Kodai – A Holiday in the Hills

Holidaying in a hill station in the hot summer months of May and June had always been my desire. I had been to very few hill stations and Kodaikanal is one of them. The scenes of Kodaikanal or Kodai are still vivid in my mind, as very recently I had the opportunity to make a trip to this exotic location. Kodai is a hill station located at a height of 7,000 ft above sea level in the Palani hills in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, South India. The description of the place is very dear to my heart, from the point of view of a common man unlike a professional writer and is very personal with little exaggeration and more mesmerization. I alighted at the Coimbatore airport at 10:30am and travelled by car to my dream destination. As we entered the hilly zone, everything around us changed so suddenly and it seemed so much different. A traveller’s eye wouldn’t miss the changes so subtle yet so real and exciting –

• The rapid fall in the mercury from a very hot sultry temperature to a cool and pleasant weather.
• Green, green and green everywhere – like a maverick who painted everything green.
• The cool breeze that sends chills down your spine and soothes the tresses on your forehead.
• The zigzag and winding roads that seem never to stop and triggers vertigo, till one reaches one’s destination (hotel).

The panoramic and verdant views evoke many of euphoric expressions on the traveller’s face. As I reached my hotel, the light drizzle and tranquil ambience were intriguing. The beaumontand magnificent hills stood magnanimously, amidst the evergreen trees and plants which depicted vitality and vigour. Blooming flowers and fruits were messengers of cheer and charm. All elements of nature converged into one single invaluable beauty. One has to witness such nature’s bounty to believe it.

With little pronunciation differences the meaning of the word Kodaikanal in the Tamil language ranges from the ‘gift of the forest’, ‘the summer forest’, ‘the forest of the creepers’ and ‘the end of the forest’. Whatever be the meaning it is just forest everywhere – meadows, grasslands, eucalyptus trees, pear trees and more. The must see places which made my heart skip a beat –

• • Kodai lake, a man-made lake stretching over an area of 5 to 6km created way back in 1863, is a popular landmark and the main tourist attraction. The Kodaikanal boat club rents 2-seater and 4-seater pedal boats which is a favourite pastime for most of the tourists. Walking, cycling and horse riding along the pathway skirting the lake are the other activities tourists indulge in, which help them achieve two targets – good health and enjoying the beautiful hills around them. An array of shops surrounding the star shaped lake sell woolen garments, stuffed toys, medicinal herbs and oils, home made chocolates, fruits and a wide variety of other accessories.

• • A botanical garden called Bryant Park located to the east of the Kodai lake never misses the tourist’s itinerary. It derived its name from the forest officer, H.D.Bryant who built it in 1908. The park with its numerous species of flowering plants dahlias, delphiniums, French Mary gold, antirrhinum, verbena, celosia and pansies is a feast to the eye of all flower lovers. The park boasts of a picturesque landscape with different varieties of ornamental plants, cactus and shrubs. The nominal entrance fee attracts many a tourists as well as the locals who celebrate summer festival in the month of May. Various cultural programs and competitions of dance and song are held which again is a great tourist attraction, as one enjoys these programs sitting on the lush green grass. Bryant park is a great picnic spot, as buses plying regularly from nearby places bring in a multitude of locals who come there for a picnic or to participate in these cultural activities.

• • A paved path called Coaker’s walk built by Lt. Coaker in 1872 seems to be an unending, uphill walk. It winds around Mount Nebo, giving a stunning view of the surrounding hills and the city below. An observatory with a telescope, located midway along the walk gives a view of the old Kodai village. Vendors lining the walk provide a whole assortment of exquisite wares. The mouth watering, brilliantly bright orange carrots along with their green stems halt one’s ascent, demanding a short break.

• • Pillar rocks are huge masses of stone made of charconite and granite rocks at a height of 500ft. A flowering garden located at this point is fascinating. The caves below these rocks are a safe haven to many endangered species like crested serpent eagle, black eagle and honey bazard.

• • Devil’s kitchen orguna caves are cave formations of giant rocks. Tourists are now not allowed to have a view of these natural caves, due to previous tragic incidents of suicides.

• • Green valley point or previously called suicide point provides an excellent view of the plains below. Past incidents of suicides led to the construction of wire meshes around this point which serve as barricade to adventurous tourists from venturing further. Commercial shops lining the stairs are another great attraction.

• • Enchanting waterfalls and cascading streams like the silver cascade falls, bear shola falls and pambar falls are other must see places in Kodai.

• • Kurunji Andavar temple which houses the deity Lord Murugan is one of the famous Hindu temples. Hundred years old La Salette church is another tourist spot, buzzing with tourist activity and is a testimony to the widely prevalent Christian culture.

• • Pine forests which are largely pictured in many South Indian movies are a symbolic of height and extent of growth in a poet’s words.

• • Sai Shruti ashram overlooking the Kodai lake provides a calm and serene atmosphere. Once a summer abode of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, entry into this ashram puts one’s mind and body to rest. The shallow steps lead to the mandir where regular bhajans are held.

• • Kodai is a wonderful place for tourists interested in trekking. Rich flora and fauna makes Berijam Lake another exotic lake located deep in the forest in the upper Palani hills and requires permission from the forest department. Because of the wet weather I had little opportunity to go trekking or visit this lake.

• • The guides never miss to mention the 500 years old tree, with its thick trunk.

• Homemade chocolates, eucalyptus oil, herbal oils, herbal tea, coffee and a wide variety of fruits like plums, pears, figs, avocados, peaches, grapes etc occupy a definite place in the shopping list.

As my heart longs for more, I resolved to come back again soon.