100 Year Old Puthuthottam Annexe: A Wild Holiday Hideout in Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Valparai

Puthuthottam estate, a 3000 acre estate comprising of tea gardens, coffee plantations and native trees, is the hidden gem of Anaimalai Tiger Reserve. It is one of the best places in the entire country to spot the lion tailed macaque, a primate species endemic to the southern part of the Western Ghats. Located just a few kilometres before Valparai, the unsung hill station of India, it is surrounded by the forests and mountains of the Anaimalai tiger reserve on all sides and it itself falls in the buffer zone of Anaimalai tiger reserve.

This entire estate, forest and wildlife can be yours if you stay at Puthuthottam Annexe, a 100 year old building that used to be the tea manager’s bungalow in its hey days. Today, it is the only place to stay at Puthuthottam estate for tourists. Run and managed by the woodbriar group, it is home to 2 bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a balcony. And it is located right in the middle of tea estates, coffee estates and tropical forests. If you book both these rooms, your group might be the only humans (apart from the hotel staff and naturalist) living in these 3000 acres of surreal nature.



If you are a nature enthusiast, a wildlife photographer or adventure seeker, Puthuthottam Annexe’s secluded location and rich wildlife sightings will most certainly appeal to you. And when all of this experience is only for your group, it makes it truly special. This property review is based on my recent experience of staying 3 days and 3 nights with family, friends and kids.

Remote, Raw and Wild



The location of Puthuthottam Annexe is remote. It is the only property where tourists can stay at in this 3000 acre estate. As it is part of a migration corridor with the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, it shares its space with a lot of wildlife, especially Great Hornbills, Lion Tailed Macaques, Gaurs, Elephants and more. And you can spot all of these wildlife either right from your balcony or a short walk through the different trails of the estate. Thus, making it a truly raw experience as it is not every day that you stand 50 feet away on foot staring a large herd of wild gaur grazing and moving about the property.

Immersive Nature



Right from the time you wake up to the call of the Malabar whistling thrush, spot gaurs on post breakfast and post tea walks to seeing lion tailed macaques joyfully play around at close quarters, everything about the experience here is rich and just for you. You can immerse yourself totally into nature here. The only thing to worry is that there will be no one to get you out of the trance.

Starry Skies



If you like star gazing, Puthuthottam Annexe is a perfect place. Whether you are staring from its balcony or whether you are walking around its periphery, you are bound to enjoy the view of the star studded sky here along with the sounds of the jungle like a owl hooting, a cicada chirping, a wild animal growling or the leaves rustling.

Excellent Food



Like most of Woobriar’s properties, the team at Puthuthottam Annexe cooks delicious Indian food along with some lovely desserts. You can also request for some specific dishes depending on your dietary requirements. Food is served both at the woodhouse mansion and at your room. I feel it is better to have food at the 184 year old woodhouse mansion as it allows you to explore the forest on the way in and out from the rooms. This allows you to spot some interesting flora and fauna. The lion tailed macaques are also frequently spotted after breakfast at the woodhouse mansion.

Great Naturalist and Fantastic Trails



Puthuthottam Annexe has in-house naturalists who are nature lovers and are extremely knowledgeable. They know all the different plantation trails where you can spot the most birds and animals. Each morning and evening and even during the day in case the weather is pleasant, the naturalist will take you to the forest zones where you can spot sambar deer, gaurs, hornbills, lion tailed macaques, nilgiri langurs, woodpeckers, eagles and many more bird and animal species. During the post monsoon season, you are bound to spot large herds of elephants here as this estate falls under the migratory corridor of the elephants.

The Silent Thrill



Even though you know that the puthuthottam annexe property is protected by a barbed wire fence, your mind races in the calm of the night and plots all kind of wildlife attack scenarios as a reaction to the stories that you heard over dinner or the sounds that reverberate through the forest in the night.

Puthuthottam Annexe is for you…

1) If you love large open spaces where you, your friends and family can move around without worrying about traffic or other humans

2) If raw, wild and remote nature is your thing, you will definitely fall in love with Puthuthottam Annexe

3) Whether you are a birdwatcher, a wildlife photographer and a nature lover, you are bound to be mesmerized with the forest and tea estates here

4) If you like to sleep and wake up to the sounds of nature, this place is for you

5) If you like yummy meals after long walks, then this place is for you

If you are one or two families that is either well versed with wildlife an nature or you are easing into it, Valparai’s Puthuthottam Annexe is going be your next wildlife holiday destination where all 3000 acres of it would belong to you during your stay. I have been twice to this property and have always enjoyed my time here. For bookings, look up the tea bungalows website. You can call or email them and book your rooms.

Another property run by the Woodbriar group in Valparai that also offers great birdwatching and wildlife opportunities is the Monica garden bungalow. I have stayed here on two of my previous trips to Valparai.

Key things to remember while you are visiting Puthuthottam Annexe:



1) Wear sturdy shoes as you will be required to walk long distances.

2) Carry sunglasses and a cap/hat to protect you from the mountain sun.

3) Carry rain wear or an umbrella with you in case you are visiting during the wet season.

4) Leeches are quite common during the wet season. So be prepared for them accordingly.

5) Most of the time, it is safe to be with children on these trails. However, do exercise caution for self and others, if there happens to be wild gaurs or elephants in the vicinity.

6) Try to stay quiet to get best sightings in wild habitat. If you make a lot of sound, the animals might go to some other place or at worst case, they can chase you.

7) Carry some trail mix, energy bars and water with you when going on these trails.

8) Carry a flashlight with you if you like early morning or late evening walks.

Attractions in and around Puthuthottam Annexe:



1) Tea Estates: The main attraction of Puthuthottam is its sprawling tea gardens, its plantation walks and its many panoramic view points.

2) Coffee Estates: In addition to tea garden, Puthuthottam is also home to coffee estates, though it is on a much smaller scale when compared to the tea gardens .

3) Forest Stretches: In between its tea and coffee estates, Puthuthottam has many stretches of native forest that attract the wild visitors.

4) Birdwatching: Great hornbill, grey hornbill, black rumped flameback woodpecker, crested serpent eagle, malabar whistling thrush, scarlet minivet, jungle babbler, hill myna, bulbul, barbet and many other species of birds can be spotted here.

5) Wildlife: Lion tailed macaques, elephants, gaurs, Malabar giant squirrels, sambar deer, barking deer, Nilgiri langurs, Bonnet macaques and many other wildlife can be seen here.

6) 184 year old Woodhouse Mansion: One of the earliest bungalows in Valparai, time stands still at Woodhouse Mansion. Lion Tailed Macaques also drop in here every day.

How to reach there:



The nearest airport would be Coimbatore international airport. It is located about 111 kms from Puthuthottam Annexe and it should take you close to 3 and a half hours to reach here by your car.

The nearest railway station would be Pollachi junction. It is located about 63 kms or 2 hours away.

The nearest bus station would be Valparai. If your bus happens to be coming from Pollachi or Coimbatore, you can get down at Puthuthottam Estate located just before Valparai. If you are traveling from Kerala, you can get down at Valparai and take a cab or bus to reach Puthuthottam, about 5 kms away.

Best season to visit:



Puthuthottam Annexe is open all year round and each season will allow you to see the forest and its wildlife in a new light.

October to December is excellent for spotting wild elephants and for great hornbills.

Other nearby tourist attractions:



1) Valparai: The unsung hill station of India

2) Valparai to Athirapally: One of the top tropical motorcycle routes in India

3) Rolling Injipara Tea Estates of Valparai: Stunning location for a morning walk

4) Nallamudi Poonjolai: A fabulous view point tucked within the Valparai hills and inside the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve

5) Sholayar Dam: Asia’s 2nd deepest dam nestled in the pristine Anaimalai hills of Tamil Nadu

6) Trekking inside Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: A thrilling adventure

7) Veetikunnu Island Nest: Living on an island inside a tiger reserve

8) Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: On the jumbo trail

9) Anaimalai Tiger Reserve: Of elephants, gaurs, tigers and hornbills



10) Pristine Vazhachal Rainforest Highway: A special road trip hot spot

11) Hike to Nadumalai River: A pristine picnic spot surrounded by tea estates and nature

12) Athirapally Falls: The Niagara falls of Kerala

13) Vazhachal Falls: A tropical forest waterfall located near Athirapally Falls

14) Vazhachal Forest: A fresh lease of oxygen in Kerala

15) Tea Estates of Valparai: For a rich tea estate and factory experience along with surreal views

16) Poringalkuthu Reservoir: A remote water body nestled in the tropical rainforests of Vazhachal, Kerala

17) Aliyar Dam: A large dam just before the climb to Valparai begins from Pollachi

18) Monkey Falls: A beautiful waterfall located on the ghat road from Pollachi to Valparai

19) Valparai Hills: Perfect place to explore on a motorcycle

20) Valparai’s Lion Tailed Macaque Bridge: Shows how we should co-exist with nature

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Rolling Injipara Tea Estates of Valparai: Stunning Location for a Morning Walk

Do you love plantation holidays? Well, if you do, you will certainly like the rolling Injipara tea estates of Valparai. Owned by the Woodbriar group and home to two of the Briar Tea Bungalow properties, this private tea garden landscape is a treat for the eyes. As Injipara tea estate is privately owned land, only the people staying in any of the Briar Tea Bungalows can visit this place. This means that you hardly have more than a few tens of people at any time here.



While the private roads of Injipara tea estate make for a beautiful winding drive, I think it makes for a stunning location for a morning walk. You can either embark on your walk after your morning tea/coffee or you can carry hot piping coffee and cookies with you and enjoy them at a scenic pit stop.



Tea factories, rivers, birdlife, wildlife, butterflies, lush nature and more can be experienced on this walk through Injipara tea estate. While you enjoy the heady smell of tea wafting through the air, keep an eye out for peacocks that usually can be found amidst the tea bushes during the morning hours. There are old bus stops that make for great picnic spots and where you can enjoy your tea/coffee and cookies. The fresh air, the disappearing morning mist, the golden rays of the morning sun and the heady panoramic view of rolling tea gardens makes this an absolutely special morning plantation walk.



If you happen to be visiting Valparai, do check out this place. If you aren’t staying at the Briar Tea Bungalows, you can drop by Stanmore garden bungalow for some tea and snacks and request the office for permission to go on this walk. If you are staying at any of the Briar Tea Bungalows, you should definitely not miss either the Injipara tea garden morning walk or the hike to Nadumalai river. I recommend this place with double thumbs up!

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Anaimalai Tiger Reserve’s Lion Tailed Macaque: A Wild Photo Series

This endangered primate is an old world monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of India. They are found exclusively in the Western Ghats mountains of Southwestern India in the upper canopy of tropical evergreen and monsoon forests. Also known as wanderoos, they are known for their striking silver mane and lion-like tail tufts. They play an extremely important role in seed dispersal. By transporting fruit in their cheek pouches and consuming long distances from where they were gathered, they drop or defecate seeds far from the mother plant and contribute to the survival and propagation of many plant species in their environment. I am talking about the extremely social lion tailed macaque.

One of the best places to see them up close in the wild is Puthuthottam estate, a hidden gem located in the buffer zone of the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve near Valparai in Tamil Nadu. I bring to you this wild photo series of the lion tailed macaque from inside Puthuthottam Estate. It is here that the lion tailed macaques are more trusting of us humans and they often leave their arboreal behaviour and come to the ground.

Above photo: This alpha lion tailed macaque keeps a keen eye out for any threats. Like other macaque species, the lion tailed macaques are also very cunning and often steal food from the homes of locals.



Above photo: We humans have caught the attention of these two female lion tail macaques and they seem to be tracking our every move. These lion tailed macaques are the pride of the Western Ghats.



Above photo: Their greyish silver mane and their black coat is their main identifying feature. However, they get their name from their lion like tufts at the bottom of their tails.



Above photo: Lion tailed macaques are primarily fruit eating primates. They are fond of jackfruits and wild durian. When they don’t find fruits, they will also eat leaves, flowers and invertebrates. They play a crucial role in seed dispersal in their habitat.



Above photo: Male lion tailed macaques often stay alone in their group or they remain part of bachelor groups. This big one in picture is an alpha and heads a group of about 30 lion tailed macaques.



Above photo: Female lion tailed macaques are smaller in size than the males. They usually stay in the company of other females within the group and produce one offspring every couple of years. The young are nurtured by their mothers until they reach puberty.



Above photo: Lion tailed macaques spend half the day foraging and the other half resting of traveling to find areas to forage. They usually have a set territory within which they forage. After foraging, they usually rest on the higher branches of trees.



Above photo: Lion tailed macaques are social creatures that roam in troops of 25 to 30 with a single dominant male. In Puthuthottam estate, lion tailed macaques troops of even 100 members have been spotted quite regularly.



Above photo: Lion tailed macaques are very intelligent and resourceful. For example, they use leaves to remove poisonous stingers from chrysalises before eating them. They also use forest litter to extract water from tree holes.

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Pristine Vazhachal Rainforest Highway: A special road trip hot spot

It is one of India’s most pristine rainforests. It is a fresh lease of oxygen in Kerala. It is one of the top tropical motorcycle routes in India. I am talking about Vazhachal forest that connects Valparai, the unsung hill station of India with Athirapally Falls, the Niagara falls of Kerala.

This forest highway, a plastic free zone, offers a beautiful mix of cloud rainforests, tropical rainforests, waterfalls, many reservoirs, mountain streams, tea estates, coffee estates, curvy ghat roads and oodles of greenery. It is also an important wildlife corridor as it connects the Anaimalai tiger reserve and Parambikulam tiger reserve with the Sholayar reserve forest, Vazhachal forest and Chimmony wildlife sanctuary. This highway is an integral part of the elephant migration corridor and that is why vehicles are not allowed to ply here between 8 pm and 6 am to prevent any elephant – human conflict. While you might spot wild elephants and wild gaurs on this route from time to time, you will almost always spot lion tailed macaques, bonnet macaques, malabar giant squirrels, nilgiri langurs and tropical birds of paradise if you drive slowly and keep a keen eye out for any movement amidst the dense forest cover.

For most people, the Vazhachal rainforest highway is just a means to connect to Athirapally falls, Vazhachal falls, Poringalkuthu reservoir, Sholayar dam, the vast tea estates and hill station of Valparai and/or the other tourist attractions in and around Valparai. But, for me, this rainforest highway is a destination in itself.



For a few years during and prior to covid, this forest highway was open only to four wheelers. However, now, it is open for all vehicles. Four wheelers can ply between 6 am and 8 pm while two wheelers can ply between 6 am and 6 pm. Be prepared for forest checks at either ends of the Vazhachal forest highway. Plastics of any kind is banned inside the forest and loud silencers are also banned.

Monsoons are the best time to visit this rainforest highway, though you need to ensure that your vehicle tyres and brakes are in top condition and that you are fresh and confident enough to negate poor visibility, heavy downpours and slippery roads. Landslides are quite common on this highway during the monsoons and this might cause a few delays.

I highly recommend this route to all motorcycling and road trip enthusiasts. However, do ensure to carry all your trash back with you. This rainforest is a nature and wildlife hot spot and it is our responsibility to ensure that it thrives in the years to come. Do visit on your next trip to Valparai or Athirapally falls and let me know what you think of this absolutely gorgeous and dense jungle.

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Puthuthottam Estate: The Hidden Gem of Anaimalai Tiger Reserve

It is a 3000 acre estate comprising of tea gardens, coffee plants and native trees that is located just a few kilometres before Valparai, the unsung hill station of India. It is surrounded by the forests of the Anaimalai tiger reserve on all sides and it itself falls in the buffer zone of the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve. It is a great destination to spot diverse wildlife and birdlife and this specifically holds true for the lion tailed macaque, a primate species endemic to this part of the Western Ghats. I am talking about Puthuthottam Estate, the hidden gem of Anaimalai Tiger Reserve.



Puthuthottam wakes up to its usual jungle music every morning. The Malabar whistling thrush whistles in all its glory. The black rumped flameback woodpecker’s drilling sound reverberates in the woods. And some times, you can even hear the gruff guttural calls of the Great hornbill and may be hear its iconic wing beat and see it as its flies overhead. As you excitedly wake up to these gorgeous sounds and step out of your wildlife bungalow, you can catch sight of the greater racket tailed drongo dancing from tree to tree with its long tail and head crest shining in the golden morning light. Bulbuls, quails and babblers can be seen amongst the coffee plant thicket. And you can spot grey hornbills, barbets, myna, oriental magpie robin and flycatchers if you look a bit higher into the trees.



As you get ready and go on your morning walk, you can spot even more birds like the beautiful scarlet minivet or the regal crested serpent eagle. As you continue walking amidst the mesmerizing sounds of the jungle, your tea garden trail opens into a panoramic view with mountains in the yonder and dense jungle below. If you opt for the narrow jungle trails, you can come across the wild Indian gaurs grazing in front of you or the Lion tailed macaque, Bonnet macaque or Nilgiri langur dancing from tree to tree, socializing or digging into their favourite food. I did not get to see any wild elephants on any of my wildlife walks, but my forest guide told me that wild elephant sightings are very common between the months of October to December as Puthuthottam falls on their annual migratory route.



As you finish your breakfast, the lion tailed macaques (the special citizens of Puthuthottam) make their appearance. They have just made their way from the forest to Puthuthottam. They will forage for food, socialize and rest in and around Puthuthottam before returning to the forest somewhere between 3 and 4 pm. Puthuthottam is one of the few places in the Western Ghats where the lion tailed macaques have left their pure arboreal existence and can be seen quite frequently on the ground. This is because of the trust that they have built with the people of Puthuthottam. This human-macaque happy co-existence ensures that you see the lion tailed macaque at very close quarters at Puthuthottam. This also means that it is one of the best places to photograph the lion tailed macaque in the wild.



When I was staying at Puthuthottam Annexe, I saw lion tailed macaques right in front of my bungalow. I saw them at Woodhouse Mansion, during one of my wildlife walks in the forest and next to the Puthuthottam tea factory as these primates were making their way back to the lion tailed macaque bridge to cross into the forest for the night. Me and my friends tracked a group of 30 plus macaques on multiple occasions and on multiple days. It was a great experience to see their behaviour at such close quarters.



As with other wildlife destinations, the wildlife of Puthuthottam start getting active as the sun starts setting. This is the best time to spot wild Indian gaurs, sambar deer and barking deer. We were extremely lucky to spot a large herd of wild Indian gaurs (about 50 plus gaurs including an alpha male, young males, females and calves). Not only did we see them at a distance of about 50 to 100 feet from us, we were also able to move with them for close to a kilometre before we gave up due to the lack of natural light.



We even spotted a slow loris in the tree while returning from our dinner at Woodhouse Mansion. It was our powerful flashlight that reflected its eyes from the dark and upon a closer look, we noticed its revolving head and slow movements.

It doesn’t matter whether you are sitting at your wildlife bungalow, going on a wildlife walk, having breakfast or returning to your bungalow post dinner, you are never too far away from wildlife at Puthuthottam.



Most visitors go to Puthuthottam to photograph the lion tailed macaque or to see the gaurs and elephants at close quarters. But, there is so much more to Puthuthottam than sighting these three animals. Staying amidst pristine plantations and forests, waking up to the call of the Malabar whistling thrush, feeling super excited at the helicopter rotor whirring sound of the Great Hornbill flapping its wings, experiencing the behaviour of the lion tailed macaque at close quarters, walking along some surreal views, feeling the raw thrill upon seeing a 2500 kilogram gaur at no more than 50 feet from you and when you are on foot and having the entire forest to yourself are some of the reasons why I love Puthuthottam estate, located in the buffer zone of Anaimalai tiger reserve. This hidden gem of Anaimalai holds many surprises. I have visited it three times and each time, I have absolutely loved my time there. And I can’t wait to return in November to see more hornbills and track wild elephants on foot.



Key things to remember while you are visiting Puthuthottam Estate:

1) Wear sturdy shoes as you will be required to walk long distances

2) Carry sunglasses and a cap/hat to protect you from the mountain sun

3) Carry rain wear or an umbrella with you in case you are visiting during the wet season

4) Leeches are quite common during the wet season. So be prepared for them accordingly

5) Most of the time, it is safe to be with children on these trails. However, do exercise caution for self and others, if there happens to be wild gaurs or elephants in the vicinity

6) Try to stay quiet to get best sightings in wild habitat. If you make a lot of sound, the animals might go to some other place or at worst case, they can chase you

7) Carry some trail mix, energy bars and water with you when going on these trails

8) Carry a flashlight with you if you like early morning or late evening walks



Best season to visit:

Puthuthottam estate is open all year round and each season will allow you to see the forest and its wildlife in a new light.

October to December is excellent for spotting wild elephants and for great hornbills.



How to reach there:

The nearest airport would be Coimbatore international airport. It is located about 111 kms from Puthuthottam estate and it should take you close to 3 and a half hours to reach here.

The nearest railway station would be Pollachi Junction. It is located about 63 kms or 2 hours away.

The nearest bus station would be Valparai. If your bus happens to be coming from Pollachi or Coimbatore, you can get down at Puthuthottam Estate located just before Valparai. If you are traveling from Kerala, you can get down at Valparai and take a cab or bus to reach Puthuthottam, about 5 kms away.



Where to stay:

Only the guests of Briar tea bungalows are allowed into Puthuthottam Estate as it happens to be a private property owned by the Woodbriar Group.

If you want the best wildlife experience, I would recommend that you stay at the 100 year old Puthuthottam Annexe bungalow that is located right in the middle of the Puthuthottam estate and is regularly visited by birds and wild citizens.

If Puthuthottam Annexe is not your kind of property, you can stay at any of the other properties belonging to Briar Tea Bungalows and plan morning walks here.



Where to eat:

If you are staying at Puthuthottam Annexe, your meals would be at the Woodhouse Mansion. The menu and meal times would be mutually agreed upon in advance based on the timings of your wildlife walks and your food preferences.

If you are staying at any of the other properties of Briar Tea Bungalows, you might have hot or cold beverages at Woodhouse Mansion, but your meals would be at your place of stay.



Attractions in Puthuthottam Estate:

1) Tea Estates: The main attraction of Puthuthottam is its sprawling tea gardens, its plantation walks and its many panoramic view points.

2) Coffee Estates: In addition to tea garden, Puthuthottam is also home to coffee estates, though it is on a much smaller scale when compared to the tea gardens.

3) Forest Stretches: In between its tea and coffee estates, Puthuthottam has many stretches of native forest that attract the wild visitors.

4) Birdwatching: Great hornbill, grey hornbill, black rumped flameback woodpecker, crested serpent eagle, malabar whistling thrush, scarlet minivet, jungle babbler, hill myna, bulbul, barbet and many other species of birds can be spotted here.

5) Wildlife: Lion tailed macaques, elephants, gaurs, Malabar giant squirrels, sambar deer, barking deer, Nilgiri langurs, Bonnet macaques and many other wildlife can be seen here.

6) 184 year old Woodhouse Mansion: One of the earliest bungalows in Valparai, time stands still at Woodhouse Mansion. Lion Tailed Macaques also drop in here every day.

7) 100 year old Puthuthottam Annexe: It used to be the tea manager’s bungalows in its hey days. Today, it is the only place to stay at Puthuthottam Estate for tourists. It is home to 2 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a balcony. And it is located right in the middle of tea gardens, coffee estates and tropical forests.



Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Nallamudi Poonjolai: A fabulous view point tucked within the Valparai hills and inside the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve

2) Sholayar Dam: Asia’s 2nd deepest dam nestled in the pristine Anaimalai hills of Tamil Nadu

3) Athirapally Falls: The Niagara falls of Kerala

4) Vazhachal Falls: A tropical forest waterfall located near Athirapally falls

5) Vazhachal Forest: A fresh lease of oxygen in Kerala

6) Hike to Nadumalai River: A pristine picnic spot surrounded by tea estates and nature

7) Tea Estates of Valparai: For a rich tea estate and factory experience along with surreal views

8) Poringalkuthu Reservoir: A remote water body nestled in the tropical rainforests of Vazhachal, Kerala

9) Aliyar Dam: A large dam just before the climb to Valparai begins from Pollachi

10) Monkey Falls: A beautiful waterfall located on the ghat road from Pollachi to Valparai

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