Out of many scenic destinations in India, Kodaikanal is one such place which still holds nature dearly and is distant from human influence while most of the places are being commercialized to make travelling easy. We are leaving behind the idea that nature is to explore,involve and evolve.
Located in Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, it offers you valleys, cliffs, lakes and an absolute experience of Solitude. At times, I believe universe has things planned and puts you in a position which comes out to be a whole new experience and beginning of a new journey. Such was the instance which landed me to this beautiful place.
Imagine you haven't traveled to places before and just when things are about to get better, your friend gives you a last minute surprise and now you can either put an end to it or answer to the sign of universe, How about a solo trip?
I wouldn't say it was an easy YES but definitely a right one. Without giving much stress to my brain on what and how will it work out, I followed the impulse of my heart with no expectations and just Hope.
Getting there-
By Air- Located around 120 km away, Madurai Airport serves as the nearest airport to Kodaikanal. You can board a cab, local bus or train to reach Kodaikanal. One may also avail for flights till Trichy and Coimbatore followed by shared Cab or local bus to reach Kodaikanal.
Note: Very few direct bus from Coimbatore to Kodai so you might have to hop at different stops(at most 4 stops). Best option is to reach Palani or Udumalaipettai and take a direct bus to Kodai.
By Bus- I took overnight AC Bus from Bangalore(INR 800-900) as it saves you money and hassle of changing transport options. Since Kodaikanal is connected by road to nearby important towns and cities like Thiruchirappalli, Kumuli, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Chennai, state and private buses are available at frequent intervals
Where to Stay-
There are many Hotels and hostels easily available as soon as you reach Kodaikanal Bus stop but my recommendation would be to stay at Greenlands Youth Hostel in Coaker's walk(2 km from Bus stop) which is right in the middle of the valley with nature on your lap and also it offers you flexibility to choose a bed in the dormitory or a private room.
Not many man-made constructions will give you the essence of nature but that's what separate Kodai lake from others. A man-made star shaped lake, surrounded by trees and birds chirping around is a perfect spot to start your day with.
Things to do-
1) Nothing(That's what I did)- To the rarest opportunity of finding time for yourself, to take a deep breath, to close your eyes, to feel your shoulder less heavy and do nothing but be happy for this moment.
2) Cycling, boating, fishing and flower shows are other options around the lake you can try your hands on.
3) Stroll around the market for unique collection of handcrafts, arts and dresses.
4) Since Kodai lake is an attractive spot for the tourists, there are many cafes around the corner to tickle your taste buds.
I met few other solo travelers in the hostel who I joined and planned to continue my Journey for coming days. We added our names in the list of people going for sightseeing in a mini bus facilitated by the hostel which costs around INR 350 per person.
It was an amazing experience to travel with 15-20 strangers of different age group, places and life style, all free from their daily life pattern and keen to explore nature's beauty and feel alive again. You will have halt of around 5-10 minutes at each sights which includes some interesting stories behind each spots by the bus conductor.
We were back to our places mostly by 7:00 PM but don't think about ending your day yet as the moon is upon you and night is still watching. We were tired but not enough to miss the silence of the cold night, warmth of our bonfire.
Note: Be cautious with bonfire as it is not allowed to light a fire at every place due to an incident which led to massive fire in the jungle.
Sights we covered: Coaker's walk, Green Valley Viewpoint, Pillar rocks, Pine forest and Devil's kitchen.
Vattakanal, which is around 7Km from Kodai city is a small hamlet, surrounded by cliffs and clouds is your must visit place when you are in Kodai. In a way Vattakanal is even more peaceful as it is away from the city and is mostly free of technology and so called human developments.
Every then and now we must break free of our monotonous life to get back to our roots and become part of the nature which gives us a life. To feel the breeze passing through you, see the horizon over mountains changing colors, walk bare foot to feel ourselves alive, smell the nature to forget everything else, to find a reason to live in middle of nowhere.
Where to stay:
Vattakanal might not offer you luxury but definitely some breathtaking views from your stay. I prefer to stay at my favorite place every time I am in Vattakanal which does not have a name but goes by the name of Sarah's place whose owner is an amazing person. She has a perfect place and valley right outside your room.
You would not find this place online but if you want to get a stay here, please drop me a message on my Instagram account.
Places to visit:
Around 1 Km down trek from Altaf's cafe is the Dolphin's nose which is an attractive view point for the tourists. It's easy to guess by looking at the picture below why it is named after Dolphin's nose.
Approximately 20 steps from the Dolphin's nose, you will see Echo point where you can hear your heart beat echo provided you are not focusing on anything else. At this point, you will see mountains as big as it can be and the valley as deep as it can be.
While for tourists Echo point might be the end of Vattakanal but only those who believe in exploring knows about the small beautiful village called Vellagavi with approx. 100-150 people living is around 6km trek from Echo point.
You may find this restriction board while trekking for Vellagavi but you can choose to ignore it if you are walking to the village.
So above was an experience of my first solo trip to Kodaikanal and how it just gave a beginning to many more journeys to follow of which I will share story soon. Stay tuned!!
If you have any questions or feedback, please drop a comment below.