Sholayar
Undulating hillocks, valleys, deep gorges, rolling grasslands, mountains wearing garlands of mist, sholas, myriad streams that gleam in the sun, and a sprawling lake bridled by dams, Sholayar is destination paradise for the nature enthusiast. Travellers who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of far off towns set out to the premises of the Sholayar dam every week to unwind in the soothing presence of nature. There are two reservoirs waiting for them - the Upper Sholayar dam and the lower Sholayar dam even though the latter is deep in the wild. It can be accessed only with prior permission from the forest authorities.
From atop the Upper Sholayar dam, you amble aimlessly, you eyes feasting on the hills, the dramatic sky with fluffy clouds floating, and the greenery surrounding the lake lending its emerald hue to the water. Wherever the wild takes a break in Sholayar, you find tea estates taking over, dutifully. With their velvety sheen, they throw open long trails your way.
One can appreciate the magnificence of the reservoir, even during the drive from Athirappalli to Valpara, the hill station in Tamil Nadu. At every hairpin curve, your eyes get more of the expanse of the water far below, the whole lake now turning slowly from green of the earth to the blue of the sky.
The forest
The 400 sq km Sholayar forest is spread over two districts - Thrissur and Ernakulam. It has two major waterfalls - Athirappally and Vazhachal - which attract a huge amount of tourists every year. The tropical deciduous and evergreen forest in Sholayar is home to many species of birds and animals like Sambhar, spotted deer, barking deer, elephants, leopards, gaur, tigers etc. The avian life is also rich that naturalists make long trails to find those elusive birds in the woods.
Where
The dam is 60 kilometers away from Chalakkudy and 20 kilometers from Valparai in Tamilnadu.
