Vattakanal near Kodaikanal. Tamil Nadu hippy place.

Tripoto
24th Nov 2017
Photo of Vattakanal near Kodaikanal. Tamil Nadu hippy place. by Mana
Day 2

Having a trip with old school friends are always nostalgic. Me & two of my school friends decided to hit the road to the Tamil Nadu's only hippy place. You can google "Vattakanal" to know more about the place itself. Here I'm writing my experience. So many times I have visited Kodaikanal from my childhood but my bad I lately aware of this magical hamlet. Like said the only trip you'll regret is the one you don't take.

Starting from Chennai on Friday evening, We reached at Trichy by night. We stayed at the Hotel Femina one of the oldest and popular hotel in trichy owned by my school friend also.

Having our morning breakfast at the hotel, We started our journey. Having read more blogs about the place myself I had more excitement and they didn't expect than a regular Kodai trip. We reached Vatta(In short) just before it was getting dark. The network is poor so we got in touch with the accommodation person just before entering the place. The first shock is you stop at this police check post at the entrance of the hamlet. Police check you, vehicle and get your ID proof recorded. Because there are so many expats visiting this place and to ensure their safety which is good. Bring too many booze the police might take some from you. But a wise man can get everything inside.

Meeting our caretaker near the Altaf's cafe, A very popular cafe in Vatta. Took us down the cliff and from the entrance we know that we are isolated. You got to bend down the tree branches and hold tight sliding down just to reach to your room. It was already dark and we couldn't see much. Had our dinner at Altaf's cafe and going out back and forth was a nice workout. Firing up the woods, sat around it we talked old stories, inhale some herb and it was a magical night. I selected this place just because it was the last in the cliff available and mentioned no network place. When asked for some hot water from caretaker he said quote "bro, be in your survival mode not your luxury mode here".

Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Day 3

Got up for the sunrise, to our surprise the owner house was even below the cliff and had private view of the cliff. The owner was not in town and we were allowed to use his space too. Had our breakfast at Altaf's cafe in fact all our meals were at this place. Simply delicious and imagine the mist covering you often when your're having your food, the cafe becomes dark with passing mist and with good food, my friend a foodie doesn't want to move away from this place. Another thing Vatta is famous for is its magic mushrooms or shrooms. You known now why the foreigners flock this hamlet. Since we're already here why not try it. Its illegal by law and I don't encourage anybody. I'm just sharing my adventure. We got it somehow and trying it for the first time was nervous. Because there're some poisonous mushrooms, people end up taking the wrong one's and felt ill or some even died according to some news. So, beware from whom you get and what you do. Because there are so much to travel & see then to die of a mushroom.

Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana

We trekked to Dolphin's nose which is quiet a challenging trek, but there are many shops to rest and buy drinks. On our way it started to rain heavily and we took shelter in a closed shop at a view point on the way. With our sense overload with saturated colors & patterns by shrooms sitting on a small wood table listening to the rain drops from the hut edges and a view, Just experienced the magical Vatta. Go during the monsoon season Oct-Jan to experience the most of it. And shrooms are available only during monsoon, in other seasons it is fake or altered. Reached the spot with some crazy paths but its insta-worthy. Returning was much harder to climb up, went straight to Altaf's cafe for a late lunch. Roamed around Vatta, when back to our home. We talked, laughed, being silent, playing music, having snacks was like art of doing nothing. Late in the evening the owner returned, he offered some nice black coffee, showed us around his place, he is an artist saw his collections and chatted with him. Late evening the Altaf's cafe was closed early so we headed out to another restaurant in main road in a resort. Had some people playing guitar, chatting, drinking it was a good vibe. After dinner headed back to our place it was pitch dark we reached using our mobile torch. Setup the fireplace inside the room now and slept in that warmth.

Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Photo of Vattakanal, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Mana
Day 4

At 4 a.m started heading down the hill and decided to take another route to Chennai just to see more places. When to Thanjavur on the way explored the ancient temple will write about it separately. It was a memorable trip that we three talk about it even today and tell other friends of our experience and many scolded for leaving them for that Vatta trip. It was an example of collecting memories in life, not just another trip gone wild. Hope you enjoyed reading my adventure. Regarding the stay or other tips on this trip pm me. Do follow, wish-list and encourage the wanna be vagabond. Happy travelling, Cheers.