`Kodai Vizha' at Valparai after 5 years
The district administration is organising a `Kodai Vizha' at Valparai, 100 km from Coimbatore, from May 19 to 21, said District Collector Neeraj Mittal.The festival takes place after nearly five years.The hill station, with a number of tea estates and rich flora and fauna, known for its salubrious climate, is being promoted as a tourist destination to give a fillip to the local economy.The Vizha is being organised in association with the Valparai Tourism Development Council (VTDC) to provide employment opportunities to the local population and reduce migration to plains in search of employment, Mr. Mittal said.Mr. Mittal told reporters that the three-day festival was taking place after a gap of nearly five years and the festival would be on a larger scale to showcase Valparai to attract more tourists. The festival logo has a Horn Bill with tea estates in the backdrop to promote a brand image for Valparai and make it a Seventh Heaven.The first day's events titled Children's Vizha would include flower show, football tournament, food mela, nature quiz for children on flora and fauna, dog show, magic show and musical night. On the first day, a campaign to make the hill plastic-free would be launched. The campaign would be in phases and after a grace period a total ban would be imposed. This was essential to improve the ecological balance.
Already anti-plastic campaign was on in Pollachi, Mr. Mittal said. The second day's events titled as `Brave Hearts' would include a cricket match between the local population and the officials followed by an air show using Long EZ, an imported proto-type aircraft by National Adventure Federation.The aircraft would hover around the function venue and perform acrobatic skills. Events would showcase the local culture and talents and nothing would be imported. There would be a loan mela by government departments and a medical camp. A foundation stone would be laid for a tourist home on the third day. Initially there would be 50 beds in the tourist home. Efforts were also on to renovate and throw open the unused PWD quarters for tourists visiting Valparai during weekends.
The third day events would also have zorbing, rappeling and trekking. Small boats and coracles would be there for water sports and fun in the local lake. Special buses would be operated from Coimbatore and Tirupur on all the three days at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., and 8 a.m., and they would return from Valparai at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. There would be stalls selling woollen items, handicrafts and furniture besides selling the local tea in different flavours, Mr. Mittal said.Tourists could visit Aliyar dam and Monkey Falls besides Balaji Temple, Sholayar, Upper and Lower Nirar dams. Arrangements would be made to provide local conveyance for tourists to visit the local sight seeing places. For details contact 94434 06641 or 94450 00445.
