LEAVING behind the scorching heat of the dusty plains of Coimbatore, it was a pleasant climb up to the tea country of Valparai. As our vehicle lumbered up the Ghat Road from Aliyar to Valparai, negotiating a series of 40 sharp, meandering hairpin bends, I could catch glimpses of the waters of the Aliyar mini-hydel dam project from above.
On the way, I sighted several Nilgiri tahr on the Ghat Road. I lingered awhile to click pictures of these mountain goats. I went on a clicking spree as this was my first sighting of mountain goats. . .
