Road Trip: Athirapally & Valparai

[Mr.Boss]

Twisty roads, Pleasant weather, Greenery around, loved ones company, what else could make the year end holidays memorable?
This time Athirapally and Valparai



This trip was planned about 2.5 years ago and dropped for no reason, We ended up visiting Munnar instead.
Weekend Destination - Munnar

Quoting my own post, 2.5 years back

Unplanned to trip to Munnar last weekend. Initial plan was Valparai, Top Slip, Sholayar & Athirapally. In the last minute (Friday late night) the destination shifted to Munnar (for no reason)

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Companion
Our trusted work-horse, Sunny

Your truly behind the wheels (always) accompanied by better half and our cute little princess

Photographic Gears
Couple of Nikon D5100

One with Tamron 18-270 & other with Nikkor 50mm
Samsung Galaxy A5 and trusted old Apple iPhone 4s for selfies and quick snaps

Plan
Planned for 3 days and 2 nights (night stay at Athirapally and Valparai) covering as much as possible on the way.

Overall travel plan

Start from home town, reach Athirapally (via Thrissur) head to Valparai, return to Coimbatore (via Pollachi)

Day 1

Thumboormuzhy Butterfly Garden
Athirapally Water Falls
Night stay at Resort

Day 2

Vazhachal Water Falls
Sholayar Dam
Nirar Dam
Vellamali Tunnel
Koolangal River
Night Stay at Valparai

Day 3

Akkamalai Grasslands
Iraichal parai falls
Upper Aliyar Reservoir
Loam's view point
Return to Pollachi

Stay Booking
1) Athirapally
Booked Bethania Resorts, booking request and confirmation through email and payment by NEFT.

2) Valparai
Got a good deal from Booking.com, settled for Hotel Holiday Break

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Pre-Trip Checklist

Vehicle check
- Tire air pressure & Tire condition (healthy, with 30 PSi)
- Engine Oil (Good, at MAX level)
- Brake Fluid (Little less than MAX level)
- Brake condition (Good)
- Coolant (at MAX level)
- Wind shield washer (topped up)
- All lights, horns, wipers (Working fine)
- AC (Working fine)

Gadgets
- Camera (blank memory cards, fully charged batteries, tripod, charger)
- Mobile Phones (3 different carriers, fully charged, wall & car chargers with data cables, Google offline maps downloaded)
- Laptop (along with charger & data card)

Others
- Vehicle Documents (photo copies)
- Driving license (Original)
- Additional ID proof (as backup)
- Emergency contact details

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Day 1:

Started our journey as planned, at 0900 hrs.

Some random snaps of drive till Athirapally. Roads are pretty good, 2 lanes with proper white marking.
No much options for dining, fuel, tire repair. So when ever necessary, get the needs fulfilled where ever available without looking for better options ahead.

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Thumboormuzhy Butterfly Garden
This was our first stop and very much disappointed after seeing the water level at Chalakudy river. We could assume the same will be reflecting at Athirapally and Vazhachal water falls as well.

Entry Fee : Rs.15/adult + Rs.25 for Still camera + Rs.10 for Parking (LMV)

Facilities available:
- Parking (limited, around 20 cars. Rest should be parked outside on the other side of the road)
- Rest rooms
- Snacks bar

Entrance


Way after getting the entry ticket


Hanging bridge across Chalakudy river






No sufficient water flow


Children play area

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Athirapally Water Falls

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athirappilly

I forgot about the entry fee, tickets to be purchased at the check-post before water falls including parking charges.

- Make sure to reach as early as possible, difficulty is getting the parking space. I parked almost 1 km away and walked both ways.
- Open from 09:00 to 17:00 (worst case people are allowed inside till 17:30)
- Get water bottles and snacks (if required) only a couple of shops were available after the main entrance, again they were closed when we entered by 17:00 Hrs

Check-post and ticket counter before water falls


Collect the tickets from here


Roadside parking




View from the distance


Not much water


Road side parking


Pathway to see the full view of falls

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Waterfall view





















Sunset

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Bethania Resorts

:: Welcome to Bathania Resorts / Home ::
Personal feedback
Location : 4.5/5
Ambiance : 4/5
Restaurant : 4/5
Overall Facility : 3.5/5
Help desk / Reception : 2.5/5
Room size : 2/5

Overall experience : Average





Parking close to our room


Chalakudy river, behind the resort


Spotted couple of Deers

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Day 2

Vazhachal Water falls

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vazhachal_Falls
- Entry ticket at Athirapally waterfalls can be used here.
- Very limited parking space

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Drive to Valparai

Forest check-post is next to vazhachal falls entrance. Entry to be made here (vehicle details, no. of passengers, no. of plastic bags (though not noted in our case) entry time. We have stipulated time frame (2 hrs) to cross the forest area and exit through the check post at other end.

Care points & Cautions:
- Do not park the vehicle inside forest area
- No smoking / Drinking
- Do not litter
- Do not feed any animals on the way
- Animals have their rights to use the roads, do not disturb them

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Sholayar Dam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaiyar_Dam

No water, we skipped entering the dam. Some clicks around the dam (en-route valparai)

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Thottapura View Point

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Koolangal River

Koolangal river is located inside Sirikundra Estate. Too cold to bath

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

Vellamalai Tunnel

Disappointed, no more comments

 

[Mr.Boss]

Re: Road trip : Athirapally & Valparai

In & Around Valparai