Kodaikanal Trip

Last holiday, our first stop was Kodaikanal http://www.mustseeindia.com/kodaikanal

Drive

The drive started from Adyar, Chennai at 5:45am and ended in Kodaikanal at 4:15pm with brief pit stops. 

• Distance - 595 kms 
  
• Total Time - 10.5 
  
• Average Speed - 56.67 km/h
  

I would like to whole heartedly congratulate National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) http://www.nhai.org/ for constructing an absolutely delightful NH45 [Chennai - Tiruchirappalli - Dindigul - Periyakulam - Teni]. The 4 lane road from Chennai to Trichy is complete with helpful milestones, sign boards and indispensable toll collection centers. Trichy to Dindigul is fast 

progressing with expected completion in June 09. One can then average 70+ km/h from Chennai to Dindigul . . . a total distance 0f 500 kms enroute Kodaikanal. The price would be Rs 35 / Rs 25 at every toll booth.

The remainder 100 kms is a 2 lane state highway, SH 156, without a divider. Nevertheless, the road is pretty good and last 55 kms of hill driving make things pretty exciting. Also, all milestones on the State Highway have the destination - distance inscribed in Tamil and English. This is unlike Karnataka where one finds only Kannada e.g. Bandipur highway.

For further details on how to reach Kodaikannal, please refer the link http://www.mustseeindia.com/Kodaikanal/how-to-reach. It is pretty helpful.

Stay

The best properties across the country are undoubtedly owned by Old Economy Blue Chips and none of the MNCs aviate anywhere close to them in this regard.

One such magnificient property belongs to MRF in Kodaikanal. It is aptly located at a climb of 1 km from the lake and indeed very well maintained. All thanks to Dad, we had a good time there.

This is the climb on entering the Guest House which is comprised of 2 independent bungalows. The bigger of 2, say Bungalow 1, is seen in the picture above.

As we continue the climb, after about 250 odd meters, it terminates at Bungalow 2. We were put up here. 

The entrance to bungalow 2. There is a car park and intelligent fencing to prevent people tripping off the steep edge onto the neighbouring property (20 odd feet below)

This is the front view of bungalow 2 sporting colorful thicket  

Nice, tall trees overlooking Bungalow 2 fence towards North

Bungalow 1 fence and my Brooding Brother

The Lake

The entire city of Kodaikanal centers around the lake. You can get all the info you want on it at http://www.kodaikanal.com/travel/lake.htm

The most memorable takeaway during our walk around the lake was the social responsibility exhibited by a local masala peanut seller. While handing over the Rs 10/- packet he was requesting all tourisits to use the dust bin and not litter the walkway. 

The local muncipal body also has done a great job by banning plastic in the city. All shops, including the biggies like spencer are using paper handbags. All in all, the city looks reasonably neat and tidy.

Helicopter view of Kodaikanal Lake . . . 

The walkway around the lake which extends to  more than 3kms in length is indeed a busy spot, especially in the mornings and  evenings

Pillar Rock

Apart from lake there are few other places of interest such as pillar rock, market, observatory and multiple trekking points. Do visit http://www.kodaikanal.com/ for further details.

You can actually hire a cycle and cover most of the places. Nevertheless, do take a test round to ensure the tyre tube is not wrought with punctures.

The Pillar Rock(s)

The valley view from the pillar rock. On a sunny day, it would surely have been different

 

State of the Art Photography . . .  :)

Palani Temple

The hills hosting Kodaikanal are known as the Palani hills. About 54 kms away from the city of Kodaikanal lies the famous Murugan temple http://murugan.org/temples/palani.htm  

The road to the temple is average but pretty much makes up in the scenic beauty. The temple is situated atop a mountain and can be accessed either by steps or by mountain rail. 

Road to Palani Mountains

Hill view of scenic plain

Plain view of a scenic mountain

Mountain Rail to the temple

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