Misty Kodaikanal Trip

Kodaikanal is one of the most visited tourist place in South India. I had also visited Kodaikanal 2 times already. But this time its special as I'm visiting with my wife.

So we planned a 3 days trip from our home town Thrissur to Kodaikanal by car from Sunday, 8th March to Tuesday, 10th March 2020.

After breakfast we started the trip around 7 a.m. We had booked the stay for first day at hotel spring valley. It was a budget hotel worth for an average stay. The route to Kodaikanal is via Mannuthy - Vadakkancherry - Kollengode - Pollachi - Udumelpet - Palani - Kodaikanal. Most of the route was having good road. It was a nice drive all the way. The roads near Pollachi was a pleasure to drive as it is fully covered by green trees on both sides. We can also see many windmills on both sides of road once we reach near Pollachi. It was around 9-30 a.m when we reached Pollachi. The weather was becoming very hot then.

Around 11 a.m we reached at the temple town Palani. The weather had became extreme hot at that time. We didn't have a plan to visit Palani and hence took a right turn on to the Palani bypass to reach the Kodai ghat road. A ten minutes drive and we are on Kodai ghat road.

From here onwards everything was changing. The hot weather was going to give way to the coolness of mist, wider roads to narrow roads with a steep on one side and rocks on other side, vast coconut farming fields to thick forests and so on. Even if it was an Sunday the number of vehicles on the road was very less. After a 20 minutes drive, we reached the first hair pin bend and there is a view point of Palar dam here. It was really a beautiful view from there. Since there were not much vehicles, we were able to park the car on road side. There was not a dedicated parking space here.

After spending 10 mins there, we resumed our journey. After about 1 hour we reached the check post to enter Kodaikanal. There is an entry fees of Rs 50 for cars. Just after the check post is silver cascade waterfalls. Since there was not much water and less parking space availability we skipped it.

After 10 mins we seen one of the most beautiful views we had in our trip. An area of eucalyptus trees fully covered with thick mist. We stopped the car and stepped out to enjoy that. This place is before reaching Kodai town just after a 10 mins drive from silver cascade waterfalls. It was a wonderful experience to stand there and watch the mist passing by. That was enough to overcome all the tiredness and strain of the drive. We spent 15 mins there and restarted our journey.

After an 15 mins drive we reached Kodai town and we decided to have lunch first before going to hotel. We had biriyani and chicken 65 for lunch from Chettinad restaurant. Food tasted just average. After that we went to the hotel spring valley. As I told earlier it was just an budget hotel good for a one night stay. After check-in we rested for 1 hour.

Around 4 o'clock we went to Kodai lake. Like most hill stations Kodai also got a lake at its heart, but what makes Kodai lake special is the road surrounding it. We can take a horse ride around the lake or drive our own car or get a bicycle for rent for cycling. Anything is special there. The lake area was crowded and we first did boating in the lake for 30 mins. It was a pedal boat and it was an awesome experience to do boating in the lake at evening on such a cool weather. After boating we took a cycle with double seat so that we both can ride in an single one. We didn't completed the full circle of lake as it was very long. After half an hour of cycling we just sat near the lake watching it. At 7 p.m we returned back to hotel and had dinner from hotel itself.

Next day morning we had breakfast from our hotel and checked out and then went to hotel kodai international which was just near to hotel spring valley. Kodai international is a 3-star luxury hotel in Kodaikanal. We checked in at 10 a.m in to an deluxe room. It was a nicely maintained room with a balcony having view of lawn.

At 11 p.m we went to explore the main tourist spots of Kodaikanal. Main spots can be covered in a single circle route along the forests. It was not about the tourist spots but this drive through the forest is what makes it more fascinating.

We first went to upper lake view point which provides a view of Kodai lake from a elevated point.

Next on the way was Moir point which is another view point. At the time of our visit the whole place is covered with mist and we couldn't get a view from there. But we enjoyed the mist. The forest check post to Berijam lake is here.

Next on the way was pine forest. Much like other pine forests this is also a good picturesque area covered with pine trees. It was very crowded.

After that we went to Guna caves aka devils kitchen. It was an area with many steeps caves. But we are not allowed to go inside the caves as it is very dangerous. They are covered with iron grills. There is also a view point here providing very steep views.

Next on the way was pillar rocks view point. We can see the pillar like rocks which is on the side Guna caves from here. But unfortunately it was very misty there and we were not able to get the view.

After this we went back to Kodai town and had lunch from Al Baiq family restaurant. It was around 3 p.m. We had a chicken noodles and chili fish. Noodles tasted really good but chili fish was average. Highy recommended restaurant in Kodaikanal with enough seats and car parking available for 3 or 4 cars.

Then we went back to our hotel. We were little tired and rested for some time. At evening we just walked along the lawn of hotel. It was really a good way to spent the evening there by sipping a cup of tea watching the lawn. At night we had dinner from hotel itself. It was very costly menu. Also there was some rain at night and sitting and enjoying it from the room balcony was unforgettable memory.

Next day morning we had complimentary breakfast from hotel which was very tasty and then checked out. Our plan was to visit Coaker's walk and return back to home. So we went to Coaker's walk at morning 9 o'clock. There were only very few visitors there at that time. Coaker's walk is another view point in Kodaikanal. Once we entered, we couldn't get any views of valleys but we had one of the best views in our lives. There was a bed of clouds below us. Viewing the clouds below was just amazing. We were seeing it for the first time and that was least expected which made it much more exciting. This made our whole trip an unforgettable one. After spending around 45 mins there we exited.

So we then are ready to go back home and before that we decided to go for a drive across the forest road which we took the previous day to cover pine forest and Guna caves. So we began driving through the forests and at one point we found an direction board to Poombarai. This brought in to my mind a quick picture of Poombarai village from various blogs I read which made a deviation in my mind. So we took a turn towards Poombarai village road. This was the same road that goes to Mannavannur. It was 10 km from this point to Poombarai village viewing point. Yes, we decided to go only up to village viewing point and then return back. A decision which I now regrets. The road was almost empty with very few vehicles. It was a real forest road with no sign of human habitation.

Along the way was Palani view point. It was a small view point from where we can see a lot of mountains and valleys. It is said that we can see Palani hills from here. But we couldn't locate the same.

Another 5 mins drive and we were at the Poombarai viewing point. That was just an road side point were we get a complete panoramic view of Poombarai village which was quiet spectacular. It was such a great view that we didn't want to stop watching it and return back.

After spending 15 mins there we decided to go back. It was around 11-30 a.m. We drove back through the forest passing by pine forests, Guna caves, Kodai lake and town and said a good bye to the magical Kodaikanal. After a 6 hours drive with a lunch break we reached back home at evening 6 o'clock with a bundle of everlasting memories.