Travelled to Kodaikanal for vacation. Had fun - For the sake of travellers who have never been there and are planning a vacation, I am just putting in some tips
How to get there from Chennai: I figured that if you travel with little kids, more than 500 kms, is not worth travelling by Road. Take the Pandian express (Egmore) night train, get down at Kodaikanal Road station (2nd stop after Dindigul). Request your resort to send you a car pickup (80 kms from here to Kodai and usually charge about Rs. 1800 for an Innova). You can do the same for return too (Pandian express in the night from Kodaikanal ). Kodai road is a quaint little way-side station. There is a pair of old porters who use a little wagon to take your luggage to the platform - very interesting.
Getting around Kodaikanal: Koai runs on Taxi. 60 bucks a drop anywhere around this big city. Most of the taxi guys will give you their mobile number and you can call them to get a ride.
Time to avoid: Apr-Jun - this is supposed to be the "Season" when the entire summer gang lans up in the hills to watch the flowers bloom and escape the summer heat. Wrong time if you just want to relax and spend some leisurely time
Things to do:
1. Cycling around the lake - There is the lake and there is the lake - You can hire cycles for Rs. 20 per hour and go around the lake. Its a 4~6 kms 30 mins of cycling. For couples, you can even get a double bicycle with 2 sets of pedals
Here is a picture of the lake.... Sure makes it worth cycling around
2. Sightseeing tour - Most taxi guys will charge about Rs. 500 to Rs. 750 for the 8 or 12 sites tour which lasts for about 4~5 hrs. we did a short tour that covered about 6 places
a. Lake view point
b. Pine forest
c. Pillar rock
d. Suicide point now called Green Valley view
e. Pambar falls
f. Coakers walk
Some places like the Munnar cochin road to Berjam lake require forest department permission, but most taxi drivers can guide you on it
3. Bryant park - Just a nice park to hangout
Bryant park has a photographer who does family portraits and puts it on a mug for you instantly.
How to get there from Chennai: I figured that if you travel with little kids, more than 500 kms, is not worth travelling by Road. Take the Pandian express (Egmore) night train, get down at Kodaikanal Road station (2nd stop after Dindigul). Request your resort to send you a car pickup (80 kms from here to Kodai and usually charge about Rs. 1800 for an Innova). You can do the same for return too (Pandian express in the night from Kodaikanal ). Kodai road is a quaint little way-side station. There is a pair of old porters who use a little wagon to take your luggage to the platform - very interesting.
Getting around Kodaikanal: Koai runs on Taxi. 60 bucks a drop anywhere around this big city. Most of the taxi guys will give you their mobile number and you can call them to get a ride.
Time to avoid: Apr-Jun - this is supposed to be the "Season" when the entire summer gang lans up in the hills to watch the flowers bloom and escape the summer heat. Wrong time if you just want to relax and spend some leisurely time
Things to do:
1. Cycling around the lake - There is the lake and there is the lake - You can hire cycles for Rs. 20 per hour and go around the lake. Its a 4~6 kms 30 mins of cycling. For couples, you can even get a double bicycle with 2 sets of pedals
Here is a picture of the lake.... Sure makes it worth cycling around
 |
| From Kodaikanal_Vacation |
2. Sightseeing tour - Most taxi guys will charge about Rs. 500 to Rs. 750 for the 8 or 12 sites tour which lasts for about 4~5 hrs. we did a short tour that covered about 6 places
a. Lake view point
 |
| From Kodaikanal_Vacation |
b. Pine forest
 |
| From Kodaikanal_Vacation |
c. Pillar rock
 |
| From Kodaikanal_Vacation |
d. Suicide point now called Green Valley view
e. Pambar falls
 |
| From Kodaikanal_Vacation |
f. Coakers walk
Some places like the Munnar cochin road to Berjam lake require forest department permission, but most taxi drivers can guide you on it
3. Bryant park - Just a nice park to hangout
 |
| From Kodaikanal_Vacation |
Bryant park has a photographer who does family portraits and puts it on a mug for you instantly.
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