Fun, Trekking, and Adventure in the lap of breathtaking beauty, Kodaikanal

Bangalore is famous for three things – endless options for weekend getaways, pleasant weather and the third one, I don’t remember right now. But sometimes, this weather turned out tricky too. It was a long weekend and we planned a trip to Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu. It was an overnight journey by KSRTC bus. We left home in a three-wheeler to catch the bus but it started raining heavily. The roads were jam-packed and the traffic was hardly moving. The water level was quite high and made its way to our auto too. After a kilometer or so, the auto stopped. The engine was burnt. We had to get down and walk in the river, yes the roads looked like no less than a river. We folded our jeans, wore the windcheaters and got down for an adventurous walk.

After walking for some time, we succeeded to get another auto. We were on an overbridge where the traffic was relatively much lesser so we hoped to reach on time and catch the bus. BUT, It was still far! It was raining cats and dogs and we were again in the midst of heavy traffic. Oh, I remember now, the third thing Bangalore is famous for is its Traffic. We were half a kilometer away from the bus stop so we decided to walk. By then, the water level touched our knees. Sure to miss the bus but we managed to catch it. The driver was waiting for the passengers as most of them were stuck in the traffic and rain.

Finally, the bus started and we reached Kodaikanal in the morning and checked into a TTDC property we had booked. We freshened up and got ready for sightseeing. Our driver was our guide throughout the trip and thankfully he knew manageable English.

Waterfalls

We entered a hilly area by car where we encountered a concrete path which runs deep in the woods. We trekked through a dense forest to the nearby Bear Shola Waterfalls which was in full life. The entire route was adventurous. The waterfall was breathtaking like a little heaven. Pearl white, pure, cool, frothy. It was flowing down from the hilltop to the verdant greenery of the region. There was a calmness at this place with emerald greenery around. The only voice we could hear was that of the waterfall and chirping birds. We sat near the fall, watched the birds frolic around in all its glory. After spending some time and clicking many pics, we trekked to Vattakanal Falls, Silver Cascade Falls, and Pambar Falls finally making our way to the base.

The terrain around the falls was quite slanting and undisturbed by the humans. Wrapped in abundant nature its was a perfect a trekking adventure. We saw a few monkeys and deer on the way. It was a refreshing walk for our mind, body, and soul.

Suicide Point (The Green Valley View)

After the gushing falls, we made our way to the famous Suicide Point. We were quite excited to know more about this place because of its name. It didn’t disappoint us as we got the breathtaking views of the hills, plains, and deep valleys. The valley was more than 5000 feet deep, dense and dangerous. Kodaikanal is simply beautiful during the monsoon and an amazing view of the Vaigai Dam was an unforgettable experience. On the way, we bought some homemade chocolates too which tasted heavenly.

Pillar Rocks

“There was a newlywed couple who visited this place for their honeymoon. While clicking pictures, the wife slipped and fell into the depth of the pillar rocks and died. After a few days, her husband came here and placed a wooden white cross as a symbol of his love. After that day, he was never seen and it is said that he jumped off the cliff to unite with his wife”.

We had heard about this sad love story related to this spot so came to witness the beauty. These rock pillars are popular for providing a bird’s view of the gorgeous surroundings. The chamber between the two massive rocks is called the Devil’s Kitchen. It was covered with mist and clouds so we could not get a clear view for a long time but it was majestic. It was a perfect place to sit, absorb the nature, soothe your eyes, enjoy the cool breeze and clear sky. The only thing I missed was my cup of chai

We decided to end our sightseeing for the day and explore the market and eating options.

The next morning, after a scrumptious breakfast of authentic idli, dosa, and sambhar, we went to the Coaker’s walk.

Coaker’s Walk

This was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It was a man-made walking plaza built on the mountains. The lovely pathway that curves by the edge of the mountain gave us a glimpse of The Paradise on Earth. All we could see was lush green valleys, hills, clouds, river. The sight was breathtakingly beautiful. We felt we were walking in the clouds. This walk here was a unique experience. At the end of the pathway, was The Telescope House which offered an amazing view of the valley in all its splendor.

There were many activities to indulge in near the Coaker’s walk and we decide not to miss any. We enjoyed the horse riding near the lake, then hired two cycles and it was the most enjoyable part of the trip. I always dreamt of cycling on the hills and there I was. We kept cycling and were actually lost in the hills. We didnt realize in our excitement how 2 hours passed by. With the help of a few locals, we reached the lake. We were exhausted by then, so decided to take a boat ride in the pleasant weather of Kodai lake.

 

Pine Forest

Kodai is quite famous for its dense Pine Forest. I loved visiting this beauty in monsoon. The best part was it was not a commercialized place, and we could enjoy the raw beauty amidst thousands of pine trees. It reminded me of the Bollywood songs dancing around the trees.

Later in the day, we explored a few more places in the city, Berijam Laker, Mannavanur Lake, Guna caves, Dolphin’s Nose, Perumal Peak, Bryant Park, etc. We bought spices, organic homemade cosmetics, homemade chocolates, a few stuffed toys for which Kodaikanal is quite famous for, before leaving for Bangalore. This was one of the most memorable vacations. Kodaikanal is truly a heaven for nature lovers.

 

You can also read my last post in the series on Amritsar