The Grandeur in Green. Review on Kodaikanal

When we planned for our honeymoon well above a year in advance, we were sure that we had chosen the ideal location. But what we got was way beyond our wildest imaginations .

Our journey to the land of our dreams began from Chennai where we, like two fools, decided to take an overnight bus, which is perhaps the biggest mistake one can make. Always opt for the overnight Pandian express which leaves from Chennai for Madurai. A 3 hrs drive from Madurai is still bearable.

As we stretched our cramped legs and straightened our backs, we were greeted by a whiff of fresh air, a pleasant breeze and a sunny clime. A warm welcome indeed !

We had bookings at the Hotel Tamil Nadu, a Tamil Nadu Tourism endeavour, which to us was probably the best bargain. The rooms are spacious, the people are good, service is excellent and it will surely ensure a memorable stay at the hill resort.

Kodaikanal as a place to the normal tourist will be just like any other hill station. But to the adventurous few, it is going to be a whole new world of fun and excitement.

The mall which happens to be in the heart of the city is quite a happening place. This is also the place where the Kodaikanal International school is located. The place is literally teeming with eateries, hotels, curio shops, gift shops and almost everything which one might think of. The famous 'Eco Nut' a health food shop is also located here. We just went berserk on seeing the wonderful array of freshly packed home made jams, chutneys, pickles, chocolates, tea, spices and what not. The chocolates in particular are a speciality of Kodai. You should not miss that at any cost. Try one and you are sure to go in for more.

Besides the normal city touring , you should not miss out on the various other sight-seeing spots like Pillar rocks, Silver Cascade, Bear shola falls,Bryant Park,Coaker's walk Green Valley View, Golf Course and of course the renowned Kodai Lake. The star shaped beauty is sprawled at the center of the city and allows boating facilities. Take a row boat or a shikara and just get lost amidst its green waters.Moreover, you also get to hire bicycles for Rs.10 an hour for a round of the lake. Though it might be a bit painful for the pillion rider, it is no doubt a wholesome experience. Try it ! It is great fun !

The real fun however begins when you leave the city limits behind and enter the forest division. This trip covers some of the spectacular spots which I am sure none of you would like to miss. However, this requires permission from the forest department. so make sure you have it before you start for the trip.

The road, if you can call it that in any form, leads you into dense forest. The most surprising part of the trip is that despite being in the heart of the jungle you can hardly hear or see any kind of wildlife. The Silent valley, as it is rightly called, reverberated only with the whirring of our car. One wonder led on to another. The silent valley view, the Fly Caps valley, the Berijam Lake, mesmerised us with its raw beauty. Infact to call it beautiful would be underrating it. It was something more than that. The sheer height of the place was simply awesome. Moreover, the wild beauty of the Berijam lake far surpassed the artificial look of the kodai lake.

There are umpteen travel agents who are just waiting to pack you off into one of their tours. But no matter which one you take make sure they give you this particular trip. We had booked ours from MP Travels. Their office is located just opposite the TTDC hotel.

The people in Kodai are friendly, helpful and very comfortable to be with. Language is indeed a problem, but somehow we did manage quite alright.

The food does tend to get a bit irritating at times, but Hotel Sivapriya(veg)on Convent Road does offer quite a good palate. The other moderate places include Chefmaster, Royal Tibet, Wang's Kitchen, Silver Inn. Hotel Tamil Nadu offers a good breakfast consisting of Puri Bhaji, Idli vada, Dosa. However, they serve it only from 6.30-9.30.

Kodaikanal was an experience which will be difficult to forget. Not that we want to though. Even now as I sit down to write this review, I wish I could be among the eucalyptus and pine woods, breathing in its freshness. I pray that life throws us a second chance to be back once more amongst the Green Grandeur. But more than that I hope, it stays as green and as beautiful as I remember it today. I pray , I pray, I Pray !