- After fulfilling Valppara,Coorg.Munnar,Meesappulimala and Dhoni,another eventful trip to Kodaikanal. The same teachers. The same Saleemikka as the driver once again.
- Palakkad,Govindapuram,Pollachi and Pazhani brought us into Kodai.Stay at Pandyan Residency .Pillar Rock,Pinewood forest ,Moir Park, Devils Kitchen(Guna Caves), Berijam Lake and a few other sights within a couple of days.
The walks and
wanderings to find out our lodge in the frozen dark night,cycle ride around the
lake,the sunrise view from Upper lake …and so many experiences made the trip
matchless one.
Roads to Kodai
- There are two ways which we can reach Kodai. One is the road via
Batlagundu on the Kodai Ghat Road (58 KMs) whose gradient is brilliantly
engineered with just 2 hairpin bends, thanks to the British who did the
origional formation of the road. This is a double road ( 7.5 m in width) and is
always well maintained. It wouldn't be fair to Kodaikanal not to show the
beauty of the vegetation here and this scene everyone must know who was coming
to Kodai as you must pass this road to get and to go from there. Enjoy this
road, 1.5 to 2 hours drive through the mountains to the town. I did this road
several times with the bike, many times broke my record descending this road in
even less than 50 minutes - the bike ride in this road is a an ecstasy.
- The other road is the one that emanates from Palani, which is called as the Kodai-Palani Ghat Road (62 KMs) poorly aligned and designed with 21 hair-pin bends, thanks(?!) to the Highways Department who did the formation in 1970 and this road became operational in 1975). Both the roads meet at a place called Perumal Malai which is just 12 KMs from Kodaikanal.
- Kodai Hills has a history as old as time. There are references to Kodaikanal in the Tamil Sangam literature of the early Christian era. In the pre-historic times, the primitive tribes of Paliyans and Pulyans resided near the Palani Hills and their descendants still live here in many of the hamlets. There is proof of settlement of prehistoric tribes at Kodaikanal by visible art facts such as dolmens homes of great stone slabs. After the primitive tribes of Paliyans and Pulyans, in 14th century, villagers of Palani foot hills fled into Kodai hills, to escape from the oppressive rule in the plains and also from the invasion of Tippu Sultan.
- Kodaikanal as a hill station was set-up by the Americans, though the British soon joined.The first European to visit Kodaikanal was Lt. B.S. Ward a surveyor in the year 1821. His Head Quarters was Vellagavi village. The irony is that, till now there’s no road to this village and to the many settlements in and around Vellagavi. The Hill bananas and the oranges from this village are exotic as they are cultivated without the user or any chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
- During the Raj, the British / Americans could not bear the oppressive heat in Madurai and they faced sickness from epidemic diseases and consequential deaths. They wanted neat and healthy natural surroundings near Madurai to rest and improve their health. They were happy to find from the report of Lt. B.S. Ward about the hills with wonderful climate and easy accessibility from Madurai & Periyakulam. Many English and American missionary people visited Kodaikanal through various routes. Notable among them are J C Wroughton -Sub Collector, C R Cotton Judge and Dr. Weight. Dr.Fane built two houses in 1845 in the lake road. More houses were built by British Govt. The American Missionaries moved in and built a lot of dwellings in the southern side which is still there and now called 'Sunny Side' and 'Shelton' . In the year 1860, the first church was built jointly by the Bishop. American Madurai Mission built the union church in 1895.
- From year 1860, there was all round improvement due to the visit of several dignitaries. Roman Catholics came, purchased a bungalow for Jesuit fathers, as rest house which is now called La Providence in upper shola road. Governors of Madras Sir Charles Travelyon and Lord Napier visited in the years 1860 and 1871. One major JM Partridge of the army introduced Eucalyptus and wattle trees in the year 1867. Bier Leverage, collector of Madurai lived in Pamhar house after his retirement. Only through his tireless efforts and initiative the artificial Kodaikanal lake, the foremost attraction of the tourists was formed. He arranged boat rides in the lake. He planned and executed several approach roads to Kodaikanal. He introduced several foreign trees and vegetables such as Pine Forms and Pears. In the year 1872 Lt. Coaker cut a path along the ridge of steep south eastern side which commends a magnificent view of the plains below. The path was named after him as Coaker's Walk and even today it offers a good walk with the panoramic view.
