Shazneen Mistry
www.mediaeyenews.com
Tamil Nadu is famous for its hill city, Kodaikanal, which is situated at 2,000 meters above sea level, the town centers around man-made, star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake, bordered by the evergreen forest along with granite cliffs, forested valleys, lakes, waterfalls, and grassy hills.
Kodaikanal was established by the American Christian missionaries and British bureaucrats in 1845, as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the plains, but later on, people realized the value of this enchanting hill station and started relocating here. The word Kodaikanal can be split into two words 'kodai' and 'kanal', which can be translated to ‘gift’ and ‘forest’ in the Tamil language, interpreting Kodaikanal as the 'Gift of the forest'. While Ooty is called the “Queen of Hills” in the south, Kodaikanal is the 'Princess of South India'.
Though the drive to reach this destination is long as one has to climb uphill roads, the view is impressive. Kodaikanal offers an astounding landscape of cascading waterfalls like– Fairy Falls, Bear Shola Falls, and Silver Cascade, and they are some of the fast-emerging tourist destinations among the visitors. For adventure and amusement, people hire boats, cycles, or hike to the Lake Road path, a 5 KM trail surrounding the shore.
In the early month of November, winter sets in and continues till late February or early March. The month of January is when the city even experiences slight snowfall and the temperature drops down at night. It is the best time to visit Kodaikanal to enjoy the glory of the snow-clad plateau.
The summer months are also the best time to visit Kodaikanal as the temperature ranges between 20ºC to 30ºC. The place is very much safe to visit all year long. The hill town is insanely beautiful with a pleasant, refreshing breeze blowing on the face making it perfect for sightseeing, trekking, cycling, boating, and other outdoor activities.
Some fresh fruits available here would include — avocados, star fruit, organic kalapadi mangoes, papaya, amla, and fresh mangoes are among the few fruits that are popularly sold and consumed there. Along with fruits, the place is also very famous for shopping for items like — Danish displays, Kodai Chocolate Factory, Kodai cheese, spice corner, potters shed, Shalimar weavers, and the famous Kaleeswari Supermarket, a reasonably priced store that sells Eucalyptus oil, homemade chocolates, natural oils, and spices.
This beautiful destination is now open for tourists, but one will need to have a valid e-pass from the respective district administration to visit there. Overflowing with the grace of sprouting greens, cultivated hills, and roaring waterfalls, Kodaikanal is the second most visited place in Tamil Nadu. If one is looking for a fun-filled vacation, then this is the place for you. One gets to relax here as well as take part in activities and enjoy the time there.
It would be helpful if you could also suggest few places to stay and some travel details in your travel articles.
Great article. Must visit when I come to India.