Valparai

Valparai is a hill station and town in Coimbatore district, India, sitting at 1193 meters (3914 feet) in the Anamalai mountains. Tea plantations cover the slopes and small settlements scatter along roads that wind through green hills.

K. Ramasamy Mudaliyar opened the first coffee plantation here in 1846, starting agricultural development in these mountains. British colonial enterprises later expanded the estates, turning the landscape into tea and coffee fields.

The town takes its name from the Tamil word for monkey, reflecting the forest animals that still appear near plantations and roads. Workers in the tea estates follow routines passed down through generations, shaping the rhythm of daily life here.

The road from Pollachi climbs 64 kilometers (40 miles) with 40 hairpin bends, requiring careful driving. December and January bring cooler weather and less rain, making the drive and walks more comfortable.

The nearby Anamalai Tiger Reserve shelters the lion-tailed macaque with its silver mane and black body, often seen in forests around the plantations. Three species of hornbills fly over the canopy and their loud calls echo through the early morning air.

Location: Coimbatore district

Elevation above the sea: 1,193 m

Part of: Western Tamil Nadu

GPS coordinates: 10.37000,76.97000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:05