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weekend in the Tea Estates of Valpari ......... a photographic report


madaboutcheetah

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madaboutcheetah

Hello,

Amazing weekend with fabulous friends in the Tea Estates of Valparai, Tamil Nadu. Many Thanks to the friendly folks at Sinnadorai; an old colonial bungalow with six bedrooms ......... Valparai is the sort of modern India where wildlife and humans co-habituate to the best of their ability without conflict. It's a protected zone where the Shola forests blend into the tea estates and the wild life move back and forth ............... Here are the first few images; Stoked that we spent Saturday evening with a large pack of dhole (all self-driving) inside the estate property ..... That was a sign of good omen! We were to later on Crush Pakistan in the World Cup Cricket match!!!! ;)

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michael-ibk

Wow, Hari, wonderful. Is that far from where you live?

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madaboutcheetah

@@michael-ibk ; Hi Michael - not at all - 2 hours 30 minutes by road. Come visit me SOON!!!! There has been many recent sightings of Leopard in the area - but, I'd take a good solid Dhole pack, anyday!!!!

Edited by madaboutcheetah
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@@madaboutcheetah great photos, especially of the gaur.

 

Another destination for my overflowing India itinerary!

Edited by Treepol
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Great gaur photos and a following a dhole pack yourselves?!
Sounds like a great time! Nice little TR.

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Livetowander

Wow, very cool.

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SafariChick

"Stoked that we spent Saturday evening with a large pack of dhole (all self-driving)" ... you saw dhole who can drive? Now that is impressive ;-)

 

But seriously, wow, so cool to have that so close to your home - and they see leopard there frequently too? Can I hop on that invite you made to Michael?!

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madaboutcheetah

@@SafariChick - absolutely!!! anytime! Leopard central apparently - plus, the elusive black panther that has been photographed recently by many photographers ....... birders paradise too! Endangered Malabar hornbills etc etc.,

Edited by madaboutcheetah
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madaboutcheetah

scenics and more from Valparai .........

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madaboutcheetah

This final section I will title "Gaur 101" ;)

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madaboutcheetah

http://www.sinnadorai.com/home.aspx

 

There's the website to Sinnadorai estate - should it be of interest to anyone ........ I hear it's really busy during the weekends, but, we didn't have a tough time booking a month prior.

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Hari, you are lucky that you have a place like this so close by where you live, what a great way to spend the weekend. This looks like quite a beautiful estate. I really like the "dhole in the mist" shots! I did envision a group of wild-dogs driving auto-rickshaws when I read your quote -

 

 

...a large pack of dhole (all self driving)

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madaboutcheetah

@@PT123 - perhaps "Cheetah forever" might be able to get them to drive/ride auto-rickshaws? ;)

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@@madaboutcheetah, how extraordinary, well done to the Valparai locals, fancy that, wildlife in the plantations.

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How unexpectedly wonderful to see these photos, what a lovely experience although I wouldn't bet that I'd get dhole in such perfect light! I really love the gaur in the plantation and the misty shots as well. Thanks for sharing, just another destination to add to the list.

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kittykat23uk

@@SafariChick - absolutely!!! anytime! Leopard central apparently - plus, the elusive black panther that has been photographed recently by many photographers ....... birders paradise too! Endangered Malabar hornbills etc etc.,

 

Wow! Black leopards and dhole, which I still haven't connected with in my five visits to India! I fear your list of potential guests may be growing!! :)

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks so much for all your kind comments - hopefully several GTGs in the making ....... :)

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@@madaboutcheetah

Wonderful photos of the Dhole in beautiful light and in mist, Gaur and indeed the tea estate itself.

Do the Gaur eat the tea plants?

 

(in our pre-Safaritalk days we have been to nearby Munnar, Kodikanal as well as Kottyam and Kochi. Kerala on one trip and Tamil Nadu on another trip.Neither was wildlife focussed although we did see elephants at Periyar. The food was wonderful :) )

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madaboutcheetah

@@TonyQ - I think they feed on the grass in between the tea!

 

Yes, Munnar is fabulous too - one thing about valparai; Thank heavens mass tourism never took off here! It's one of the cleanest places in india - no trash, plastic or litter!!! The tea estates run by the large conglomerates like EID parry; Tata or woodbriar ensure its spic and span everywhere .......

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Wonderful shots Hari! Having just returned from India, I can't wait to go back. Now you've given me yet another location to visit. :)

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SafariChick

I just love all these shots! It's so green and the mist - and yet the beautiful light on the dhole - I saw them mostly in not such good light. And I love how in some shots you were above them, looking down - great perspective!

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"Perhaps Cheetah forever might be able to get them to drive/ride auto-rickshaws"?

 

Only if they say "Horn OK Please" on the back. :P

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A bit late on the bandwagon here, but really nice photos Hari!

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@@madaboutcheetah - gorgeous photos. and lovely sceneries. a lovely place to sit back and relax and see wildlife at the same time. So you made me check out flights to Cochin (4hrs+) and it takes another 3hrs+ to drive from there to the tea estate. doable for a short holiday! argggh, so much temptation.........

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