Not Munnar, Not Ooty: Anand Mahindra Highlights Valparai As A Hidden Hill Escape Away From Crowds
Not Munnar, Not Ooty: Anand Mahindra Highlights Valparai As A Hidden Hill Escape Away From Crowds
The industrialist has spotlighted Tamil Nadu’s lesser-known hill destination, Valparai, as an alternative for travellers seeking nature, tranquillity and freedom from overcrowded tourist hotspots.
As India’s most popular hill stations continue to grapple with growing tourist crowds, industrialist Anand Mahindra has drawn attention to a lesser-known destination that he believes deserves a place on travellers’ maps.
In a recent post on X, Mahindra observed that some of the country’s most famous tourist destinations are becoming victims of their own success. He pointed to the increasing congestion seen at popular holiday spots, where traffic jams, packed viewpoints and long queues often replace the peace and relaxation visitors seek.
“But India is vast. And there is no shortage of beautiful destinations that remain relatively undiscovered,” Mahindra wrote while encouraging people to share hidden travel gems from across the country.
To begin the conversation, he highlighted Valparai in Tamil Nadu, describing it as “the Munnar many of us wish we had seen 30 years ago.”
The country’s most popular tourist destinations seem to be becoming victims of their own success.
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 7, 2026
Every week, social media is filled with images of traffic jams and overcrowded hill stations. Holidays that were meant to be relaxing end up testing people’s patience.
Those places… pic.twitter.com/n2TOoFaZT7
Located in the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats, Valparai sits at an elevation of around 3,500 feet above sea level. Unlike many commercialised hill stations, the town has largely retained its natural charm and quiet atmosphere.
One of the most memorable aspects of the journey is the scenic drive from Pollachi, which winds through 40 hairpin bends, offering changing views of forests, reservoirs, tea estates and mist-covered hills.
Valparai is surrounded by sprawling tea plantations that have shaped the region’s identity for more than a century. The landscape remains largely untouched by large-scale tourism infrastructure, giving visitors a chance to experience a slower and more peaceful side of the Western Ghats.
The destination is also known for its rich biodiversity. Situated within one of the world’s important ecological hotspots, the region is home to a variety of wildlife, including Asian elephants, gaur, sambar deer and the endangered lion-tailed macaque.
Birdwatchers are also drawn to the area in search of species such as the great hornbill and the Malabar pied hornbill.
In addition to its forests and tea estates, visitors can explore attractions such as Aliyar Dam, Sholayar Dam and Nallamudi Poonjolai viewpoints. The nearby Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park further add to the destination’s appeal.
Mahindra’s post has reignited conversations about sustainable tourism and the need to explore lesser-known destinations rather than concentrating travel in a handful of overcrowded locations.
As tourist numbers continue to rise across India, places like Valparai may offer travellers a chance to reconnect with nature while helping distribute tourism benefits more evenly across regions.
For now, Valparai remains one of southern India’s quieter hill retreats — a destination where winding roads, tea-covered slopes and rich wildlife still take centre stage over crowds and commercialisation.
