Kodaikanal - Where Misty Clouds Kiss Rolling Green Hills - Part 1

When we decided to visit Kodaikanal - "Princess Of Hill Stations" almost an year and half ago I was so excited. Because it was my first ever visit to an hill station. It was a package tour of four days - One day in Kodaikanal and three days in Munnar. So we had to cover as many places as possible in Kodaikanal in just one day.
We boarded the bus at night from Bengaluru. Very soon I slipped into sleep. When I opened my eyes I saw only rolling green hills covered with misty clouds. Bus was running ascending and descending steep hills at 2000 m above sea level. View from the bus was breathtking. It was peak of winter season. Though hills were surrounded by misty clouds, we could spot some waterfalls hiding in the hills. Kodaikanal hills are part of western ghats and you can see plenty of Eucalyptus trees on the hills.

View of a Falls in dense mist enroute to Kodaikanal

I was shivering in the cold but enjoyed nature's beauty till we reached Kodaikanal town. When we reached Kodiakanal it was 7 AM and bus stopped infront of 'Hotel Ruby International' where out tour operator had booked room for us. Check-in was smooth. After a refreshing breakfast we started for sight seeing in Indica car which was waiting for us outside the hotel.  Car driver was our tour guide.

1. Kodaikanal Lake :
Kodaikanal lake also known as Kodai Lake is the most popular tourist attraction of Kodiakanal. Our car driver told that Kodaikanal town was developed by British and early British missionaries who ruled us. He also said that Kodai Lake is man made lake and credit goes to Sir Vera Levinge. Boating service is available here with rowing boats and pedalling boats and a public ferry. We settled with pedalling boat to explore the beauty of this star shaped lake. Rs 75/person for an hour pedalling.  We enjoyed and explored the beauty of this silent and peaceful lake for an hour in a pedalling boat and spotted many species of fish in the lake. This was a pleasant experience with cool breeze around. Lake covers an area of 60 acres. Lake is bordered by a well maintained road. You can hire bikes, horse or cycles and enjoy the ride around the lake. Many hotels, resorts, shops surround the lake.

Panoramic View of Kodai Lake

2. Coaker's Walk And the Mist:
Coaker'd Walk was our second destination in Kodaikanal. It is a narrow pedestrian path, constructed by Lt. Coaker in 1872, a one kilometer mountain road which runs along the edge of steep slopes. It starts near van Allen hospital and joins the main road above St. Peter's Church. View of plains and Valley from Coaker's walk is spectacular. From here you can see Dolphin's nose, valley of the pambar river, birds eye view of Periyakulam etc on cloudless and clear day. This place is photographer's paradise. We were not lucky to see all these because dense mist was covered everywhere. We could see only mist, mist and mist as if they are trying to kiss the green valley. There's an observatory with telescope about halfway along. We thought atleast from telescope we can see the valley but there also except mist we could not see anything. I was so disappointed. You can see street shops all the way to the right and valley towards the left.

A File photo of Coaker's walk in 1900 (Image source : Wikipedia)

See the Current image of Coaker's Walk below..covered with fog

View of the valley from Coaker's walk.....

To be continued......... ......