Amidst the nature

Back in July 2019, a much needed getaway from the maddening and monotonous city life to a place with the most scenic and enthralling localities – Kodaikanal, The Princess of Hills.
We all need a get-me-the-hell-outta-here key sometimes. A break from the rigours of daily life to a quiet beauty.

ESCAPE
Leaving the hustle behind only to spend a laid back weekend, maybe being closer to nature and taking things slow for once, simple and lazy in its most elegant way.

So we started our 9-hour bus journey from Chennai, where we were interning at the time. We reached our humble abode which made our escape even better – Zostel Kodaikanal was more than we asked for. A backpacker hostel beautifully secluded from the hustle-bustle in the lap of nature yet close to the centre of the town. So while you enjoy your laid back getaway, a bit of vibing won’t spoil it, for sure!
You get to meet travellers from all around, know them and their exciting stories and maybe pool-in your trip with them to socialise and keeping your travel, pocket-friendly!
Just like we did with four amazing girls from France volunteering at Auroville.

It was a short 3-day trip, enough for a quick recharge! Here’s what we did:

Day 1

• Started off with a scrumptious English/Indian breakfast at Zostel. (So that’s a must!) Food in general is great in Kodaikanal.
• We then headed to Coaker’s Walk, created in 1872 by Lieutenant Coaker. Its usually breezy making it perfect for morning and evening walks by the panoramic hills. Also known for the rare Neelakurinji flowers which bloom once in 12 years and cover the mountains in blue. That is surely a sight to behold! There is a telescope house too to experience the phenomenon called Brachem Spectre which occurs to those lucky ones, rarely. One could also shop along the way.

• Next to Coaker’s Walk there is the very green – Bryant Park. Bejewelled with various species of plants and shrubs. It is a popular picnic spot and also trains students of ornamental horticulture. Walking along the rich flora, the exotic rose garden can also be visited.

• As you exit the Bryant Park, there is the very famous star-shaped, man-made Kodaikanal lake open to boating, zorbing and many such recreational activities. You can also ride a bicycle or even a horse by the side! It’s market serves many souvenirs for you to take home.

• The next stop was the Pillar Rocks viewpoint. With a mesmerising view of 3 giant rock formations, 400ft from ground famous for photography, hiking, trekking and what not! On the way, you could also spot Gemini Ganesan’s house. (Veteran actor from the Tamil film industry also father of Bollywood actress – Rekha)
• Make a quick stop at Green Valley Viewpoint, formerly known as the Suicide point for another breathtaking view. You can also buy the famous handmade chocolates and essential oils from the market that leads to it.
• Also, you might find exotic fruit stalls all around as they are pretty famous there!

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Day 2

• It was a walk in the woods kinda day! First stop was Bear Shola Falls which were a 5-minute walk away through the pine forest. The name comes from the fact that bears drink water here. The best time to visit this place is during the rainy season when the water bodies are brimming.
• Vattakanal Falls – an adventurous hike along the trail lead us to this destination. Full of panoramic vistas, nestled in nature’s lap with rich flora-fauna around were the gushing falls.
  Now, they do say follow the ‘Leave-No-Trace’ rule while hiking, a concept where you leave the place you were in the same condition you found it, so that the next hikers won’t even know you’ve been in the woods. It was a shame to see the litter all around and even more shameful to have our friends from France willing to clean it and not leaving it in the same condition.
  That’s when 4 of them and 2 of us started collecting the trash in sacks which obviously made others feel guilty enough to join us! (Ngl – felt good!) Together we managed to once again reclaim the beauty of Vattakanal Falls.

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• Next was the (little tiring for first timers) but fun trek to Dolphin Nose And Echo viewpoint. The cliff is a protruding rock resembling the shape of a dolphin’s nose and hence the name. It’ll take around 3-4 hours to complete. The scenic beauty and breathtaking views all along the journey makes it all worth it. A must have snack on the way is the avocado cheese sandwich at the local shops!
• As we were returning to explore the markets, there was the famous Liril Falls where the advertisement for Liril soap was shot.
• Ending our day with some roaming about in the Kodaikanal market with a variety of crafts and souvenirs to indulge in. Not to miss out one of the famous cafes – Muncheez. Grab a quick bite in this cozy space with the best confectionery options to choose from. Chocolate truffle and Blueberry cheesecake are a must!

Day 3
This was supposed to be a lazy day in the zostel premises, enjoying the beauty around but then we got company (our friends from France of course :P) and off we went on an impromptu village tour!

• The route was through pine forests. Unwinding amongst nature is surely a charm! The place was full of monkeys (whom you have to be careful of if you don’t wanna get snatched!). The forest is surrounded by the vegetation of magic mushrooms, which are said to be hallucinogenic.

• First stop was the Poombarai Village, nestled amidst terraced fields famous for the production of garlic. The field-patches and their hues offer a picturesque view.
• Nearby is the Mannavanur Village. It’s a lush green-offbeat farming village with adorable animals like rabbits, horses, sheep etc. being reared. It is truly a day-light beauty!

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• Our last destination for the trip was the Kookal Village. Tranquil hues of green and the lovely terrace farming was nothing but therapeutic.

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So thats how QISSA – Escape is inspired by all that Kodaikanal had to offer.

Until next time!