A brief note on my travel to Kodai

I would like to say it was a great escape from the scorching heat of Chennai (but the weather is pleasant now due to summer rain) for less than a week... but it was quite terrific until reaching the foothills of Kodaikanal and way back to home. Yes, I had a fabulous vacation come travel last week to the princess of hills, Kodakanal. The destination isn’t new for me and I love being there and times no matter, but this time it was really different, wonderful and exciting only because of the things done, routes traveled and the place of stay. Every time I visit Kodai I try to explore something new and make sure leisurely the drive. As planned we headed to Kodaikanal first through the Palani Ghat section which I really wanted to do for very long time. I have been more than 6 times to Kodai and first time I got to explore this route and I really need to say it is very natural and scenic than the prime route (via Batlagundu) to Kodaikanal.

Things were fine until reaching Kodai, but we couldn’t stay over there due to some unsuitable lodging. We have a friend there who used to book cottages for us every time and this time he slightly went ahead with sloped terrain which supposed  to be very difficult  and the couple of cottages we checked hold great views but where tilted either up or down.  So with no other option and time to search (as it was about 8pm) we decided to move to Thandikudi to stay at my uncle’s newly built woodhouse come cottage. We actually planned to stay at woodhouse but I wanted to explore an interior area, which could be easily accessible from Kodai so I liked staying there for couple of days before move to Thandikudi. It was 10pm when we reached the woodhouse and past Kodai it started to shower heavily and all the bags tied to the car top were drenched.

Winding wet ghat road

The next day turned out to be the most exciting part of my vacation, an off-road ride in Jeep to a waterfall near Thandikudi. It was indeed an unexpected ride and I didn’t believe I could seat inside a Jeep but it all happened only because of my brother. It is a complete off-road ride I ever had and we crossed a small river and had fun all together. The other day I took a long drive on the mountains leading all the way to Kilavarai, the last public accessible destination in Kodaikanal hills, where the famous Escape Road (a trail road that connect Kodai-Munnar) begins. It was entirely a very scenic pass, with rolling grasslands and terrace framing taking place on either side, the cold breeze continue to caress from the tall pine and eucalyptus trees. It took my entire day taking plenty of photos including birds and wild flowers.

Had a exciting jeep ride - inside me

Uncle’s woodhouse (in Thandikudi) is a very pleasant abode for nature lovers and it has a wonderful balcony to bird watch at the backyard. Though the woodhouse is built close to the road, it sense amazing to listen to birds chirping from all sides and felt serene almost to name as Serene Woods. My recommend to Thandikudi would be mainly for bird watching and the pristine natural environment exits among the coffee, pepper and orange plantations aside canopy of tall trees of different species. Staying there, I also visited Parappalaru Dam. About 45 km from there, the travel to the dam was through vast coffee plantations, beautiful villages and forest region with a pristine lake among the dense. By this travel I covered almost nooks of the Kodaikanal Hills but still feel there’s more to experience and explore at leisure. Hope to share more my experience in future/further post. 

My uncle's woodhouse

Pandemic Panic

Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu has become the second hotspot city of Covid 19 in India, reaching a new peak of cases with every passing day that counts above 1.5k. Our city is divided into 15 zones and my zone Adyar is at 7th place right now with about 1500 covid cases, the situation doesn’t seem to turn better sooner unless any severe actions are taken to control the pandemic despite people’s cooperation. The lockdown is relaxed almost 2/3^rd here and perhaps this could be the causes for the faster spreading of virus and we have any idea where this led so rather creating a panic even though we’re conscious with our preventive actions. We know it is not easy to put stop it’s spreading and holding people at home with no work and income at same, but still something need to be done before yet many losses of lives.

While the experts believe in herd immunity or community immunity or group protection, which happens when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections, thereby providing a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune. But it seems to take a while and before it covers a large population many lives are put at risk as the spreading become uncontrollable. So far we’re doing fine and it’s been 3 months I stepped out of home and it’s the days more than the ones I took for my femur fracture and traveling seems to be a distant dream for me, right now. The season for holiday or summer vacation is over here as the May ends, the time I dream a lot about traveling since many a tours took place during this time and this pandemic break the 7 years chain of visits to my favourite travel destination, Kodaikanal.

And this was the time the tourist hub (and all hill stations) waits for the remaining year to make a peak business but this pandemic and the following lockdown has quite blocked everything related to tourism and the revenue of the people. Though it was a great let down, the residents of Kodaikanal welcome this change or lockdown as it not only keep it pandemic free but also put the princess of hills at peace and pollution free, as it huff and puff usually during this time with lining up of tourist.  As you all know my uncle have a woodhouse and cottage near Kodaikanal and his situation is no different from the mentioned above and he too lose his business that only picks up during this time as his woodhouse is located away from the active tourism. Lately we too avoided visiting his place during the peak season time to not become a cumbersome. So we either visit earlier or later at the end of season, because the place his woodhouse is located is best at all seasons.

Uncle's woodhouse and cottages in night mood. Tried a blur effect on the image

My uncle and aunt had gone there right now to check how things are after getting an e-pass. My uncle used to visit Kodaikanal at least one or two times a month but past three months he haven’t moved out of home because of lockdown and now they got a e-pass with a condition to turn in in 48 hours. But things haven’t worked like they planned and someone locally had informed about their arrival to the health department and they have quarantined them for a week at the woodhouse and a covid test is taken. If positive they would be quarantined for 20 days but they hope for negative. While calling from there, they told us about the strange behaviour of the neighbours who avoids and stopped speaking with them because they come from Chennai – the hub of covid 19. I wasn’t surprised to hear this rather felt happy at the consciousness of the people of the Kodai hills and perhaps this makes Kodaikanal an infection-free state.

My Days

My Favorite season spring and Starting Summer has arrived, I love this season, no one will like the summer, because of the heat, but I like it very much for its fresh air. My house is facing the south, and the beach is also near, so every spring and summer season we get the sea breeze after 12.00pm every day. In my old house, I used to spent by afternoon in our balcony to enjoy the breeze, by reading books and playing board games with my aunty and there kids. Now the spring has arrived, and the same fresh air is coming, but I don’t have by aunty and there kids to share my happiness, in our new house. So I decided to share with you all, about this season will write about by happy days of this season in coming days.
Click here to see big

From Left : Cousin Brother Logesh, Me, My brother Jayanth and Cousin sister Deepika. We are sitting on the wall before the Green Vally in Kodaikanal

Last night I had a beautiful sleep, after watching the Tamil Movie Ram. Because this Ram movie was taken in my favorite Place Kodaikanal. The places which came in this movie remember by happy days when I spent my summer holydays in kodaikanal years back. I enjoyed the movie, and its background music and the beauty of kodaikanal. I never see a beautiful place like kodaikanal in my life. There are lots of memories stored in my head, I enjoyed every second of my life when I was in kodai. (I will share my, memories one day). Another thing I like in this movie is a dialogue “na kadavul pulla da” (I am the son of god). I was telling this dialogue repeatedly after watching the movie, even today, just impressed by this dialogue. When I was in school, after the weekend, I used to go school on Monday, after attending the Morning Prayer; our first discussion will be on the movie which we saw on Sunday evening in TV. Many students used to act like the hero of the movie, and tell the famous dialogue which comes in the movie. Many times our teacher finds us when we discuss about the movie, and give us slap on our cheek. I got many slaps.:( If I was in the school now, sure we have talk about this dialogue “I am the son of god”. Even we change this dialogue, and tell, I am the son of devil, and I am the son of blood ghost (rattha katari). Even the girls used to talk about the dialogue and act like that, we used to tease them (I haven’t teased any girls, I like to teas but I am very fear). The girls complain to the teacher, and the teacher give punishment for that boys and teacher never ask the girls what they did. It's a very fun days.

Forget to tell about another thing why I like summer (just went to my school days and come). The Annual exams are starting for my cousin brothers and sister tomorrow. I am looking forward for them to finish there exams soon and come to my house for there summer leave. It will be very fun to spent times with them, and play with them. I hope to go out with them some were this year. Just started to count the days for there arrival. I am writing this post in a happy mood, by enjoying my favorite season. :))

Family Vacation 2019 Ups and Down!

Don’t know why the vacation wasn’t exciting or to say there was something missed feeling throughout the stay but travel wise I enjoyed the trip and spending time in lap of mountains in company of birds and trees. It’s always a pleasure to stay at Smokey Haven, my uncle’s woodhouse and cottages at Thandikudi near Kodaikanal, where we spent our days with extended families from July 8 to 13. Since the inauguration of the resort in 2015, I continue to visit it at least once a year and I’m happy and thanks to my uncle for executing a project alike i.e. building a woodhouse in the vicinity of coffee estate and tall big trees helps me staying and enjoy an environment full of nature rich.  Anytime there would be a bird chirping outside but this time I felt a bit lesser sound of the birds and spotting birds has reduced too what I perhaps guess was migration! I know there are some little birds that migrate from Himalayas and it was the environment that console me lot as I felt down sometime.

Smokey  Haven Woodhouse and Cottages we stayed

Though we waked up early and began the journey, the most part of traveling (490km) went under scorching weather until climbing up the hill. Our car couldn’t produce enough cooling to the cabin, though we serviced the car before traveling it quite went out of gas when we switched on the AC on the return journey. We travelled in two cars and our 9 seater was occupied by 5 of us with boot space quite went for wheelchair, commode and luggage and the uncle’s Innova had other five since my uncle’s family was ahead of us in another car. Though we travelled together they speed up always leaving us far behind as we drive on moderate speed to help me balanced.  While traveling at two different speeds doesn’t bother me much unlike how it continues at the vacation period as well.  My uncle had built an additional woodhouse at their vicinity at a ground below the already exists, were all others stayed and we 5 including the grandmother stayed at the old woodhouse. It wasn’t the old or new mattered, but none came above to spare time with us and it felt like we came alone like how we travel last time to the same place.

Dad standing in front of Thandikudi village (beneath), picture shot from Balamurgan Temple come viewpoint

I was irritated lot to sit alone always, even though nature gives me company I felt lonely when all my dear ones were around not sharing. I haven’t felt this before while travelled as five and I would sit ideal watching birds and taking photos as it was my choice and nature of traveling, but as a family vacation mind thoughts about being together, sharing and having fun rather think about anything. I love exploring places and traveling but love double folds the family vacation or group traveling at least once a year to keep cherished throughout. As soon we come into the range of Thandikudi we all lost our Airtel network signal and I actually thought that it could be a mild fault in connecting, but the disappointment came hearing that Airtel network has stopped working there due to fall of tower! I know I haven’t gone there for networking and it didn’t bother me actually, instead only made feel happy that none will be looking into the smartphones so there would be more chances for sharing face-to-face but my cousins had another network to still connect and also hopping on and off in jeep. 

A moment together with family at the woodhouse deep inside woods

Though we expected rain in the mountains, as monsoon already began, the first two days restricted us to woodhouse and we got to the Balamurugan temple one morning and then to another woodhouse my uncle had built on behalf his friend and one day spent driving to Kodaikanal and Kookal Lake/Village. We hear people complaining of no rain until we got there and it was obvious wherever we visited except in Kodaikanal where the lake was at its brim! The Kookal Lake was muddy with water at the bottom where only water hens were walking in and out. The weather was much colder in Kodaikanal, even though clouds form as if it going to rain it didn’t happen until we move to the woodhouse. One night we spent at my uncle’s friend woodhouse (which my uncle built on behalf his friend) in a place called Vel Farms, a place deep inside the woods and remote from much activity. Overall I had good time despite the lack of sharing and feeling alone while being together as well, it was refreshing and relieving to travel after more than a year and I could cherish this for some time until I pick up another trip. 

A part of beautiful star shaped Kodaikanal Lake at its full level, in the eventide light with reflection of trees.

More details and photos will follow in further posts.

Fairy falls, Mist and Fun evening

It was a lovely dawn for me on the hills of Kodaikanal during our second day on vacation and the sun beams flashes between the trees just made my day very refreshing and warm from the cold night. The frost window panes were melting slowly from moisture to droplets to cause beautiful texture reflecting to the woods green backyard of the Yorke House of CSI Retreat Center. The Yorke House, nested atop the center surrounded by tall trees of pine, eucalyptus and yellow mimosa quite retreat weather is wet or sunshine.

Whom i consider my world, Parents (click each image for enlarge)

After the breakfast in the restaurant of CSI Retreat, we spent some time taking photos to one of a picturesque background of green and mist passing and they all come out very beautiful as family photos. Thus we aren’t new to Kodaikanal and having no plan to go where, it’s my choice to choose the place I haven’t revealed and certainly there’s a place  not to miss this time and it’s the Fairy Fall.

Fairy Falls

The Fairy waterfall is 5km from Kodaikanal on the road leading to Observatory and there’s a small sign board indicating the falls isolated from the tourist attraction. A road slide down from the main road makes the ride narrow and the falls has been brought under the horticulture garden to close by gate but there was none to stop us, so we went opening the gate with no sign of falls and the only visible was bank of mist.

It was cool indeed and later the mist moved, we get to see the wet rock expose to lack of water and above the marsh beneath a round-turn platform is build to check the falls near. Even it was disappointing to see the falls without water, I could imagine the wonderful it was suppose to fill if there was enough water. Some websites claim the old famous Liril soap ad was shot here and it is also called as Liril falls, where the late pretty girl Karen Lunel clad in bikini play with soap and water. But I’m not sure it’s that Fairy fall or Pambar fall!

Mysterious mist... bliss

We still hold time for lunch and so went around and during the season time the road lead to Pillar Rock would be one way and we have to take diversion at upper lake view and it took us nearly two hours to come across the Pillar Rock as caught between heavy traffic jam! It was never like before crowded and vehicles were standing for few kms and it was completely mist blanked, cool and fun throughout the slow-motion. One of my dear cousins took the steering first time on hills and I was the guide of him on routes and encouraged him a lot to go ahead and him soon become familiar on Ghats.

My hummer, Scorpio car

In between the hide and seek of sun, clouds and rain we had great time playing after the noon lunch and we have nothing to do then than going on chatting and women playing  musical chairs, badminton and rings. I personally had fun identifying the silent deeds of movie names and I kept clicking with my camera while they keep on playing, laughing and smiling and it was a worriless moment indeed.

The Kodaikanal Lake was almost misted and crowded by tourist this time and we had a pleasant evening sit back to the bank of Lake Platform before heading to the CSI Retreat where the real fun and treat waits for us. It’s the camp fire which is very special to me and this is the first time I am experiencing it like ever fun indeed! My uncle arranged it for me and we were all around sat to chairs waiting for the service maid to light the fire woods and as soon it went to flame the gala time begins.

Fun around Fire

 The cold was almost drive away and a warm feeling began to embrace and the sense of dancing in others slowly caught fire to the songs played in our car. It was a wonderful experience for me enjoying the bonfire as well sharing the moment while others having fun dancing around. Our enthusiasm last over 10pm and even it rained amid we never mind of getting inside and used the chairs as umbrella holding about the head and kept moving creating a new dance style!

Camp Fire

It was a moment like never experienced before so enthusiastically and the night might always remind in mind as treasure and even the entire trip was remarkable and memorable to never hide away.

Family vacation @ Familiar location

Kodaikanal has been my favorite place since I began visiting and falling in love with this so called princess of hills and u might be checking blog posts on it lately and early here and I was there again last week-end with my dear once for a family vacation. We went as families of four in two cars and it was completely fun and enthusiastic unlike ever cheerful, remarkable and memorable trip.

Along with our families who are close to my heart

We booked at the CSI Retreat Center Homes which is close to the Kodaikanal Lake with lake view is a treat in itself. There is couple of individual homes and suites and dormitory available to the budget and according to the number of people and we took the Yorke House dormitory on the top of the center and thus felt more individual and enjoyed the isolation provided by the undisturbed environment and away from people.

We were quite oneness and worriless being there and together provide a platform for sharing and understanding the phase of life and it was after six year we all were together on a holiday vacation that too to the same place of Kodaikanal. We always travel or go as a vacation by 6 or 7 people what our SUV can accommodate and it was very long time wish to enjoy the holiday as a group of people very close to us either.

CSI Retreat House, Kodaikanal

This time we explored a not well known and road less travelled destination on the northwest of Palani Hills and it was completely heaven site with pristine environment and freshwater lake and beside the terrace farming sleeps a pretty village alike Poombarai. Not to forget the leeches that are plenty ready to suck blood with no sense and the source provide there was bliss and solace to heart and the lake view through the winding road is an unwind sight.

Almost the vacation went off through passing mist, cold and rain and every time visiting there a change wait at phase and some places remains same and what worst was the traffic that lines the winding roads. Except staying atop the hills, the traveling was worst indeed through the heavy sunshine and only for this trip we woke up as early as 3am to avoid traveling under hot sun.

My white angel

Will post more on the trip in detail later at further posts…

Sothuparai Dam - Periyakulam

Sothuparai Dam is 9km from Periyakulam on the foot of Kodaikanal hills or the Western Ghats of Palani Range; helps enrich the entire area of Periyakulam and beyond by run  as a perennial river Varaganathi. The catchment of the dam is a combine of rain and small streams of Kodaikanal hills and the release of water from Berijam Lake, Kodaikanal.

Grand vista of the dam and misty Kodaikanal hills at rear

The Dam at its full storage capacity of 2.831.m.cum might be a wonder and thriller to watch it overflow via the high spillway, but I could only image the scene since the monsoon got postponed that year of 2009, left the reservoir at its base.  The road to the dam is enchant by the groves of mango on both sides leaving mangoes hang out of fence, at a height of hand’s touching and could pluck even from the moving car.

Front view of the dam taken from floor bridge

We first reached the top of the dam by the road on the hill beside and got a refreshing view of vast green on the mango groves and a patch of concrete at a distance which is obviously the Periyakulam town. The road extends beyond the check post – near the gateway above the dam, and along the reservoir the road leads to a small hamlet on the hills called Agamalai, which is restricted for private vehicles to enter.

Rear view on the dam from a distance elevation

But the guard at the check post somewhat allowed us to drive on road along the reservoir, knowing our interest on forest and though we couldn’t find any animals as it was dry everywhere we got a great sight of the  dam rear and views beyond. The guard told us the road exists only for a few km on Ghats and after that it’s only on horseback one could reach the hamlets on the hills.

Close to bottom of the dam

The name Sothuparai is a combine to two Tamil words meaning ‘food and rock, and it is said to derive from the habit of people here who once used to take food on the rock boulders along the flow of river Varaganathi. The water released from the dam through an irrigation canal runs like a stream among the rocks and boulders during our visit since there isn’t enough water in dam… the water runs like a stream is distillated for drinking purpose of Periyakulam on its way.

Water flows from the dam via irrigation canal

Sothuparai is the second highest dam in Tamil Nadu, following the Sholayar  Dam of Valparai which comes first, and for more details on the dam check the photo below I captured on the board of information kept there. The dam has a small tunnel and irrigation canal and only during the heavy inflow the shutter seems to open large… and interestingly the care takers of the dam has left a  fishing hook above the canal to catch fish.

The dam is isolated from tourist or the general public; it has a small simple garden with beautiful lampposts and a floor bridge to cross the dam, to get a complete front view of the dam. The time we checked the dam, a log had took refrain on top of the spillway, which is supposed to be washed away during the flood and it decided to stay there. It may need another overflowing season to come down.

A small garden in front of the dam

Sunday Photos: Pretty Pansies

Pansies are my favourite fancy flowers, as I find them cute and prettier. My first encounter with pansies was at Kodaikanal, during my 2006 visit to the princess of hills. I saw these flowered bloomed at Bryant Park there and I still remember that they were colored in purple and white.

First time seeing them we don’t know the name of the flowers, even seeing the flowers more than couple of time in Ooty Botanical Garden and cottages we stayed in Kodaikanal, I was null about the flower until doing some research on net. People who referred to these flowers then conveyed it to me as monkey flowers, because of the aspect of the flower that resembles the face of monkey.

The couple of macro shots, here, are capture during two different times of visits to Kodaikanal and the Viola Tricolor (a kind of pansy, in the photo above) was captured from a roadside fence around the Kodaikanal Lake. The flowers usually found in partially shade seems to bloom from April to September and it can be in colors of purple, blue, yellow, white... 

A long trip after a long time! To Kodaikanal

After nearly three and a half years of "gap," or my first long vacation post-COVID, happened suddenly last week. We went to our customary destination, which, if you have guessed, is none other than Kodaikanal. We stayed at our uncle's woodhouse, Smokey Haven, in half of the hills of Kodaikanal named Thandikudi.

My brother had a few days off and wanted to go on a trip. I was not in the mood to travel and had no intentions of traveling during this bitterly cold winter in the highlands. He convinced or was coerced into convicting us of causing ourselves damage with cold. In real life, we suffered, but we managed to breathe through sunny, cold, rainy, and foggy days.

We left home at 7.30 a.m. and arrived at our destination only at 9 p.m., covering a distance of approximately 500 kilometers. It was January 26, Republic Day in India, with only one day off for the weekend; many seemed to take a day off to extend the holiday, hit the road either for tourism or a hometown drive, which contributed to delaying our trip, aside from a few stops to rest for the brother who drove the entire trip. 

The restaurant where we bought lunch

We usually have lunch in Trichy or would have crossed the same by the time, but this time we had our evening tea in Trichy and bought dinner in Dindugul to eat at the woodhouse because it would be demanding to make our own, and there cook was also out of town. It was quite dark when we started climbing the hills, and we are left blind if there is no car light and the guiding angel, the moon. 

Driving on a highway with a twilight sky

Thandikudi (the location of the uncle's wood house) has a separate route from going to Bathalagundu and following the main road to Kodaikanal; it has the slightest traffic. I usually have my mobile in hand when riding on this road to take photos, but this time I couldn't take shots beyond the scene above. The one below is a sunny day photo from the next morning with a refreshing sight of orange vines across the gateway of the woodhouse.

Linking this post with Skywatch Friday

Picnic at setting of ‘I’

During our vacation come travel to Kodaikanal last month, we took a drive up to Kavunji - a terrace farming village on the far western end of Kodaikanal on the Palani Range of Western Ghats. First time going beyond Mannavanur, exploring the country sides of Kodaikanal; we picnicked on a patch of green adjacent to the Kavunji government school, facing a scenic foreground. As soon we land, a rock like structure caught our attention, alongside a gateway and fencing in raw woods fascinated to know what they are.

But I was sure it was not a real rock and thought it should have created by the students as a school project. And when one of us went neat to touch and see in curious, the watchman of the school (that shut for vacation) shout from a distance, warning, not to go near the structure as it may fall down. Being a kind old being, he came near clearing our doubt on the structure reveling that it was a setting of Tamil film ‘I’ from the renowned director of grandeur, Shanker. The rock made of wood and cardboard causes a natural setting of rock at about 25ft in cone shape.

Actually it doesn’t wonder me but the background it beholds was picturesque and stunning. The days for us in Kodaikanal were so cold like ever and expose to sunlight seems a pleasure, brought us under the open sky for lunch on a patch of green. There was enough light and shadow in turning off brilliant blue sky to passing clouds, carries some warmth and chillness around the landscapes. I saw this lonely raw wood bench left aside the settings of ‘I’ as photogenic, I recommended our families to take photos by sitting on the bench as I hope it deserve beautiful photography - covering a part of step farming and Sholas.

The elder man also lean us water for washing the plates and instructed to use the dustbin to put waste things. At this far end remote village, someone truly care for environment simply impressed me and I hope he is much wise what even city dwellers don’t follow right? We spent more than an hour relaxing and taking group photos standing in front of the setting and simple fascinating countryside background. Among the many, I just love the photo I composed on the wise man before leaving, stood strong in my mind and posing so cool.

RGB Monday

Dazzling fruits and vegetables stall at Kodaikanal

The roadside stall sells lot of fruits and vegetables harvested from around the mountains of Kodaikanal. For the new visitors: Kodaikanal is a popular hill station in south India (more than MSL 2000 high) and one of the most visited mountains by me. And during a visit to same in the monsoon of 2016, I captured these photos while we stopped for purchasing fruits and homemade chocolates. The rains halt for some time then and it was about 7pm I took these photos from mobile and I was really amazed at the outcome of the photos splashed in different shades and colors, since the fruits exposed to the led bulbs.

And moreover the mist, gloominess and wetness of rain give a refreshing feel as I look into the dazzling fruits and vegetables from our parked car. I know very few of the names of the fruits sold at the shop like plums (called as ooty apple), pears and passion, and along with fruits they also sell mountain honey, homemade chocolates and eucalyptus oils. But more than fruits, vegetables like carrot, cabbage, potatoes and mountain garlic are cultivated around the mountains villages of Kodaikanal.  

#RGB Monday stand's for my self made meme on Red Green Blue colors.

Periyakulam – the mango city

Two years back I visited this picturesque municipal town in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu, India and at an elevation of 282 meter; the place offers a wonderful weather overall the year. Located at the foothills of Kodaikanal, the Western Ghats offer a splendid wall to the city and at night its a delightful sight to check the lights on Kodaikanal hills.

An unknown peak of Western Ghats captured from the room.

Periyakulam is also known as ‘Mango City’ and it’s a major supply of mangoes throughout the state and its greater support was the perennial river ‘Varaganathi’, which runs in east-west direction dividing the town into equal half namely Vadakarai and Thenkarai – north and south bank. The river start at the foot of the Kodaikanal hills and joints with the Vaigai River is known for its sweet water which flow from the Berijam Lake in Kodaikanal.

The Mango groves near Periyakulam

The name Periyakulam is referred to two Tamil words equivalent to Big Tank of this town. The former Chief Minister and present Finance Minster of Tamil Nadu, Mr. O. Paneerselvam hails from this town... which has 100 years of municipal history and its one of the oldest town in Tamil Nadu.

One of a Horse cart on the Periyakulam main road

It’s been sometime I want to write a post on Periyakulam and I spent two days visiting around its places and I share here few picture captured then and it is a town where still horse carts exists for transportation. There are few interesting and popular places around this town... and let see more on it further down in posts.

Pony ride by a little tom

The little tom seems like an ardent horse rider who enjoys sitting on the horse back. We saw him taking the horse ride enthusiastically following the couple of day’s constant visit to Kodaikanal Lake in evening while staying over there.

Those in India would no need an intro on Kodaikanal which is a wonderful hill station and natural paradise in South India lying in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. Kodaikanal, called as princess of hills never fails to fascinate me with its pristine, cold and misty environment. However I visit, the hunger for this summer holiday terrace treats me like never seems to end and not only as a retreat from heat, but always being best in climate and natural environment... and there’s a lot need to discover yet.

Back to the little tom, he’s obviously seems to come from north India and his cute expressions and smiling face induce to shoot him while on horseback and within a hour he drew back another horse to fulfill his as much desire for horse ride. These photos were taken on the second day… and while leaving we said bye to him who shyly smiled sitting on his mother’s lap accompanied by his sister and father on the pavement aside the lake.

PS. The header Pic is also a shot from Kodaikanal.

Check Post – 3

Here’s part 3 on the series on Check Post where I would like to share moments related to check posts that I have come across during my travel. Today’s post is on Berijam.

A welcome arch by nature through forest, shot during a visit in 2009

It was in 2006, we ventured into the Berijam forest near Kodaikanal and it was my cousins’ inspired me not to miss this place when I visited Kodaikanal for 2^nd time and it was many time already for them. I hear them saying that leopards/tigers visit Berijam Lake to quench thirst and bison are common sighting the way want me to visit and experience adventure. Berijam is a pristine lake area located inside the dense forest and visiting it needs prior permission from district forest office (DFO) at Kodaikanal. A warden who arranged accommodation for us at Kodai, at that time, did help obtain permission to visit Berijam where only 20 vehicles is allowed per day to preserve the natural environment and wild.

We reached Kodai a day early to my aunt’s family join us on the trip in their car and we in cab SUV, but we got permit only for our cab car and we already 9 members on-board, received my aunt and two little cousins for a drive of about 30 km from Kodai. We doubt really will they allow our overloaded vehicle at the check post, but glad they didn’t check our vehicle and only dad get down to sign at the check post and we drove through one of the best preserved wild environment  of flora and fauna. The entire area is a biodiversity and unpolluted earth and it’s a complete pleasure and refresher to venture and its advised not  to get down anywhere other than the specified spots.

Berijam lake in 2006

Same view in 2017 -  no changes in shape and view on Lake

There’s another check post at the Lake area, where vehicles are stopped and parked aside the road and to check the place only by walk, but they allowed our car to drop me close to lake to get down to the wheelchair. I used manual wheelchair then and we spent some time on the lake bank, and taking photos it slowly started to drizzle and furthered showered rushed people to their cars, since there isn’t a place for shelter there. My wheelchair was pushed speedily by my brother to prevent getting soaked and in the force a front caster of the wheelchair came out and I was pushed further in tilt position till the car.  Berijam is a freshwater swamp lake and people are allowed only at defined space and to and fro through the car, our eyes were spotting for any wild animals.

Me at Berijam Lake in manual wheelchair aside dad and cousin in 2006

I have visited Berijam couple of times after that and there isn’t much changes on the place for good and each visit was a different experience for me and lately the forest department itself  running an ecotourism trip to Berijam and the number of private vehicles allowed has also been increased is certainly a disturbance to the ecosystem there. Berijam Lake is 9 km in circumference and located at 2165 MSL and it is also considered as one of biggest freshwater lakes in Asia. During my second visit I encountered Sambar deer, Langur and Giant Malabar Squirrel but beyond that the presence of nature and calmness wants me to go their how many times possible.

Coaker’s walk and Pillar rock!

I’m swing in bliss, because its mist.

For everyone kodaikanal mean something and for me it’s totally mist, and lately the beautiful lake. One morning I went on wheels through Coaker's walk and it was completely covered in mist in a disappointing way to everyone in getting views, but I really enjoyed a lot like on one and leisurely moved with cold mist. Entering either way, the small tea stall at entrance greeted me with memories of having cuppa at couple of times in past, the taste and warmth comes to sits at my tongue. Further moving into the path way that goes along the edge of mountain and half a km in distance, it was quite bliss with cold breeze and mist like ever sensed before.

Along the way there’re countable pavement shops selling fury toys, wooden decorative items and photos adding on cups… but nothing interest me like mist, except few wooden cars in a shop and baked peanuts.

Coaker’s walk always interest me at leisure and passing through this lane is simple pleasure and unvaried sill. The panoramic view of beautiful valley, with clouds floating sometime, to far away towns, lakes and hills are indeed splendid on a cloudless day and it’s a view point unlike others almost covered in mist. Telescope tower at one end of the path gives a chance to see far away places at close distance, but I wonder why do people pay and look through the lens when white screen confined there views in mist. The flowers grown beneath the slopes in red and yellow are very pretty to see, including the hanging flowers in white and pink at one end. The Coaker deriving its name from Lt. Coaker, who discover this footpath in 1872 and drew map to kodaikanal, cleared my query at last.

After wander at Coaker’s walk our next stop was at Pillar rocks. At 400 feet height, three rocks stand proximately is one of nature’s wonderful formations. The chamber between the pillars is known as devil’s kitchen – a hallow cave, also known as guna cave. The pillars are often covered by mist and as usual the clouds played hind and seek with us leaving little space to cover the splendid. But what disappointed me a lot was the situation of pillar rocks lately, with many shops shifting the place completely leaving behind a hard sign and sight of pillars. I see how people are such follies to turn over the significant of this place, and I just wanted to ask those shop owners, do we came over here to see the arrangements of your shops blocking the pillar rocks?

Kodaikanal, being one of the important tourist place in country, it’s damn what the government is doing than cleaning these encroachments. I would say princess of hills losing her beauty to encroachments of buildings and shops, and ones the pristine beauty is polluted now somehow.