Most Popular Hill Resort of South India - Kodaikanal

2012-07-30T18:05:00.000+05:30

Just few months back, I came from a hill station. The place is Kodaikanal which is in the southern province of Tamil Nadu. In the month of March, nights were very damp there, Sunny daytime .. which helped us a lot in taking good pictures. We went to many exciting places. Now something bout the place, it is situated in the folds of the Pali hills, Kodaikanal is a popular and quiet hill station with forested slopes, prodigious rocks, attractive waterfalls and a lovely lake. Situated at an altitude of about 2,133 m above sea level, this hill town is well known its educational institutions that have earned international repute. The most spectacular scene this hill station has to offer unravels itself once in every 12 years when the blue-violet 'Kurinji' flowers blossom up

to cover its slopes like a velvet carpet. They are the reason that these hills have earned the name of 'Nilgiris' or Blue Hills. The biological name of the unique flowering plant is Kurunji and they last bloomed in 1992. The fruits and plums here are revered for their freshness and taste. Stretching across an area of just 21.45 sq. km., the Berijam Lake here ranks amongst the most charming lakes of South India that spread across an area of 24 hectares.

DAY 1, March 07:

First of all we landed up on Kodai Bus Station, had Rajhasthani lunch and moved on further towards the Lodges & Hotels, meanwhile we came across Kodai International School where you can can see that most of students are foreigners especially from China etc. Clicked some pictures there and finally booked a Lodge beside "The Kodai Lake". Freshened up a little bit there and moved on towards Lake, we hired some bicycles - Double Rider ones, and traveled across the lake, A beautiful artificial star-shaped lake, it spreads across sixty acres and is surrounded by verdant greenery. It also houses the boat club, we can make several pleasure and racing trips there. Beside Lake you see small shops with cool items like clothes, decorative items etc., some shopkeepers were Tibetans, we asked them about the mow-mow shop, they guided us to a Restaurant near by the Kodai Int. School. We found that restaurant and ordered chicken and beef mow mows, I ate only chicken because I never tried beef. They were very delicious, why wont they as we got 6 pieces in Rs 50. Later in the night, we came back to the lodge with some eatables. Thanks to god TV was there in the room, spent a good time watching TV & talking bout the trip things, & planned the next day schedule as well. we all were very tired, by 1:00 AM all of us felt asleep one by one.

DAY2, March 8:

We woke up at 9:00 AM, clicked some pictures in the morning light, everyone woke up slowly that's why we were late on our schedule, everyone freshened up and left the lodge at around 11:00 AM. When leaving the lodge, we had to pass a inclined path, when I said to have a race there everyone convinced and ran, but I walked over the path. Reaching the top all of them were breathing heavily. I laughed at them. We saw a rally of ladies, they were like women in blue, later we came to know that its Women's Day, March 08. Then we took our lunch at the same restaurant, after that we moved on to hire a Taxi, to explore the outer parts of Kodai.

First came the Lake Valley View, from where we can see the whole Kodai Valley, then Silver Cascade waterfall, 8 km from Kodaikanal, is actually the overflow of Kodai Lake that falls here for 180 feet. We bought some Home made chocolates from the shops near by. After that places which we explored are Green Valley view, Guna Caves, Devils Kitchen, Pine forest, Pillar rocks, Suicide point, Bryant park, Coaker's Walk and many more places, out of which we passed our maximum time in the forests and hills. climbing trees, doing monkey acts and we also dared to walk on the edges of the hills, to have a video film. Eventually the day ended & we packed up our luggage and moved towards the bus station. Before that we had some dosas there ( masala, egg, plain all varieties ). Finally our Bus arrived at 6:00 PM. We had our seats and enjoyed a Tamil movie in our journey back to Trichy.

In the whole 2 day journey we enjoyed a lot, it was my second time, Hope we get the time to visit the beautiful place once again.

The Dog & The Coffee.

2008-10-20T16:55:00.000+05:30

On a Rainy evening, I was sitting with a Cup of Coffe, Thinking something out of this world. In the meantime lil'bt of Rain water dropped on my coffee from a roof hole. The coffee which i bought it from my last few Bucks left in my pocket (as i was on my Bankruptcy period) I thought for a while, holding up my Coffee mixed with rain drop & dirt. I do think when it is for Do or Die "..Should I drink or Give it to the Ugly-Whugly Dog sitting nearby me..!!". Finally i gave it to that dog only. He was too cherished & hosting his tail up in the sky, saying "Thanks to me..!

After few days, my pockets were full again. I bought some sensational South Indian snacks: Banana Fry, Vada(aka Donut) & Pongal with a Cup of Coffee. As usual I started eating everything with all my momentum, suddenly that Old Dog appeared again. He sat just in front of my nose, as if he was saying, "Give me something or Im'nt going". I gave him a "one buck" piece of vada, he smelled it with a lot of curiosity but after playing for few minutes, he sneezed on it & left it in the ground. Again he gazed at me with eyes full of politeness, "Please give me one more ..". I had only Banana Fry left on my plate. I gave him that also.. but he did the same as he did with Vada. Now nothing was left to give him, but he was sitting like a fully armed Army Dog, yelling at me, "Give me my country or my food..!!". I got annoyed, so tried to make him run away. Unexpectedly someone call'd me on my cell (as I din't receive any call since ages). Out of my site, the dog licked my Coffee. After 2 mins call ended, I was about to drink that Nectarised and Dog nourished Coffee, but the "Anna" (Big Bro in Tamil) sitting in front of me stopped me from doing so. Conditionally I had to keep that glass in front of MR D.O.G (Dog of God).

I went back to take one more Coffee but someone was following me, you can guess who's it. After buying I gave him the first half and drank the rest half. Now both were very happy, and smiling our ways (Hosting Trail with a smiling Brain). This is'nt the End of the story, from that day whenever I see him in our canteen area, I buy for both of us. I have to name him, ain't getting any good name.. so people please suggest.

-Cheers to the Dog of God

Puneet Hyanki's Official Blog ©

Most Popular Hill Resort of South India - Kodaikanal

The Dog & The Coffee.