Road trips in India have their own charm , the slow transition from narrow crowded streets to 4 lane-empty roads can be surreal. This was our (read Ravi & Mine )4th road trip in south India but we were unsure as the distance was 465 kms one way with almost no experience in hill driving . Google research helped us find that the roads till kodaikanal is a 4 lane highway and much like Bengaluru-Chennai, hill driving is restricted to a stretch of 43 kms from chennai -Thenni highway via Kodai Ghat road to Kodaikanal. We were already packing our bags:)
If you have the budget stay @ Carlton (Carlton -Kodaikanal), its a beautiful property just by the lake with stunning views from their gardens. We loved their buffet too as we feasted there for 2 of our meals!Other choice was Villa retreat (Villa Retreat), but thy were full for the dates.
We have put together a 5 pointer guide for your trip to this quaint hill station:
1) LEAVE EARLY - Its best to leave early to avoid the traffic in city , it will help you not to rush on the way and give you window for short breaks. The distance of approximately 465 kms was covered in 9 hours including the breaks .We left from Bengaluru at 6 am though we have planned for 4.30 & reached Kodaikanal at 3pm , on the way we took 1 long break and 2 short tea breaks . There are not many options on the way to have food so pack the lunch if possible, neither any clean toilets so best to make use of that big tree & bushes you will see on your way.
The last stretch of 43 kms is an uphill ride with sharp hairpin bends , the roads are in very good condition but there is no street light , covering this stretch in daylight is advisable if you are a non seasoned hill driver.
2) Accommodation in Kodaikanal - I like to do my own research and prefer booking well in advance , we decided to stay near the famous Kodai lake and chose Sterling Resorts Kodai - By the Lake Its a well maintained property with lots of greenery in and around, flowers blooming in full swing and plenty of indoor activities to keep kids and the kid in you alive.We were left disappointed as Goibibo described the room we booked to have a balcony with views but there was no such thing. We were informed by the hotel staff that only twin bedroom apartments had balconies.Also, The resort name states Kodai - By the lake , A Sterling resorts its further from the lake. around a km and one can see the lake only from their restaurant. Again a big disappointment if you are looking for lake view.
If you have the budget stay @ Carlton (Carlton -Kodaikanal), its a beautiful property just by the lake with stunning views from their gardens. We loved their buffet too as we feasted there for 2 of our meals!Other choice was Villa retreat (Villa Retreat), but thy were full for the dates.
Plan in advance if you want to have a good luxurious stay.
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| "I can play this all day long" |
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3)If you can, Avoid Weekend: Weekend can be really crowded in Kodai as lots of locals prefer the lake and other touristy spots.Rest of the week you wont see a soul around ,you can go for long stroll around the lake without vendors making sure you take a horse ride.
4) MAGIC-SHROOM - This is one of the specialty of Kodai , you will find young boys on bikes zooming past you and saying - Shroom - Bro????If you are interested they will ask how many dozen you want. Don't be startled , Magic-shroom's magic starts only when consumed in large quantities such as a dozen .If you say yes , they will ask you to meet at one corner of the lake and hand over a crumpled paper ball filled with mushrooms. We were doing this for the first time so didn't know if the mushrooms were fresh or not , but we believed they were not as it did not move a hair on me! They are supposed to be eaten with honey or just by themselves ( only if your taste buds don't exist!)
This is not legal though!
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| "I found a new meditation spot" |
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| Long Walks like these everyday - YES PLEASE |
5)Things to do/Places to eat - There are plenty of touristy places to visit , such as Berijam lake, Coakers walk , Dolphin Nose. For Berijam lake you need permit from the forest department, plan accordingly and reach by 9am if you have gone by private vehicle. We were informed trek to Perumal peak has been banned & were left utterly disappointed,I did not find this anywhere while researching for this trip. On weekdays we loved taking a stroll by the lake ,with no one around all we could hear was chirping birds ,rustling leaves & our footsteps. We spent the afternoons lazing around, playing othello and reading through the afternoons.Relish your taste buds with different varieties of fresh fruits available such as Pears, apples, Rambutan. On your way to the lake Visit Tredis tea room for good Non- vegetarian food & hot cuppa .
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| "Our Own sweet spot in Pine Forest" |
P.S : It can get really cold in Kodaikanal, the day temperature in June was 18-20 Degree Celsius and night was 12!! Carry enough woollens so that you can go for night strolls as well( I know , I just cant get enough of these). Don't forget umbrella , keep it handy , always.
