Valparai

Valparai
Town
Valparai
Valparai Location in Tamil Nadu , India
Coordinates: 10°19′39″N 76°57′19″E / 10.327556°N 76.955271°E / 10.327556; 76.955271
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Coimbatore
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Valparai Municipality
• Municipal Chairman	Mrs. S.Alagusundaravalli
• Municipality Commissioner	Mr. K. Balu
Elevation	1,059 m (3,474 ft)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	70,589
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	642127
Telephone code	04253
Vehicle registration	TN 41

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 3,474 feet (1,059 m) above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills range of the Western Ghats. There are a total of 56 estates here. The game of football is very popular here. State level competitions are held every year. The foothill starts exactly from Monkey Falls which is at a distance of 38 kilometres (24 mi) to Valparai. The route to Valparai from the foothills consists of 40 hairpin bends. The Kerala state border town of Malakkappara is at a distance of 27 kilometres from Valparai. While major portions of the land are owned by private tea companies, large forest areas continue to be out of bounds.^[2]