Politics
ValparaiValparai (State Assembly Constituency)
Valparai is the legislative assembly, that includes the city, Valparai. This seat is reserved for scheduled caste. Valparai assembly constituency was part of Pollachi .-Members of the Legislative Assembly:- References :...
assembly constituency is a Scheduled Caste constituency and forms part of Pollachi
Pollachi (Lok Sabha constituency)
-Before 2009:#Kinathukkadavu#Pollachi#Valparai #Udumalpet#Pongalur#Dharapuram -2009-present:#Thondamuthur#Kinathukadavu#Pollachi#Valparai #Udumalpet#Madathukulam-Members of Parliament:...
Lok Sabha constituency.