Riding solo is something that people avoid, especially when the distance is over a few hundred kilometers. In my case, I enjoyed every bit of my ride from Kochi to Kochi via Athirappally, Vazhachal, Malakkappara, Valparai, Aliyar Dam, Thirumoorthy Hills and Thirumoorthy Dam, Marayoor, Munnar, and Kottayam. Here is a photo ride on Valparai – Marayoor route. Before starting off to the ride, a few things about the route.
Distance covered:
530+ kilometers
Days involved:
3 days and 2 nights
Major attractions:
- Athirappally (waterfalls)
- Vazhachal (waterfalls and forest division)
- Malakkappara (high range small town, upper and lower Sholayar reservoirs, and tea gardens)
- Valparai (small town and a near by spooky dam. NB: I did not visit the dam)
- Aliyar Dam (reservoir, the hairpin turns, Nilgiri Tahr)
- Thirumoorthy (dam and hills)
- Marayoor (tea gardens, Chinnar wildlife sanctuary, and many more)
- Munnar (tea gardens, rolling hills, Eravikulam National Park, a few reservoirs, many view points and many more)
- Kottayam (rubber estates and Kumarakom backwaters)
A Photo Ride on Valparai – Marayoor Route
Photo 1: Starting off from my apartment at Kochi (below)
Photo 2: Road to Athirappally through the oil palm groves (below)
Photo 3: A roadside view of Athirappally falls
Photo 4: Playful monkeys on the road – Athirappally falls
Photo 5: Bamboo forest between Athirappally and Vazhachal
Photo 6: Road through Vazhachal forest division
Photo 7: Road continues through Vazhachal forest division
Photo 8: A small water body in the forest
Photo 9: A view of Vazhachal jungle road
Photo 10: Another view of Vazhachal jungle road
Photo 11: A three layered road somewhere between Vazhachal and Malakkappara
Photo 12: Water supply pipelines through the jungle
Photo 13: A selfie at lower Sholayar reservoir
Photo 14: Tea estates of Malakkappara
Photo 15: Road through the coffee plantations of Malakkappara
Photo 16: Lion Tailed Macaque on the road (from Valparai to Aliyar dam)
Photo 17: Hairpin turns between Valparai and Aliyar dam
Photo 18: Nilgiri Tahr backdropped by hairpin turns
Photo 19: Aliyar dam catchment area
Photo 20: Fish corner at Aliyar dam bus stop
Photo 21: A view of Thirumoorthy dam with Thirumoorthy hills at the background
Photo 22: Marayoor in the morning
Photo 23: A selfie on my way to Munnar (from Marayoor)
Photo 24: Somewhere between Marayoor and Munnar
Photo 25: Roads through the beautiful tea gardens
Photo 26: Road passing through the tea gardens of Munnar
Photo 27: Munnar tea gardens
Photo 28: Selfie time – Munnar
Photo 29: The Riders’ Club Art Cafe & Restaurant
Photo 30: Accommodation facilities at the Riders’s Club Art Cafe & Restaurant
Photo 31: Road through rubber estates to Kottayam
Photographs posted on “A Photo Ride on Valparai – Marayoor Route” were taken on LG G5 mobile phone camera and are not edited but compressed for optimizing for web.
Author: E Jey
Just a passionate traveler who loves scribbling his expeditions @ www.jauntmonkey.com, www.outonroads.com, and www.blogthatall.com
Nice
Thanks buddy!
Stubborn journey, as you have made it single drive from Kochi to Kochi. Appreciate your efforts. Pictures were brilliant. Keep going on.
But enjoyed it so much.
It’s a beautiful picturesque journey. Nice.
Nature at its best !!! Loved the green hue all over . Thanks for sharing !
Superb..
Madhuchhanda, Mitali, & Kamesh… Thank you for the inspiring comments!