Kodaikanal in Images

It was an impromptu decision that took me to the Princess of Hills or Kodaikanal few weeks back. I was in my hometown for a marriage and decided to explore the mountains nearby. Kodai was the best bet with its sprawling hills, clouds hanging low, flowers and the mist enveloped vegetation.

Kodaikanal was a sylvan glade with dramatic skies that kept changing. She was a mystery shrouded in the mist and hid secrets from every explorer. When I set foot in the region it was the festive period and I saw a huge procession making its way towards Naidupuram. Women clad in yellow sari holding pots with burning charcoal, men with arrows pierced through their mouth dancing to the beats of the drum.

As soon as I reached the hotel I noticed the plunging valley with white puffs sailing through the azure sky. The weather gods were good to us as the region hadn’t received rains for the last 3 days which was unusual as it was the rainy season. Lush, green terraced paddy fields were seen as farmers worked in them.

Terraced Fields

150 year old church dedicated to Lady La Saleth is located in France and India (Kodaikanal) only.

La Saleth Church Kodaikanal

The pine forests near the Observatory is a must visit when in Kodaikanal. Tall, slender they stand erect guarding the forest.

Kodai Pine Forests

Colorful flowers in Kodai are found in abundance. One such garden was near the Pillar Rock view point. Hydrangea were in full bloom as a curtain of mist wrapped the surroundings. The Kurinji Malar a flower which blooms once in every 12 years is found in this region. The next flowering season is sometime in 2018.

Hydrangea in Kodaikanal

Dried flowers were painted and then sold in small shops of every market across Kodai.

Dried and Painted Flowers in Kodai

As we drove towards Poombarai village I could witness beautiful vistas of rolling hills, meadows and animals. I happened to stumble upon shacks making Eucalyptus oil, farmers cleaning their yield of carrots and women returning home with firewood gathered from the forest.

Kodai Farmer with his yield of carrots

Kodai woman with firewood

The sheep were released from the farm and they had gone on their daily graze to the meadows.

Kodaikanal Sheep Farm

I hiked ahead to find a bed of wild flowers and the Mannavanur Lake which is a well known place for shooting in the Tamil Film Industry.

Mannavanur Lake

Kodaikanal is a perfect place to spend a weekend with numerous trekking trails and bucolic surroundings. It is also home to numerous cascades but during my visit as it was the beginning of monsoon there wasn’t much water hence I skipped them.