TravelingBeats

Location: Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu

District Headquarter: Dindigul

Distance: 138 km from Coimbatore, 500 km from Bangalore, 80 from Palani, 260 km from Ooty, 90 km from Dindigul, 120 km from Madurai, 330 km from Cochin, 1013 km from Hyderabad, 366 km from Tiruvandrum

Journey time: Around 11 – 12 hrs by Bus

How to reach there: By KSRTC Rajhamsha bus or private bus operated by Sharma Travels and KPN Travels. By train you may travel upto Kodai road and from there you will have to board a bus or hire a vehicle upto Kodaikanal.

Route:

1. Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Hosur – Dharmapuri – Salem – Kodai road – Kodaikanal
(Sharma travels and KSRTC takes this route)

2. Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Hosur – Dharmapuri – Erode – Palani – Kodaikanal ( This route is longer – KPN takes this route)

Where to stay:

Budget/Average range

1. Hotel Hilltop towers
Club road, Kodaikanal 624101
Ph: 240413, 242253, 242254
email: reservations@hilltopgroup.in
website: www.hilltopgroup.in

2. Paradise Inn
Paradise Compound, Laws Ghat Road
ph: 04542 – 241075, 241175

3. Hotel J’s Heritage
P.T road, Near Seven road
ph: 04542 – 240413, 242253

4. Kodai resort
Noyce road

5. Hotel Sivapriya
Convent road Kodaikanal
ph: 04542 – 241226, 241227, 241228, 241229
Cell: 09443029933
email: hspkodai@gmail.com
website: www.hotelsivapriya-kodai.com

Luxuary:

1. Summer Migration
Lourdpuram, Villpatty Village
Naidupuram, Kodaikanal
Ph: 04542 – 241943, 241953
Website: www.sealinehotels.com

2. THE CARLTON
Lake Road, Kodaikanal- 624 101.
Tel: 04542 -240056 -71
Fax: 04542 -241170.
E-mail: carlton@krahejahospitality.com
Website: http://www.krahejahospitality.com/carlton/homepage.htm

Where to eat:

1. Hilltop Restaurants
( address same as Hilltop hotel)

2. Tibet Restaurant
P.T road
ph: 9600791479

Language spoken: Mainly Tamil and English. Hindi is understood and spoken to an extent.

Kodaikanal can loosely mean in Tamil – a place to see in summer. Kodaikanal has been established a refuge from the hotter plains by American Missionaries and the then British government in 1845. Kodaikanal also known as Kodai is situated at an altitude of 2133 MSL (meters above sea level). The point in Kodaikanal touches above 7500 ft. Kodai finds its mention in the Tamil literature works of the early sangam era.

Kodaikanal is also famous for its reputed institutions of education like Kodaikanal International School, Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Kodaikanal Christian college, Kodaikanal institute of Technology. The economy of Kodaikanal is mainly tourism based.

What to See:

I will segregate the places into city tour and outskirt tour for your convenience and easy management:

City Tour

1. Kodaikanal Lake: Kodaikanal lake is an artificial lake created by Sir Vere Hentry Levinge, the then collector of Madurai in 1863. The 60 acres lake has walk throughout its periphery and offers boating. Nearby is Bryant park.

2. Coaker’s Walk: Coaker’s walk is a 1 km path by the edge of mount Nebo offering breathtaking view Dolphin’s nose, Pamber river and even Madurai city on clear day. It was constructed by Lt.Coaker in 1872. It runs parallel to the Van Allen Hospital Road.

Entry fee: Rs 2

3. Bryant park: This park was built by the then forest officer of Madurai H.D.Bryant in 1908. The botanical garden includes various species of flowers and trees. There are sitting spaces and good for flower photography. The park also has a glass house, but entry is prohibited.

4. Golf course: kodaikanal golf course is located around 6 km from city center at the Golf link road. Located over 7000 ft above sea level, it is a 18 hole par 71 golf course. It was established by British in 1895.

5. Pillar Rocks: As the name says, you can three rocks standing adjacent to each other like pillars. On a clear day you can view the valley. On a heavy misty day, you might not even see the pillar rock. There two beautiful public flower garden. The one on the left hand side charges an entry fees of Rs 2 person and a camera fees of Rs 5. To enter one on the right hand side, you will have to exit Pillar rocks and enter it from the front. Entry fees Rs 2 person – no camera fees.

Note: Do try the hot chilly and onion bhajhi (fried) from the vendors outside Pillar Rocks.

6. Devil’s kitchen (Guna cave): It is a cave system and it is called Devil’s kitchen because it is infested with bats. The deeps narrow ravines of cave system has been closed with perforated iron sheets after some deaths took place. The Tamil movie Guna was shot here.

7. Moier Point: This point acts both as a view point and a memorial of General Moier is located here. This area is infested with monkeys. Besides there is a road which leads to Berijam lake and then to Munnar. Following this road Munnar is only 100 km from kodaikanal. However, this road was closed to public in 1990 for animal preservation.

8. Shanthi valley View: This one of the many view points

9. Upper lake View: From here one can get a panoramic view of Kodaikanal lake

10. Pine Forests: Pine forest can be seen now extensively in Kodaikanal. However, they are not native they have been planted by British forest officers.

11. Green valley View: Another viewpoint on the outskirts of Kodaikanal located 5 km from the bus stand. It offers nice views of the plains. One can also see Vaigai Dam built across the Vaigai River near Andipatti, in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu. All these if you are lucky to have clear day. However, it has a bazaar on both the sides of the stairway.

12. Kodai City View: From here on can get a panoramic view of Kodaikanal city.

13. Kurinji Andavar Temple: This temple is located around 4 km from the bus stand. The presiding deity here is Lord Murugan. Nearby is Kurinji plants which bloom only once in 12 years. It last bloomed on 2004. On the other side one can see Palani view. It was built by a European lady in 1936 who married an Indian and converted to Hindusim.

14. Palani View: It is a view point located near Kurinji Andavar temple from where one can see Palani town on a clear day.

15. Chettiar park: Chettiar park was named after the owner of the property. This is beautiful ornamental garden. One can find various seasonal flowers and ornamental plants. Very good for flower photography.

16. Bear Shola falls: Bear Shola falls is located around 3 km from Kodaikanal bus stand inside a reserve forest. Apart from late monsoon season there may not be much water, however 1 km trek inside the forest till the falls is an awesome experience. When I was there it was raining and had to take help of an umbrella to reach. Nevertheless, it was a different experience altogether.

17. La Saleth Church: It an old church established by the American missionaries.

18. Pambar falls: Another smalls falls on the Pambar river. Dont expect much there. However, there is a wholesale market where you can purchase pure home made chocolates, indigenous herbs like Eucalyptus oil, rose water etc.

Outskirts of the city:

1. Silver Cascade falls: Silver cascade falls is located on Laws Ghat road around 8 km from Kodaikanal. This falls was formed by the outlet of Kodaikanal lake. Bathing may not be advisable due to poor quality of water.

2. Berijam lake, Silent valley view, Fire tower, Hat lifting rock, Caps fly valley: All this comes on the way to Berijam lake. The fire tower was an observatory point to look for wild fire. Berijam lake is one of the best fresh water lakes in south India.

3. Fairy falls: This falls is located around 5 km from kodaikanal lake.

4. Kundar falls: It is a small in the midst of pine forests.

6. Pine forest: You can check various pine forests in the outskirts.

7. Sheep Farm: It is a sheep farm run by the Central Sheep and Wool research institute.

8. Mannavanur Lake: Mannavanur Lake is a nice picnic spot. One has to walk around half a km to reach the lake from the main road. One can also try a horse ride there and bath there.

9. Mannavanur Lake view: From this view point one can view Mannavanur Lake and side by the sheep farm. If you are lucky you can view beautiful sheep strolling.

10. Poomparai Village view: Poomparai Village is small farming community which grows vegetables like carrot by zoom cultivation etc. There is small temple in the middle of the valley.

11. Solar Observatory: The solar observatory is located on the highest point in Kodaikanal over 7500 ft. There is museum which is open to public only on Friday.

12. Perumal peak: Perumal peak is the height peak in this area and is located around 12 km outside Kodaikanal town. Also popular with trekkers.

13. Dolphin Nose: Dolphin’s nose is a rock projecting over a deep gorge and resembles a Dolphin’s nose. Located around 8 km from kodaikanal bus stand, one can also see here Pambar falls and few villages. Liril soap advertisement was filmed here at Pambar falls.

Taken on the way to Palani

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Distance: Located in Srinivasapura, Omkar hills is around 20 km from Bangalore city center and 5 - 6 km off Mysore road

Journey time: By bus 60 – 90 minutes and by private vehicle around an hour.

How to reach there: From KR Market near Tippu’s fort bus# 225, #227. The stop name is Srinivasapura and the identification is JSS institute of Technical Education. Now you just have to climb the Omkara hill.

From Majestic bus# 225C goes till BEML 5th stage. From there take a right turn – now you can walk taking the Uttarahalli – Kengeri main road for a kilometer and half or you may hire a auto till JSS college.

Buses are also available from Banashankari, Kengeri (bus# 222D), Marathalli.

Route: Mysore road – Raja Rajeshwari temple gate – BEML 5th stage – Uttarahalli/Kengeri main road – Srinivasapura – JSS college

Where to eat: No food is available. However, you can get soft drinks, fruti and appy juce.

Where to stay: The ashram seems to have a residential building but I am not sure if they allow to stay.

Languages Spoken: Kannada, Hindi, English

Omkar ashram or omkara ashram is founded by Sri Sri Shivapuri Mahaswamiji in 1992. The hill rises more than 2500 feet and is a adobe of peace. One can spend time being just with oneself and cool breezes passing by. The place also offers an awesome bird’s view of the southern part of Bangalore. At the very entrance you will find a new temple complex is being built in both north indian and dravidian style. On the right hand side looks the ashram caretakers residential building. Once you move in and take the steps on the left hand side, you will find a huge clock manufactured by HMT. The fact files says:

The biggest clock in the world, even bigger than Big Ben in London, UK.
The clock weighs around 500 kg.
The hour stick weighs around 50 kg, minute 40 kg and second 25 kg.
etc

Every completion of an hour it makes the sound AUM equal to the number of time in the clock. Example, if it is 10 am it will say AUM 10 times. I head a 100 ft by 100 ft structure of the letters AUM will be installed on Omkar hills so that it can see from anywhere in Bangalore. Amaizing! Besides the clock on the left is the Dhyana mandir (prayer hall) of guruji of the ashram. Now again climb few more steps to get on to the highest point on the hill. From here one can get an awesome view and gives ample opportunity for photography. Here a big Banyan tree is surrounded by 8 statues or symbols representing Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Dwaita, Vishishtadwaita, Adwaita and Sikhism. Next you will find a marble plated room which will be typically closed. However, you can sit here to take lung full of cool breaths to think about yourself, be at peace, meditate or just let your mind run wild. The gentle breeze of wind and the surrounding will simply make you feel happy. This is one of the lesser known spot to vist in Bangalore. But it is worth visiting.

View from Omkar Hill

Official website: http://omkarhills.org/

Note: Sri Sri Shivapuri Mahaswamiji passed away last year in July 2007 at the age of 69. (info: Deccan Herald)

Another temple seen from Omkar hill