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Day 3
trip to kodakanal!
MY TRIP TO KODAIKANAL
Kodaikanal..
FALLS..
This water fall is located on the main ghat road, 8 kms away as one approaches Kodai from Kodai Road. Overflow of Kodai lake takes 180 ft leap over a steepcliff, to crash into a pool.
Bear Shola Falls
An ideal picnic spot 1.6 km from bus stand and within 2 Kms off the lake, where once bears came to drink water. Hence the name of the falls became Bear Shola falls. Cross the lake bund, pass the Telephone exchange on your right, and at the junction take the lower road there comes Clifton Hotel. The approach is rugged hill path. The falls are at the best in rainy season.
| Pambar FallsPambar Falls |
"Grand cascade" is another name for this magnificent falls. It can be reached by a steep, precipitous path behind Pambar house. Racing down Pambar Raivine is Zig-zagging leving stream that cascades over a series of rock formations. It is 4kms away from Kodaikana
| Thalaiyar Falls |
This is also called as Rat tail falls.The widest falls, ranging from 13th kilometer on the ghat road to kodai.It is one of the highest falls in India, with their 975ft sheer drop.
PARKS..
| Bryant Parks |
| The practical utility of this park is, in every May a horticultural show is conducted by the department of Horticulture. On that occasion enormous vegetables and flowers from neighbouring villages compete for the prizes, which draws big crowd. They exhibit flowers, vegetables, fruits and other products. It serves as a practical centre for education on Ornamental Horticulture and as a demonstration centre. The various methods of training, pruning, budding, grafting, potting seed collection etc, are taught to the students of Horticulture as well as to the visitors. |
| Chettiar Park |
Chettiar park, managed by the township, is on the way to the Kurunji Temple. It is 3.2 kms from the Bus Stand. Unlike other areas this park is very quite, and those who love calm timepassing can prefer this park.
KUKKAL CAVES...
| To reach Kukkal Caves which is at a distance of 40 kms, travel by bus upto Poombarai and then give a walk. It is preferable to take a local guide. After walking through geranium plantations, pine and wattle forest, the Kukkal forest rest house can be reached. The early morning hike from the rest house will lead to beautiful shola with wild large orchids. One should be beware of leeches. The caves here are actually overhanging slabs of rocks. This rock shelter is at an altitude of 1500 m. |
The cave reveals traces of earliest settled tribals, Paliyans who used to wear leaf clothing. Overviewing the caves are Manjampath valley where bisons can be seen.
PILLAR ROCKS..
Three granite boulders each vertically measuring a height of 400 feet stand shoulder to shoulder. It is located 8 Kms from the lake tower over the panoramic view. In the shadows of the pillars are shady woods that invite picnickers. The chamber between the two pillars is called Devil's kitchen.
Dolphins nose..
To reach Dolphins nose at a distance of 8 kms from the bus stand, one has to follow the route specified here.There is an old road after crossing Pambar Bridge near levinge stream. A rough curve rounds the hillside which leads to a point where a flat rock projects over an awful chesm of 6600 feet deep. This is Dolphins nose. On the way, beautiful views of plains and steepy rocky eascarpeints called rolling hills can be seen. The old village of vellagavi can be reached through the rugged bridle path.
VEMBADI PEAKS
Vembadi Peak is the second highest peak with a height of 2466m. A right turn in Berijam road and a steep climb leads you to the top. From the stone summit, one can have a magnificent view over Berijam lake, Vandaravu range, Mannovanur sheep farm , Poombarai valley and over all Kerala. The hike will begin from Kodaikanal TV Tower.
PALANI HILLS..
The Palani hills are at eastern offshoot of the Western ghats covering an area of 2400 Sq. Kms, and the town of Kodaikanal is centrally located. There are 2 main divisions of Palani - the Upper Palani (1800 - 2500 m)and the Lower Palani (800 - 1500 M). The Palani is the main watershed for the Vaigai (South) and Amaravathi (Cauvery) (North) Basins. The climate of the Palani varies with altitude from the typical climate of the Tamil Nad. The average rainfall in Palani is 1600 mm. The major contribution being from the North East monsoon though there is some rainfall during the South West monsoon period. The Palani is a source of unique genetic diversity as well as of water for the thirsty plains below.
| Interesting Feature |
One of the most interesting features of the Vegetation is the ever green shola forest (wet, temperate) from which originate many perennial streams. Sholas are probably one of the most valuable treasures of the hills as prime watershed and as shelter for wildlife, in addition to being the terminal refuge for endangered species of flora and fauna e.g. Loya, Orchids, Nilgiri tahr, Grizzled giant Squirrel etc.,
| Governing Authority |
There are 15 revenue villages having a population of around 95000 including Kodaikanal Township (30000).Several organisations including the Palani Hills Conservation Council (PHCCfor short) have been seriously engaged in protecting the most fragile ecosystem of these hills.
TREKKING ROUTES..
| Motorable roads have the terminus in bold face, merely jeep ones have them in italics, approximate distances are indicated in brackets when known; when no roads exist, the time required for footing the distance is indicated. In general some 9 hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) were spent to cover the distance but this includs the time for plants collecting. Freelance trekking should need only 2/3 of the time. Kodaikanal-Batlagundu (55 Km): Law's Ghat Road. |
Perumalmalai-Palamalai(8km) - Thalayar (90 mins.) - Manjalar (150 mins.)-Devadanappatty(6km).
Shembaganur-Korappur-Adukkam(180 mins.) - Selumbathope (120 mins.) - Kumbakkarai - Periakulam (10km).
Shembaganur-Vengayapparai (Coolie or telegraph path); A.G.Bourne's "Kodaikanal Ghat" (4 hours)-Kumbakkarai - Periakulam (10Km)
Kodai-Dolphin's Nose-Vellagevi-Vengayapparai (left of Vellagevi) (300 mins.)-Kumbakkarai-Periakulam(10Km.)
Kodai-Dolphin's Nose-Vellagevi-Kumbakkarai (right of Vellagevi) (300 mins.)-Kumbakkarai-Periakulam (10 Km).
Kodai-Green Hut (12Km) (along the ridge for 30 mts) - down to Chinnur-Periakulam (300 mins.)
Kodai-Thoppithookkipparai (near Berijam) (16Km) - Periyur (3 hours) - Sothupparai - Periakulam (10 Km).
Kodai-Karthirikkai Odei (40Km) - Sinna Sothupparai - Athirikkarappankoil - Oral muthu - Valasal aaru -
Bodinayakanur (6 hours).
Kodai-Berijam (23 Km) - Konalar (5 Km) - Sebastian Odei (3 Km) - Marion Shola (2Km) - Kathirikkai Odei
(1 Km) - Kambippalam (3 Km) - Pulavachiar (5 Km) - Vandaravu (10 Km) - Top Station (10 Km) - Central Station (2 hours)
Kurangani (Bottom Station) 3 hours - Bodinayakanur (17 Km).
Kodai - Mannavanur (35 Km) - Keelanavayal (90 mins.) - Manjampatty (3 hours) - Thalinji (2 hours) -
Champaked ( 90 mins.)-Chinnar (5 Km) - Udamalpet (32 Km) - Palani (37 Km).
Kodai - Paricombai (27 Km) - Kukkal (8 Km) - Kuthirayar-Pappanpatty-Kavalapatty (7 hours) - Palani (23 Km.)
Kodai - Puthur (43 Km) - Bonthampally (24 mins.) - Kavalppatty (9Km) - A-Kalaiamputhur (9Km) - Palani (5 Km.)
Kodai - Pallanghi (10 Km) - Thalamalai - Porandalar-Palani.
Kodai - Vilpatty (8 Km) - Ganesapuram-Puliamarathope (240 mins.) - Palani (13 Km)
Kodai-Perumalmalai (13 Km) - Pethupparai (6 Km) Ganesapuram-Puliamarathope (240 mins.) - Palani (13 Km).
Kodai-Perumalmalai-Palani Ghat road (60 Km).
Kodai-Tandigudi (40 Km) - K.C.Patty (20 Km) - Asarippatty - Bethelpuram-Parappalar-Thalayoothu - Viruppachi.
Kodai- Tandigudi (40 Km) - K.C.Patty (20 Km) ........... Pachalur (10 Km) - Oddanchatram (31 Km).
Kodai - Tandigudi (40 Km) - Adalur (15 Km) - Panrimalai (4Km)-Alagumalai (5 Km) - Puducombai (14 Km) -
Karisalpatty (7 Km) - Vattapparai (4Km) - Melpatty (2 Km) - Anandarayamkottai-Pithalapatty (2Km) - Dindigul (7Km.)
Kodai - Tandigudi (40 Km) - Thadiankudisai (10 Km) - Btlagundu (33 Km).
HOTELS IN KODAIKANAL!
| | | |
| Villa Retreat | Coaker's Walk Kodaikanal - 624 101 Tamilnadu, India | Phone : + 91- 4542- 240940 Fax : + 91- 4542 - 243557 E-mail : villaretreat@yahoo.com |
| Rands (Private Bungalow for family accommodation) | 10, Vilpatty Road, Kodaikanal - 624 101, Tamil Nadu, India. | Phone:+91 - 484 - 2314688, 3230122 |
| Lilly's Valley Resort | 17/178, Sivanandi Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | Phone: + 91 - 452 - 240558, 244307 E-mail:stay@lillysvalley.com URL:http://www.lillysvalley.com/ |
| Royal Cottage | Bear Shola Road, Kodaikanal - 624 101. | Phone: + 91 - 4542 - 240789 Mobile: 93803 02762 E-mail: royal_treats@rediff.com URL: http://kodai-royalcottage.com |
| Carlton Hotel | Boat Club Road, | |
| Hotel Hill Top Towers | Boat Club Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | |
| The Nest | Sivanadi Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Hotel Zion | Sivanadi Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Garden Manor | Lake Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Raku International | Upper Lake Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Kodai International | Laws Ghat Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | + 91 - 4542 -245190 |
| Paradise Inn | Laws Ghat Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Lodge Paradise | Laws Ghat Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | |
| MNS Lodge | Laws Ghat Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Padma Lodgeing | Laws Ghat Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India | |
| The Suhaag | Woodwill Road, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India |
The unique flowering plant 'Kurunji'(Strobilanthus Kunthanus) that last bloomed in 2004, is nature's gift to Kodaikanal. Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerises any visitor and is frequented all through the year.
Kodai is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m high and covers an area of 21.45-sq-km. The hill town is renowned for its educational institutions of international repute. The hill-plantain fruits and plums are known for their freshness and taste. Berijam lake, one among the beautiful lakes of South India, spreads over an area of 24 hectares.