The only state of India to host the Western and Eastern Ghats culminating in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu boasts five Unesco World Heritage sites and a southern tip plunging into the sea at the point of confluence of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean Contrary to popular opinion, Ooty, Kodaikanal and the neighbouring Union territory of Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) are not the only holiday/vacation options that the south-eastern seaboard state of Tamil Nadu (pop. 81.5 million) has to offer people in search of rest, recreation and infotainment. It also boasts — perhaps not enough — five Unesco World Heritage sites and a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, and is the only state in India to host the Western and Eastern Ghats, culminating in the Nilgiri mountains. With an impressive 1,076-km-long coastline, its southern tip plunging into the sea is the point of confluence of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Therefore, instead of vaunted Ooty, you could take off to the undiscovered climes like the hill station of Valparai, 107 km from Coimbatore, or instead of just passing through Salem, you could venture a mere 30 km to the pleasant hill resort of Yercaud or discover that Rameswaram is much more than its reputation of a pilgrim town. Valparai Nestled within terraced tea gardens on the slopes of the Anamallai Hills range, skirting the Anamallai Tiger Reserve and the Indira Gandhi National Park, unhurried and relatively unknown Valparai (pop. 70,600) is easily accessible in 160 minutes by road from Coimbatore via Pollachi. The smooth tarred road has 40 hairpin bends. Enroute is the Aliyar Dam, a huge water body and the contiguous Aliyar Park, equipped with an aquarium, a small theme park, and a well-maintained garden — an ideal picnic stop. As the road curves around the Indira Gandhi National Park, a keen eye may spot huge lion-tailed black-faced macaques, langur monkeys, the Nilgiri Tahr deer or even a herd of elephants. And then, as the disparate greenery on hill slopes is replaced by rows of neat tea bushes, Valparai emerges, quiet and secluded. Among the pleasures of this tranquil retreat is soaking in the beauty of the Anamalai Range, experiencing sunrise and sunsets from vantage points, embarking on night safaris for close encounters with leopards, black panthers, gaurs and elephants or bird watching treks in the surrounding areas. Tours are arranged by most hotels and homestay managements. Excursions ex Valparai. A recommended day excursion is to the Athirapally Falls between the Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary and Eravikulam National Park. It’s a scenic two-hour drive (67 km) from Valparai through lush forest with enchantingly diverse flora and fauna and melodious bird sounds, and along the way is the Sholayar Dam, the second deepest in Asia. Set aside a day to visit the foot of the waterfall. Just 65 kms from Valparai, tucked deep within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, is the beautiful hideaway of Topslip. Here, the state government offers residential accommodation in lodges and tree…
