It was already late when we started from home and Bangalore traffic made it worse. We were around a pack of 14 people. I call it a pack as we always travel in groups.
By the time we reached the station the train had already arrived and was ready for departure.
We boarded the train at 9:15 pm at night from ksr-sbc junction the main railway junction in Bengaluru.
Our train Tuticorin express lacks pantry cars and hardly any water vendors come for selling water so I will say take water and food from home.
We reached Kodaikanal road railway station at 7 am in the morning. We had breakfast outside the railway station.
There were plenty of small shops which served breakfast as well as meals.
At 8:15 we came to know about the last bus that travels between kodaikanal road railway station and kodaikanal hill.
We took the bus and it was full of people There was no seat for us to sit on.
Somehow we reached Kodaikanal hill which was almost 80 km from the railway station.
Other means of communication are also available which is pretty expensive for an 80 km journey.
Innova is available at the station which costs approx. 3000
Bike rental service is also available near the Railway station which can be rented for a period of two three days and it will be a great experience for bike enthusiasts.
It took us almost 4 hours to reach Kodaikanal hill top.
At the bus stand we found some middleman who took us to cottage service.
Around 2 km from the bus stand we got one cottage which was like home.
It cost around 18000 rupees. Since we were a group of 14 people so per head it was just 1286 for two days.
The service was very good as the caretaker was a very nice person and punctual too in his duty.
We rested for a day and the next morning we booked a traveller for a local tour of the hills.
Next morning at around 9 am we started for the local tour of kodaikanal hills.
The first place that we visited was the palani hills wildlife sanctuary. It was the big forest with leopard, elephant, monkey, bison as its inhabitants but unluckily we couldn't see any of them as the weekend was crowded with people so animals avoid being noticed.
After forest tour we went to guna caves which was almost covered with the wired fences as it became suicide point for many people. So the caves were covered.
But what attracted me was the tree roots which were spreading all over the place.
It was a mammoth tree with giant roots growing everywhere.
Next we went to pine forest which was the most beautiful thing about kodaikanal.
pine forest became my favourite spot in kodaikanal.
It was a clean forest with so many tall pine trees
our next destination was pillar rocks which were kind of big pillars of rock that resemble something like Pandora island from avatar movies.
The site seeing is paid and the ticket costs 5 rupees per person.
After visiting the pillar rocks we returned back to our cottage where in nearby restaurants we had lunch.
By the time we finished eating it started drizzling and it was almost evening with sun going down and darkness engulfing the beautiful lake side pathway with small flickering street light.
After food we decided to go for a bicycle ride.
And it was one of the most beautiful experiences as it was slowly drizzling and the street surrounding the lake was crowded with people engaged in different fun activities.
The pathway around Kodaikanal lake was beautiful and it was almost 3-4 km in length.
We enjoyed cycling as never before.
This was our last day in kodaikanal and we had only half a day to visit places. so, we started at 10 am after having breakfast and saying goodbye to our caretaker.
The first place we visited was the waterfall though the waterfall has scarcity of water and it hardly looked the way we saw in pictures.
But the trek to the second waterfall was awesome.
Next we went trekking to the dolphin nose.
The dolphin nose is a rock structure that looks like the nose of the dolphin.
It was steep trekking and the pathway is made of roots of trees.
There are fewer shops which take only cash for commodities.
They sell eatables like Maggi, cold drinks,and water.
Some shops take paytm but down there is a network problem.
The trek is around 2 km long down to the dolphin nose.
If you like trekking then the place is fine but if you are going for a dolphin nose then it is not worth it.
Note : In Kodaikanal I have heard about a magic material known by the name of magic mushrooms all over the hills.
Magic mushrooms are intoxicating substance
And shouldn't be taken in high amounts as said by the local population. These substances are illegal and you should buy at your own risk.
Train from sbc : Tuticorin express
Time :9:15pm
Fare: 260
Return journey : mysuru express
Time :8:30 pm
Estimated cost of trip for two days : 4000 per head