Welcome to Kodai

Kodaikanal offers a lot of enchanting places which you should explore yourself instead of depending on cabbies or guides. The star-shaped Kodai Lake is the main attraction. You can hire ponies or bicycles for your kids for a 4-km trip along this lake, writes Tejwant Singh

IT pays to be an early bird if you are going places or looking forward to a hassle-free sojourn in the distant hills. There’s nothing more frustrating than last-minute huffing and puffing for seeking train or flight reservations, onward connections, accommodation and journey-breaks en-route. After all, it’s not your intention to let your projected holiday turn into a grin-and-bear ordeal. Although a good plan will take care of most of the irritants, do expect and be prepared for a few headaches like sudden bandhs or strikes. Hence, travelling in small groups of good family-friends or relatives will be helpful in such exigencies but even this is not an absolute must. One gets used to tackling these situations along the way.

Apart from this, the biggest mistake the tourists generally make is fussing too much about the food when reaching down South. However, you will be well within your right to demand wholesome potable water. But if you are buying mineral water-bottles, make doubly sure that it is genuine. A parallel business of spuriously-filled bottles is thriving all over the country and those who are away from home fall easy prey to it. As for cuisine, there’s nothing like being served on banana-leaves. If possible, look out for Udupi hotels run by Brahmins of Udupi district of Karnataka. They are second to none in cleanliness and quality. The only drawback is that these eating joints do not cater to non-vegetarian food but certainly you can be happy to do without it as one can never be sure of what is being served.

Another good idea is to skip the cereal diet altogether during breakfast or lunch and have a liberal intake of local varieties of hill fruits like bananas, figs, jack-fruit, plums. Remember to buy big-size Kerala bananas of pink colour, Rastali or Kapurams. You wouldn’t have seen them in north India. They keep a person going nicely and without having to worry about uneasiness or tummy problems. These varieties are said to be good for heart and blood pressure troubles.

If you agree that ‘Reaching there is half the fun’, then begin by coming out of your shell and brace up for the thrill of seeing the variegated heritage of the vast mosaic that is Bharat. However, this is one such aspect of life where rushing through doesn’t help. Go slow as you move up and strike new friendships with those you can click. For the remaining part of the fun, get the latest information on flower-shows, festivals, concerts etc. They are meant for tourists like you. Even visits to temples, museums or exhibitions besides the usual sight-seeing places gives one a rare opportunity to come across decent people. Add to this, your early morning walks through the wooded forests, parks, lakes, or other less-frequented vistas where you will be well rewarded by being in the midst of His creation.

Now welcome to Kodaikanal. Kodai for short. This quaint hill resort still retains some charm and is perched at an altitude of 2133 metres (higher than Shimla) in the Palani ranges which are an extension of Western Ghats.

Reach Chennai or Bangalore by your favorite mode of travel. From here go by train or buses (Tamil Nadu’s buses are better than the so-called ‘Deluxe’ hulks of the north) to Trichy or Madurai — the two cities which are famous for the historical temples of Sri Ranganatha Swamy i.e., Lord Vishnu in reclining position and the Meenakshi Temple, respectively. Incidentally, Madurai is also the nearest airport for Kodai (120 km). Otherwise, the nearest railway-station is Kodai Road (80 kms). Take your pick.

Kodaikanal offers a lot of enchanting places which you should explore yourself instead of depending on cabbies or guides. The star-shaped Kodai Lake is the main attraction. You can hire ponies or bicycles for your kids for a 4-km trip along this lake. Make sure you don’t miss the boat-races or other water sports when you go to the Boat Club. Even Shikara-type boats are available for families and honey-mooners.

Somewhere down this road, you will find yourself in Bryant Park. Well, this is the place for savouring the rare fragrance of flowers even if you are early (or late) for the annual flower-show which is generally held in May. Another attraction (read distraction) recently introduced by the Tamil Nadu government is the toy-train on a small patch by the lake-side. It’s so crudely assembled that people use it only when it is not moving! But never grudge it because you’ll need it when you are suddenly caught up in the sharp showers which come from nowhere. And do pray for this rare experience when you go to Kodai lake. Imagine the various colourful boats — all decked up for the season and shrouded in the mist-moving lazily on the placid waters.

There are numerous other sight-seeing places in and around Kodaikanal. But as explained earlier, explore them on your own. The local residents will be too happy to guide you. Among these places are the Coaker’s walk, the Bear Shola Falls, the Pillar-rocks, Berijam Lake, Shenbaganur Museum, Orchidorium, two Telescope Houses, Silver cascade and of course, the famous temple of Kurinji Andavar (Kurinji is a mountain-flower which blooms once in 12 years. It last bloomed in 1992).

Lastely, one more important thing which needs to be mentioned here is the Field Station of the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) located at Attuvampati which is about 10 km from the main Bus stand. It has a whole hill-side of about 50 acres with terraced fields, growing rare herbs and aromatic plants. Processing, extraction and distillation of essential oils and other basics for medicinal needs are also undertaken here.

This institute can help anyone interested in this field. It offers consultancy, technical services, transfer of process, knowhow, survey of land for growing, cultivation and marketing, preparation of project reports, supply of literature, periodicals, books, etc.

Hills of Kodaikanal are especially suitable for its country’s requirements of these plants. But it is hoped that the authorities won’t overlook to guard their products legally and not let them be robbed by multi-nationals.

This feature was published on April 4, 1999