I had gone for a pleasure trip to Kodaikanal from Trivandrum during the Easter, Vishu holidays. Started from Trivandrum on 13th April '06 at 7.15 PM and drove to Madurai and then to Kodaikanal the next day. Madurai is 260 kms from Trivandrum & Kodaikanal is 120 kms from Madurai. I was accompanied by my wife, my friend, his wife and their little kid.

Driving in Indian roads needs no explanation. We were late to start, and it was about 7.15 PM when we hit the road in my trustworthy Tata Indica V2 DLS. My car is 3 1/2 years old and so far covered some 50000 kms.. The evening traffic was hectic and it was almost bumper to bumper traffic till Nagercoil, 72 kms away. Had dinner from Nagercoil at about 9.30 PM and after that the drive became more relaxed and we were able to cruise at 80-100 kmph. But still the highway was busy with the private luxury bus operators and trucks.

NHAI works are going on in the Kanyakumari-Tirunelveli-Madurai stretch, albeit on a slower pace. Only some initial earth works seem to take place and no heavy machinery is seen. I saw the construction of some grade seperator u/c at this route, but didn't know which place was it..

Reached Madurai at 1.30 AM, checked in to a Hotel to get a sound sleep before hitting the hills next morning..

14th April is Vishu, the new year for us Malayalees. It is also the new year for Tamilians. Decided to go to the Meenakshi Amman Temple.

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Cities like Madurai is totally different from the cities that we see in Kerala. Here you get to see lunas, mopeds, cycle rickshaws etc

As I was going to the temple with my wife, a rickshawwalah approached us, I was reluctant to get in to it at first, but he seemed to be very courteous and we obliged. And it was my first trip in a cycle rickshaw... :)

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My rickshaw overtaking another..

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Now it is 10 AM, time to hit the hills... :)

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Some flyover in Madurai.

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Soon we hit the Dindigul road and later turned to Kodai road..

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Kodaikanal is about 120 kms from Madurai. The main town in between is "Vattalakundu". The drive till the Kodai road and to this point is comfortable. There was a junction a little way back and from that point, a road leads to Kerala via Teni & Kumily

We have covered about 72 kms from Madurai and now 48 kms more to go to the "Princess of Hill stations"

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Starting the ascent from the plains to the destination some 2300m above MSL.
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The terrain in the beginning is a little dry and sparse vegetation..which then turns to tropical evergreen forests and then shola forests.

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The plains as seen below as you climb up..

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Scenery from a "View tower" in the beginning of the climb.

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More to follow...wait for the mesmerizing pictures of Kodai..

Terrific work. Waiting for the lift to Uphill Kodai.

The start looks good!

:)

Entering tropical evergreen forest area..

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Monkey crossing

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Silver Cascade..

After we reached Kodaikanal, there was a spell of intermittent rains. So while on the way back saw this waterfall more plentiful

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A scene near Silver cascade

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great pics!! thanks..

As the altitude gains, vegetation changes to pines, silver oaks, eucalyptus & shola forests

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You can see the mist creeping in at noon.

It is a blazing 38 degrees Celcius down at Madurai while here it is a cool 20 degrees.

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Entering Kodaikanal town..seems some washerman colony..

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C.V.N cottages, a holiday home at Fern Hill road where we stayed
It is mainly a holiday home of Banks like SBT, Bank of India etc
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Close to Hotel Tamilnadu where you have the closest bar. There are not much watering holes in Kodaikanal. Even liqour shops are few. My friend & I had to walk in search of a shop to get an upmarket brand. We had to hire a cab to return to the place where our car was parked.

Silver Cascade..

A scene near Silver cascade

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LOL..... THAT PICTURE SHOULD GO STRAIGHT TO HUMOUR THREAD!!!! :cheers:

I mean, where will the driver sit? On the Tiger's back?

Imagine a Traffic cop stopping this modern-day Lord Ayyappa, riding a tiger at 60 kph but ass-forward :)

What exactly is that???

:runaway:

PC & Sun, this is only a method to earn some bucks by some imaginative guy.

The lifesize tiger is simply placed on the bike. There is a board (not seen in this pic) which says Rs.10 for a snap. :D
I took this from a distance and saw the board only when I went near it. Anyway there was no guy around there to ask money from me. May be you would be charged only if you pose with the tiger..

I saw this tiger the next day at "Moir Point" near the road to Berijam Lake.

A scene near Silver cascade

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Placid waters...

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Time stands still when you spend time in these shores.

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Placid waters...

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Good one!! :cheers:

Do they still have cycles for rent? It used to be great fun!!

Good one!! :cheers:

Do they still have cycles for rent? It used to be great fun!!

Plenty of cycles.... :)

Different types of cycles, two seaters, cycles in which the whole family can go, etc..Infact sometimes it is choco bloc with cycles.. Also Horse ride too..

Unfortunately I noticed your post to shoot cycling only after coming back from the trip..

I had once cycled this whole length along the lake (some 4km+) with a girl infront while our engg college team had gone for a tour. It was nice times even though I got tired at the end. :D

The lake shores sport beautiful pathways & well laid roads now.

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With my old, but trustworthy Indica V2 DLS.

Enroute to upper lake view/Pillar rock..

The pavement is broken, may be because of the continous run-off from the foliage above.

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Plenty of cycles.... :)

Different types of cycles, two seaters, cycles in which the whole family can go, etc..Infact sometimes it is choco bloc with cycles.. Also Horse ride too..

Unfortunately I noticed your post to shoot cycling only after coming back from the trip..

I had once cycled this whole length along the lake (some 4km+) with a girl infront while our engg college team had gone for a tour. It was nice times even though I got tired at the end. :D

LOL...... I did some macho row-boating (yelling "booo.!! Pedal boating are for wimps" at other pedal-boating 'couples' from our college) with a boatload of them lasses, during an Engineering Coll trip. I found out, it was a good workout - rowing a boat. Next day, my hands were so stiff, I had to get help to put on my T-shirt :bash:

Cycling was done around the lake, with another pal of mine joining in another cycle. He was a bit wasted(had a hip flask of warm brandy) and I remember we both ran off the road after turning around to gaze at the "International School" dames ;) Would recommend it any-time in Kodai!!! Of course, I meant the cycling :D

Simpler times!!!

Horse riding is a sham - its just for photo-ops

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There was a downpour the day we reached Kodai, the next day also there was some intermittent rains.

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Trivandrum boys at Kodai

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Kodaikanal is a small town. This is a main road, one way with an one side parking. There is a good vegetarian hotel a little ahead, think its name is "Ariyanivas" or so..

It was difficult for me to find good non vegetarian hotel in Tamilnadu. In that case, it is the same all over India too and the reverse is true in Kerala. I think Hyderabad is an exception..

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Kodaikanal is a small town. This is a main road, one way with an one side parking. There is a good vegetarian hotel a little ahead, think its name is "Ariyanivas" or so..

It was difficult for me to find good non vegetarian hotel in Tamilnadu. In that case, it is the same all over India too and the reverse is true in Kerala. I think Hyderabad is an exception..

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And also Kolkata :)

Very nice.

The second day went for a drive around the lake first. Sri Sathya Sai Baba is in town and this Land Cruiser seen ahead had come from the Ashram..

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Do not go to Kodaikanal during season or holidays for peace of mind or for a relaxed holiday :D

This was the scene from morning till evening, in the route to Greenvalley (Suicide point), Pillar Rock, Moir Point etc. Near the points, traffic would be held for hours.

Most of the tourists were from Kerala, the majority vehicles were from Trivandrum (KL.01, KL.16), Kochi (KL.07, KL.17) Thrissur (KL.08)

Anyway we didnot hate the trip, we were having a nice time in the car enjoying the nature.

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This is after GREEN VALLEY (Old Suicide Point). The traffic jams were mostly near these sight seing points. And it gets cleared a little after that point.

And the system of administration/traffic enforcement is virtually nil in Kodaikanal. I didn't see any policeman in those tourist spots. And it was utter chaos. Only in Kodaikanal town, in an intersection, I saw a traffic constable. And yes, some policemen near Sathya sai ashram.

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Sudeesh,
Based on your observation most of the tourist are from Kerela. Out of curiosity why do they flock to Kodai. Munnar looks more pristine and green to me than kodai. Kodai used to great 15 years back when Ooty and conoor was overcrowded and is being literally destroyed.They are chipping kodai also. Yercuad is also good but not properly maintained.

Sudeesh,
Based on your observation most of the tourist are from Kerela. Out of curiosity why do they flock to Kodai. Munnar looks more pristine and green to me than kodai. Kodai used to great 15 years back when Ooty and conoor was overcrowded and is being literally destroyed.They are chipping kodai also. Yercuad is also good but not properly maintained.


Yaar Zailsingh, good observation. But if it is just to enjoy nature, there is no need to drive some 400 kms and go to Kodaikanal. Trivandrum's own hill station Ponmudi is just 50kms away, or Bonaccord, Braemore etc. And if you want variety, Veli, Akkulam, Kovalam, Poovar, Neyyar, Thenmala etc.

Munnar has undoubtedly the best scenery around. I was told by a friend that Munnar was also jampacked during vishu, easter holidays. Malayalees just want to travel and enjoy, thatz all. So if this time it is Kodai, next time Munnar or Ooty or Thekkady. Also going to places in Kerala has no novelty since we are everyday seeing it. Morever Kodai is not a single destination. Many couple it with other temple towns like Madurai, Palani etc.

I think it is the enthusiasm to drive, company of friends(and boozing. :) ) etc are the factors which makes the trips attractive and not the destination. It was the reason in our case too. There is nothing much attractive in Kodaikanal other than the climate and the lake. Infact we would be seeing the same greenery if not more in Trivandrum.

See PONMUDI, which is just about one hour drive from Trivandrum..

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See the mist creeping in. It was 14 degrees celcius at 5 PM (I had taken a thermo) & the place is only about 50kms from the city

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And it is this kind of occasions that makes the trip more interesting... :D

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Cool Photos!
Tiger on the bike is the best and the most memorable one.

Thanks vs007.. :)

Pillar Rock point

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Pine Forest, this has witnessed several film shoots

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Cool environs..

We spent some time here. It was noon, abt 1 PM, and no way for food, nor we had taken any. Got fresh carrots from a lady vendor..

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The road gets broken after this to Moir Point. Traffic is still there. Moir Point is where the road to Berijam Lake starts. Entry only by permission from Forest authorities. There is an old road connecting to Munnar.

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Traffic Jam again...

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Near 'Guna' caves

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Near 'Guna' caves

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Please post it in the Jokes thread :)

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Sudeesh
there was no restrictions when i went to guna cave 7 yrs back.
I was able to go till the edge of the cave where kamal use to stand and shout that dialogue. it is awesome exp to stand on the edge of the cave and 2 c downwards. same time risky also .

but later on i heard tht they have banned guna cave since ppl commit suicide from that place.
do they allow to go there now ??? legal or illegal ??? til wat point they allow us to c guna cave ???

goldies, I didn't get down at Guna caves. My friend who had gone there some months back told that public is not allowed there after some point. The hoarding saying restriction also held us back.

Moreover it was damn crowded.


Sudeesh
there was no restrictions when i went to guna cave 7 yrs back.
I was able to go till the edge of the cave where kamal use to stand and shout that dialogue. it is awesome exp to stand on the edge of the cave and 2 c downwards. same time risky also .

but later on i heard tht they have banned guna cave since ppl commit suicide from that place.
do they allow to go there now ??? legal or illegal ??? til wat point they allow us to c guna cave ???

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It is becoming choco block..

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Long wait at traffic jam, & rest for my Indica.

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Mist engulfs. It is peak noon and summer..

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We have inched a little further in our way back.

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We now reach 'Suicide Point', but now the name is changed to 'Green valley' or so, since the first one had a negative perspective. Anyway they are keeping both the names together:lol:

Mist is creeping from the valley, at peak noon.

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Here also, it is much crowded..

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lol:No Parking..

BTW I can read Tamil..'Vahanangal Nirtha Koodathu'

And let me try the other sentence, 'Pothu Idathil madhu _ _ __Koodathu'. Is it 'Arundakoodathu'?

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A nice fairway

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Journey back to Kodaikanal town

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lol:No Parking..

BTW I can read Tamil..'Vahanangal Nirtha Koodathu'

And let me try the other sentence, 'Pothu Idathil madhu _ _ __Koodathu'. Is it 'Arundakoodathu'?

Athey

Sudeesh
there was no restrictions when i went to guna cave 7 yrs back.
I was able to go till the edge of the cave where kamal use to stand and shout that dialogue. it is awesome exp to stand on the edge of the cave and 2 c downwards. same time risky also .

but later on i heard tht they have banned guna cave since ppl commit suicide from that place.
do they allow to go there now ??? legal or illegal ??? til wat point they allow us to c guna cave ???

I remember going down to the edge of the cave back in '98. It was awesome. Instead of banning public, they should make it safe and enjoyable - like putting some guard-rails etc. (as in the grand canyon)

Athey

Romba Nanri Anniyan..:)

:lol:

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Farthest end of the lake. Ashram of Sri Sai Baba is here. Baba was in the ashram and hence you see a lot of vehicles parked.

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The footpath by the side of lake is now made better with paving tiles.

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My INDICA (Aqua green) is parked on the other end.

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SAI BABA ASHRAM, Baba was in Kodaikanal

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Crowd coming out from the darshan

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