Let's holiday!: Bangalore - Madurai - Kodaikanal

From Madurai, we headed towards Kodikanal, which is about 120 kilometers. For directions, see the route map. As we drove up the hills, the dam became more visible. The Rat Tail falls and the Cascade fall were thinner but beautiful. Fruits stalls welcomed us.

Both of us were familiar with Kodaikanal, and had visited it earlier. Therefore, we decided to relax and to minimize our sight-seeing activities. We stayed for four days at The Carlton Hotel. Loved the hotel and the service, and the view of the lake at different time of the day! We especially loved the evenings at the hotel, and the warmth from the tandoor or at the fire place.

It's easy to find a tourist spot - just follow any taxi or bus or jeep - or drive and stop at any place that has a crowd. A few tourist spots that we visited are:

Silver Cascade Falls: Welcomes you to Kodai. A fantastic feeling to watch the water cascade, during the rainy season.
Upper Lake View: From this spot, you can see the entire lake. Watch out for the photographers who climb a ladder (on the wall opposite to the watch tower) to click your photo!
Pine Forest: Walk down the pine range to the valley, and return. Avoid evenings and nights.
Pillar Rocks: Beware of monkeys. Exercise caution when leaning on the railings to get photos clicked. Usually, the mist covers these rocks. If you're lucky, you get to see the rocks completely.
Guna Caves: The authorities have barred people from entering the caves. Do not try to squeeze inside the caves and explore them. There have been incidents in which people have died.
Coaker's Walk: Enjoy a beautiful walk. Immerse in the beauty of the place. Watch the orchards and cultivation down in the valley. Early mornings or evenings are fun for a walk.
Kodai Lake: Most serene lake. Enjoy a walk, boat rides, bi-cycle rides, or horse rides. Now a days, you can see bisons near the lakes (on the hillocks surrounding the lakes).
Berijim Lake: This is a protected area; need to get permission from the Forest Department. Your hotel or travel agent can arrange for one, or you can yourself get one at the venue. Ensure that you reach the place by 2:00 P. M so that you get sufficient time to explore; the place closed by 4:00 P. M. Lonely drive to the lake. Watch out for trees that may have fallen and blocked the roads. Also, carry food.

One of the days that we stayed at Kodai, we randomly picked a road, and drove all the way. Saw exclusive bungalows, interesting landscapes, and got a beautiful view of the entire lake. The natives are helpful and a little shy. But if you can converse in Tamil, ah, that'll be a lively conversation!

I shall end this blog series with a few photos of Kodai. My next blog will be about yet another serene place.