During June 2005 I suddenly decided to visit Kodaikanal during a weekend. Fornutely I was able to get a reservation for the onward journey. I boarded the Pandiyan Express from Chennai and alighted at Kodai Road Kodai Road is the nearest Railway station for Kodaikanal. We reached Kodai Road early morning. Lots of buses and private Taxis await passengers who alight at Kodai Road for the journey for Kodaikanal.It took nearly four hours to reach Kodaikanal. I had not made any advance reservation for stay. Hence I got down at the lake itself. I had no idea about lodges at Kodai. My friend told me about lodges at Kodai near the lake. Hence I took the decision. Season had just been ended. Southwest Monsoon had already started at Western Ghats. I was of the opinion that I would able to get accommodation easily. Contrary to my expectation I could not get accommodation at Hotel Hill town. However I was able to get a room at a lodge called Murgan Lodge. Rooms were really cozy and neat. One reason I choose to visit Kodai during off-season rates of room rent was affordable. Rates of rent are really exorbitant during season. Hotel Hill town was a bit higher side on my budget. Having retired I was on the lookout for bit lowerside. Murgan lodge suited me very well. But we didn’t have good hillside view like we had when I stayed at Madikeri

As we had arrived at Kodai by 11.00 A.M. we could not undertake sight seeing trip on that day. We had our lunch at a restaurant nearer to our stay. We took some rest and went to the lake, which is nearer to our hangout.

Lake:
It is a man made lake. There are boat clubs available for hiring boats.
We had not opted for boat ride. Instead we took a long walk along the banks of the lake. Cool afternoon breeze swept our faces intoxicating our senses.

Second Day:

On the second day we arranged for a sight seeing trip conducted by local tourist operators. The sight seeing trips arranged by these tour operators sometimes are really a boon to travelers who have no vehicle of their own. Fornutely the vehicle arranged by our Tour operator was a jeep that accommodated six persons. Though not really comfortable but not uncomfortable

Our First stop was Chettiar Park. It is a calm place on the way to Kurinji Andavar Temple. Chettiar Park is not a park that could be compared to SIMS PARK. But any park in a hill is a delight where you can see variety of plants particularly Roses. The Roses are giant varieties. From Chettiar Park we then proceeded to Kurinji Andavar Temple. A European Lady who later converted to Hinduism had built Kurinji Andavar Temple. Kurinji is the name of the flower that blossomed once in twelve years. During the Kuriji Flower season entire Western Ghats would be dotted with Kurinji Flower, which is blue in color. Last time Kurinji had blossomed in 1994. It is expected again in 2006. Kurinji Andavar Temple has a scintillating viewpoint. On a clear day you can have a glimpses of Palani Andavar Murugan Temple. Kodaikanal physical observatory is adjacent to the temple. As it was Sunday we could not visit the observatory. Next we proceeded to Dolphin nose. Dolphin nose is a flat projection of rock, which gradually descended. The rocks are slippery. The drop then would descend to some 1000 feet On a clear day you can have some breathtaking views. From dolphin nose we went to place called pine forest.

Pine Forest: Pine trees were everywhere. Birds chirping, eerie feeling and misty clouds descending – you are reminded of films like Bees saal baad and Madhumathi.Pine tree were introduced to Kodaikanal only recently. Some environmentalists are of the opinion that pine trees were ecological disaster.

Guna caves;

Guna cave also known as Devil’s kitchen is another interesting place. . It has got its name because climax of the film “ Guna “ was entirely shot in this place. Who could forget ‘Abirami’ of Guna. We were not allowed to enter the cave. The entry was blocked. Many people have died in this cave. One such person was Zamindar of Chenbaghanur. A small stone inscription was laid there in his memory.

Green Valley
On return from Guna caves we then proceeded to Green Valley. It was heavily crowded. Green Valley is a viewpoint where you can have glimpses of Periyakulam town in the plains and Vaigai Dam provided there is no cloud cover. When we reached there it was full of mist, which obscure our views. It was also fenced. It was formerly known as Suicide point. Many tragic lovers had ended their lives. That is why it was heavily fenced. During my previous visit it was not so. We stood at the edge of point and had a clear view. Green valley dotted with lot of vendors selling all the fancy things you want.
From Green Valley we went to a restaurant to have our lunch. In the afternoon we went to another interesting place called Pillar rocks. Pillar rocks are huge granite formation. Beyond Pillar rocks there is a huge drop. Clouds had filled the abyssal beyond the Pillar rocks. Suddenly clouds lifted. What a panoramic view! Mounted Telescopes are available for valley views. A small garden is maintained there.

Visit To Coorg

Last year (January 2005) I had been to Madikeri with my family. It was a wonderful experience. I have visited Kodaiknal, Ooty, Yerkadu several times. But when I arrived at Madikeri from Mysore I was enchanted by its beauty. It is a contrasting experience. Ooty is a crowded place. Full of people jostling here and there. Kodaikanal is a different place. It is affordable only for rich and affluent people. But Madikeri is the place that suits to every one, rich as well as the middle class. Madikeri is a charming place for the family which decides to spend a holiday on a shoe string budget. There are good lodges in and around Madikeri, charging less than Kodaikanal and Ooty with the same comfort and service.
We started from chennai by the Caveri express from Chennai and arrived at Mysore the next morning. After spending the day sight seeing at MYSORE we started for Madikeri the next morning. We boarded the bus at 9.00 A.M. We arrived at Madikeri at 1.00 p.m.It took 4 hours to reach there. We had already booked a room at a lodge maintained by the Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation.

Since we had a very bumpy and exhausted ride we did not make the sight seeing trip immediately. We finished our lunch and took some rest. Then we started off to Abby Falls which is just 5.K.M away from Madikeri

ABBY FALLS:
We engaged an auto and reached the falls. It is inside a coffee estate. You have to walk at least ½ K.M inside the estate. It is a lovely place. Water is falling down with a thundering roar. The chirping of innumerable birds which are easier heard than seen filled the air with sweet music. There is a small bridge over the stream in which the fallen water escapes. You can have a very grand view from the bridge. We were advised not to take bath in the stream. It was said that fatal accidents do occur occasionally.. From Abby Falls we returned to Medikeri and visited another interesting place.

RAJA’S SEAT:
We went to Raja’s seat on our return from Abby Falls. Raja’s seat is a view point where you have a breathtaking valley view and winding road into midst of dense forest. It is called Raja’s seat because Kudagu kings who ruled Kudagu years back, spent their evenings there, enjoying the peaceful lovely hillside sunset view.

Next morning we have arranged a tourist taxi service for our sightseeing trip.Our car arrived at 8.00 a.m.We had no idea of any oyher places of interest around Madikeri. We left the choice to our driver Gangadher. We had our breakfast at Madikeri itself. Gangdhar took us to Dubre.

DUBRE:

It is in the bank of Caveri. There is an Elephant Training Camp on the bank of the river. We had to cross the river in a small boat to reach the bank. The interesting thing about the place is Elephant bathing. You are allowed to take part in bathing the Elephant on payment of a small fee. Kids would just love to take part in scrubbing the back of the elephant.

NISARAGADHAMA:

Our next stop was nisaragadhama. It is a breathtaking beauty. It is Small Island formed in the middle of the Cavery River. A thick bamboo grove gives it a chilly exhilarating scenic beauty. It is an ideal place for kids to relax. You have elephant and boat rides, Play Park with swing and see-saws.

TIBETAN GOLDEN TEMPLE:

Our next visit was a magnificent Golden Temple belonged to Namdrolling Monastery built at Bylakappa, a place just 6k.m. from Kushalnagar. .It is one of the finest Buddisit Temple. Three majestic gold coated 40 feet high idols of Buddha are a real attraction. It is home to thousands of lamas,monks and nuns. Bylakappa has Tibetan handy craft centre which sells lot of interesting handi craft items by the Tibetan refugees. We bought some miniature decorated swords.



BHAGAMANDALA:

From Kushalnagar we proceeded to Bhagamantala. It is situated at 36k.m from Madikeri.This is a confluence of three rivers Cavery,Kanika, and Sujyathi .Since we visited the place during January there was only knee deep water with out any flow. If you visit during monsoon the sight would be different. The river would be in full spate merging all the steps and sometimes during floods even the road would be submerged.

THALAI CAVERY:

Thalaicavery is at the hill top,8 Km from Bhgamandalam.It is a small fountain head amidst the picturesque landscape in Brahamagiri hills. It is truly unbelievable that the water that fills the HemavathyDam,Kabini Dam,Krishan Raja Sagar and Mettur Dam starts its journey from such a small fountainhead which never dries. The river that causes so much heartburn between the two states originates from there. Hailing from Tamilnadu that too from Thanjavur-the rice bowl of Tamilnadu I was mesmerized and overjoyed when stood there. The water gushes up in the fountain comes out of the hillside at Bhagamantala after traveling 8 k.m. inside the mountain. I drank the spring water without worrying about hygiene filled my water bottle for friends. At Thalaicavery there is a view point called Bramagiri with steep steps. You need to make a strenuous effort to reach the summit. Once you reached the summit what a view. You feel as if you are on top of the world. It is not I that conquered: it is nature that has conquered us.

We returned from Thalai cavery to Madikeri. Our driver cum guide Gangadhar took us to Hotel Athithi.We had our supper at there which is a good veg.hotel..A word about Gangadhar; He is a very courteous person who knows how to please a travelier. He struck a good rapport with my children. Thanks to him that we had a pleasant and satisfying trip.

The next day we returned from Madikeri with a heavey heart promising to visit again.


ABOUT MADIKERI

Madikeri is situated at 115 k.m from Mysore at a height of 5000 feet on Western Ghat.Cool bracing wind whips the hair as you stroll along the streets of Madikeri.Breathtaking views surprise you. It is the Scotland of South India. The natives of Madikeri are called Kodavas.They are A martial race. Our military chiefs Genaral Kariappa.Genaral Thimmia and Field Marshell Manekshaw all are Kodavas.Kodagu means dense forest on steep hill. It has an average rain fall of more than 150 c.m.Most parts of the Coorg consists of tall trees having orange and rose colored leaves.Coffee and pepper grow abundantly.Madikeri is a place one must visit. Don’t forget to buy coffee from Madikeri.