Valparai Sightseeing Places
🐒 Monkey Falls
Located just off the Coimbatore–Pollachi–Valparai highway, Monkey Falls is a perfect roadside retreat, situated 65 km from Coimbatore and 27 km from Pollachi near the Azhiyar Forest Department Check Post. Surrounded by lush greenery and hills, this scenic waterfall is a popular destination for travelers heading to Valparai.
🌾 Grass Hills National Park
Part of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Grass Hills is a protected area in the Western Ghats, sharing its border with Eravikulam National Park in Kerala. It features rolling meadows, montane grasslands, and shola forests above 2,000 meters. It’s ideal for trekking enthusiasts, especially the route from Chinnar via Eravikulam to Konalar Kudil.
🌧️ Chinnakallar Falls
Just 26 km from Valparai, Chinnakallar is one of the wettest places in India after Cherrapunji and Mawsynram. A narrow path through dense vegetation leads to this roaring and misty waterfall, offering a unique and refreshing experience for nature lovers.
💧 Sholayar Dam
One of the largest and deepest dams in Asia, Sholayar Dam is located 30 km from Valparai and forms part of Tamil Nadu’s hydroelectric project. Though tourist entry is restricted, the surrounding scenery and catchment areas make the journey worthwhile. It lies en route to the famous Athirapally Waterfalls, just 60 km away.
🌊 Aliyar Dam
Located near Pollachi at the foothills of Valparai, Aliyar Reservoir is a tranquil getaway with gardens, a park, aquarium, and mini theme park managed by the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department. Surrounded by mountains, it’s a scenic spot offering boating and ideal picnic settings.
🛕 Balaji Temple, Karamalai
Owned by Peria Karamalai Tea Industries and located 10 km from Valparai, this serene temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara is known for its Tirupati-style poojas. Nestled amidst mist-covered hills, it offers a calm, cool ambiance with a nearby children’s park and garden.
🌄 Nallamudi Poonjolai View Point
Located 15 km from Valparai inside Nallamudi Tea Estate, this viewpoint offers breathtaking views of Anaimudi Peak (South India’s highest peak), deep valleys, waterfalls, and tribal hamlets. A 1 km walk through the estate is required to reach the viewpoint, where signs of wildlife such as elephants and leopards are often visible.
🌅 Loam’s View Point
Perched at 780m elevation on the 9th hairpin bend of the Pollachi–Valparai Ghat Road, this spot provides a spectacular panoramic view of the Anamalai Hills. Named after British officer Loam who laid the road in 1886, it’s a must-stop viewpoint along the scenic SH-78 route with 40 thrilling hairpin bends.
🏞️ Koolangal River
Just 1.8 km from Valparai, Koolangal River flows between the Sirukundra and Nadumalai Estates. Easily accessible by a short walk, it’s a popular picnic spot known for its crystal-clear waters, which eventually flow into the Sholayar Dam.
🌿 Akkamalai Grass Hills
About 30 km (or 45 minutes) from Valparai, Akkamalai is a scenic grassland area at the edge of PKT estates. While beautiful during the monsoon, it’s also known for leeches and hidden wildlife, so caution is advised. Visitors often combine this with a trip to Balaji Temple nearby.
🏞️ Lower Nirar Dam
Located 16 km from Valparai, Lower Nirar is part of a hydroelectric and irrigation project that benefits both Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Built in the 1960s during Kamaraj’s era, the dam is a peaceful retreat surrounded by greenery. Best time to visit: January to May and October to November.
🙏 Chitti Vinayagar Temple
Managed by Jayashree Tea Industries, this temple lies 10 km south of Valparai. The idol of Lord Vinayagar is carved from a single granite block, and the temple is modeled after the famed Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Mumbai.
🌳 Tiger Valley View Point
About 22 km before Valparai (after the 27th hairpin bend), Tiger Valley offers mesmerizing views of the Upper Aliyar Project, Kadamparai, and the plains dotted with windmills. It’s located near the Waterfalls Estate and is a great photo spot for those traveling from Pollachi.