Sudheesh Nair's Kodaikanal & Madurai trip report & photos.

[sudheeshnairs]

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..

[sudheeshnairs]

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.



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...



My rickshaw overtaking another..

[sudheeshnairs]

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

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Some flyover in Madurai.



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

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[sudheeshnairs]

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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[sudheeshnairs]

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..

[Zailsingh]

Terrific work. Waiting for the lift to Uphill Kodai.

[Suncity]

The start looks good!

[sudheeshnairs]

Entering tropical evergreen forest area..

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Monkey crossing

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[sudheeshnairs]

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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[ferrari_fan]

great pics!! thanks..

[sudheeshnairs]

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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[sudheeshnairs]

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.

[praanthan_chaannaan]

Originally Posted by sudheeshnairs

Silver Cascade..

A scene near Silver cascade

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

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

[Suncity]

What exactly is that???

[sudheeshnairs]

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.
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.

Originally Posted by sudheeshnairs

A scene near Silver cascade

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[sudheeshnairs]

Placid waters...

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Time stands still when you spend time in these shores.

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[sudheeshnairs]

[praanthan_chaannaan]

Originally Posted by sudheeshnairs

Placid waters...

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[/IMG]

Good one!!

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

[sudheeshnairs]

Originally Posted by praanthan_chaannaan

Good one!!

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.

[sudheeshnairs]

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

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