WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup: Information added.

2023-07-22T02:12:34Z

Cleanup: Information added.

imported>Bbb23: /* Tourist attractions */ remove attractions without articles

2021-06-22T02:10:57Z

Tourist attractions: remove attractions without articles

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Valparai
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline = Tea Plantations in Valparai, Tamil Nadu.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Valparai
| pushpin_map = India Tamil Nadu
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu , India
| coordinates = {{coord|10.327556|N|76.955271|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Region]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kongu Nadu]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_title = Municipal Chairman
| leader_name = Vacant
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_ft = 7502
| population_total = 70589
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = <ref name="dashboard"/>
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 642127
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 04253
| registration_plate = TN 41
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Valparai''' (originally known as [[Poonachimalai]]) is a [[Taluk]] and [[hill station]] in the [[Coimbatore district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], India. It consists of [[Anamalai Tiger Reserve]] (earlier known as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (IGWLS&NP) and prior to that as Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary). It is located {{convert|7502|ft}} above sea level on the [[Anaimalai Hills]] range of the [[Western Ghats]]. The foothill starts exactly from [[Monkey Falls]] which is at a distance of {{convert|38|km}} to Valparai. The route to Valparai from the foothills consists of 40 [[hairpin bend]]s. The [[Kerala]] state border town of [[Malakkappara]] is at a distance of 26 miles from Valparai. While major portions of the land are owned by private tea companies, large forest areas continue to be out of bounds.<ref name="HinduMetro">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/12/11/stories/2004121102240101.htm|title=Valparai tea estates|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=11 December 2004|access-date=12 April 2016}}</ref>

==History==
Earliest records of this area are from the year 1846 when K. Ramasamy Mudaliyar started a coffee plantation here. In 1864, the Karnatic Coffee Company began their coffee plantation here but they could not make it profitable, hence they sold part of their land. In 1875, the roads and guest houses were built by soldiers for the visit of England's [[Prince of Wales]], the future [[Edward VII]]. Soldiers were posted here and horses and elephants were used for this purpose. However, the visit was eventually cancelled. In 1890, W. Wintil and Nordan bought a huge portion of land in Valparai from the [[Madras State]] Government under the [[British Raj]]. Wintil [[deforestation|deforested]] the area and planted tea and coffee. He was assisted by Carwer Marsh, an experienced planter for a salary of 250 rupees. Valparai receives rainfall throughout the year. The typical temperature range in Valparai is 25 °C (max) to 15 °C (min) in summer and ( and 15 °C (max) to 10 °C (min) in winter.<ref name="Vanakkam">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vanakkamindia.com/tourism/valparai-the-heavenly-hill-resort/694/|title=Valparai Heavenly Hill Station|publisher=vanakkamindia.com|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref>

==Geography==
Valparai is located at {{Coord|10.37|N|76.97|E|}}. It is a mid-elevation hill station ([[Ootacamund]] is considerably higher) and has an average elevation of {{convert|3914|ft}}. It is close to the border with [[Ernakulam district]] of the [[Kerala]] state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/25/Valparai.html|title=Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Valparai|publisher=fallingrain.com|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{bar box|title=Religious census|titlebar=#ddd|left1=Religion|right1=Percent(%)|float=left|bars={{bar percent|[[Hinduism|Hindu]]|Orange|82.84}}{{bar percent|[[Christianity|Christian]]|purple|13.51}}{{bar percent|[[Islam|Muslim]]|Green|3.47}}{{bar percent|Other|grey|0.18}}}}

According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]], Valparai had a population of 70,859 with a sex-ratio of 1,013 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.<ref name="dashboard">{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/index.html|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> A total of 5,007 were under the age of six, constituting 2,564 males and 2,443 females. [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] accounted for 59.68% and 1.75% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 78.47%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.<ref name="dashboard"/> The town had a total of 19,017 households. There were a total of 38,440 workers, comprising 107 cultivators, 4,828 main agricultural laborers, 173 in household industries, 29,338 other workers, 3,994 marginal workers, 71 marginal cultivators, 341 marginal agricultural laborers, 62 marginal workers in household industries and 3,520 other marginal workers.<ref name=2011census>{{cite web|title=Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Valparai|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=706815|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|year=2013|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> As per the religious census of 2011, Valparai had 82.84% [[Hindus]], 13.51% [[Christians]], 3.47% [[Muslims]], 0.02% [[Sikhs]], 0.01% [[Buddhists]], and 0.15% following other religions.<ref name=religion2011>{{cite web|title=Population By Religious Community - Tamil Nadu|year=2011|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|format=XLS|publisher=Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref>

==Economy==
The economy of Valparai largely depends on [[Plantation|plantation crops]]. Valparai has a high concentration of tea and coffee estates. Most of the people living here work in these estates.<ref name="ValaparaiInfo">{{cite web|url=http://www.valparaiinfo.com/|title=Valparai|publisher=valparaiinfo.com|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="Valaparai.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.valparai.com/about_valparai.htm|title=About Valparai|publisher=valparai.com|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref> The [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] in collaboration with [[India Tourism Development Corporation|ITDC]] initiated the construction of private resort hotels and parks to attract tourists.<ref name="TNGO">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/Govt-orders.html|title=Govt of Tamil Nadu Order|publisher=tamilnadutourism.com|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref> Valparai is surrounded by many dams and hydro electric power plants. Aazhiyaar Dam is at the foothill of this cluster of mountains. As we go up Upper Aazhiyaar dam is located off the road(which branches off from the main road to Valparai) to Kadampaarai. In Kadamparai there is Kadamparai Dam and beneath the mountain a special kind of power station of TNEB (now TANGEDCO) is located. The road to this Kadamparai Pumped Storage Hydro Electric Power Station branches some 2 miles before and goes through a tunnel which ends up in the vast underground power station complex. The water from the dam flows through one of the dual penstocks and after rotating the turbine it is pumped up to the dam with a powerful motor through the other penstock. Lower Neeraar Dam and Upper Neeraar Vier are located beyond Kadamparai near Kerala border. Tamil Nadu Government's Chinchona estate and factory are located on the road to Neeraar dam. Chinchona is used in the medicine to cure malaria.Sholayaar Dam is located on the western side near Kerala border. It has one power house at the bottom of the dam and the second power house is located few miles away at Manompolli. The water which rotates the turbines goes through the forests in to Parambikulam Dam in Kerala. This water is brought back from Kerala to Tamil Nadu via a tunnel and then the Contour Canal (சமமட்டக் கால்வாய்) which ends up in Upper Aazhiyaar dam.

==Transport==
[[File:Valapara route.jpg|thumb| Churam Road from Pollachi]]
[[File:Valparai GhatRoad.JPG|thumb|Winding ghat roads at Valparai]]

Valparai is at a distance of {{convert|64|km}} from [[Pollachi]]; {{convert|80|km}} from [[Udumalaipettai]];{{convert|110|km}} from [[Coimbatore]];{{convert|115|km}} from [[Dharapuram]]; {{convert|130|km}} from [[Tiruppur]]; {{convert|154|km}} from [[Munnar]]; {{convert|107|km}} from [[Chalakudy]]; {{convert|129|km}} from [[Nelliampathi]]; {{convert|110|km}} from [[Palakkad]]; {{convert|153|km}} from [[Thrissur]]. The road from Pollachi to Valparai has 40 hairpin bends. It takes about 2 hours to reach Valparai from Pollachi on State Highway 78. [[TNSTC]] operates buses from Valparai to Pollachi, [[Coimbatore]], Tiruppur, Udumalaipettai,Dharapuram and [[Palani]]. Valparai is connected to [[Athirappilly Falls]] by road and is 107 km from Valparai to Chalakudi.

==Politics==
The [[Valparai (state assembly constituency)|Valparai assembly constituency]] is a [[Scheduled Caste]] constituency and forms part of [[Pollachi (Lok Sabha constituency)|Pollachi]] Lok Sabha constituency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S22/TN_ACPC.pdf|title=List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies|access-date=31 January 2016|publisher=Election Commission of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031131000/http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S22/TN_ACPC.pdf|archive-date=31 October 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Wildlife==
[[File:Aliyar Dam Reservoir.jpg|thumb|Aliyar Dam Reservoir view from 14th hairpin bend]]

Valparai receives among the highest rainfall in the region during the monsoons (around June). The plantations in the town are surrounded by [[evergreen forest]]s. The region is an elephant tract and is known to have many [[leopard]]s.<ref name="TNForestDept">{{cite web|url=http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/np_ignp.html|title=Bio-diversity|publisher=Dept of Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu|access-date=12 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102053921/http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/np_ignp.html|archive-date=2 November 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The drive to the town from [[Pollachi]] passes through the [[Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park|Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary]] noted for [[Bengal tiger]], [[elephant]]s, [[Sus (genus)|boar]]s, [[lion-tailed macaque]]s, [[gaur]], [[spotted deer]], [[Sambar (deer)|sambar]], and [[Indian giant squirrel|giant squirrel]]s. The area is also rich in birds, including the [[great hornbill]], and hosts seasonal migrant birds such as the [[grey wagtail]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/when-a-wagtail-came-to-school/article29391719.ece|title=This Valparai government school celebrated the arrival of the Grey wagtail|last=Kannadasan|first=Akila|date=2019-09-11|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-09-16|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The Valparai range is habitat to the [[Nilgiri tahr]], an endemic wild ungulate. These mountain goats inhabit the high ranges and prefer open terrain, cliffs and grass-covered hills, a habitat largely confined to altitudes from 1200 to 2600m in the southern Western Ghats. Their territory extended far and wide all along these hills in the past, but, because of hunting and large-scale habitat destruction, they now exist only in a few isolated sites like the Anaimalai Hills.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/02/26/stories/2006022600270700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060620124247/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/02/26/stories/2006022600270700.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 June 2006|title=Niligiri Tahr|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=26 February 2006|access-date=12 April 2016}}</ref> The human-elephant conflict here is a delicate issue. The tea plantations are a hindrance to the movement of wildlife, particularly elephants who walk large distances to reach water bodies and feeding areas.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/08/07/stories/2006080700540200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226234144/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/08/07/stories/2006080700540200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 February 2008|title=Tea plantations hinder elephants|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 August 2006|access-date=12 April 2016}}</ref>

== Tourist attractions ==
*[[Monkey Falls]]
*[[Sholayar Dam]]
Valparai will be opening two new tourist attractions for public visitors by January 2021, a botanical garden and a house boat.<ref>{{ cite news | title= Valparai to launch two new tourist destinations in early 2021 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/travel-news/valparai-hill-station-in-tamil-nadu-to-inauragate-two-new-tourist-attractions-in-jan-2021/as77198372.cms}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://traveltwosome.com/valparai/ Valparai - The Unexplored Wonder!]
*Football - Valparai sports academy
<br />{{wikivoyage|Valparai}}

{{Municipalities of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Cities and Towns in Coimbatore}}

[[Category:Tourism in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Coimbatore district]]
[[Category:Hill stations in Tamil Nadu]]

Valparai - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup: Information added.

imported>Bbb23: /* Tourist attractions */ remove attractions without articles