Located at a height of 3,500 ft above sea level, Valparai is situated in the verdant Anamalai mountain range. This mid-elevation hill station is home to rich wildlife like elephants and leopards. Other fauna that tourists can sight include gaur, tiger, panther, sloth bear, deer, wild bear, wild dog, porcupine, flying squirrel, jackal, pangolin, civet cat and birds like rocket-tailed drongo, re-whiskered bulbul, black headed oriole, tree pie, spotted dove, green pigeon, etc. Valparai also has one of the deepest dams in Asia, the Sholayar Dam. About 160 ft high with two hydro electric power plants, it lies about 20 km from Valparai.

Tourists can also tour the tea plantations in the area, along with the picturesque Monkey Falls and Aliyar Dam.