The Misty Mountains: Kodaikanal

With the winter vacation setting in, we planned to escape from our daily chores. Our destination this time was the stunning hill station of Kodaikanal. A morning flight from Kolkata took us directly to Coimbatore, the nearest airport. Our driver greeted us with a big smile and we were soon on our car driving straight to Kodaikanal. As we drove, we passed numerous windmills on the way that stood tall dancing with the hearty breeze. Soon we left the plains and climbed up the winding hilly roads. A four and a half-hour drive took us to the Lilly's Valley Resort, our shelter for tonight. Nestled amidst the greenery, the resort was super comforting to our weary eyes. Exhausted from the day-long travel, we decided to retire for the day on the lap of nature.

Lilly's Valley Resort

We woke up early in the morning, had a hearty South Indian breakfast and headed for our Kodaikanal sightseeing. Our first destination was Coaker's walk, a stretch of paved way through the cliff of the hill with breathtaking views. Next, we visited the La Saleth Church. Kodaikanal has a bunch of viewpoints and waterfalls that offer amazing views. We loved the view from iconic Pillar Rocks, Guna caves and the Silent valley viewpoints. Kodaikanal is known for its misty mountains. The winter morning unveiled a perfect view of mist enveloped hills along the distant horizon. 

  

A misty morning

View from the Coaker's walk

Silent valley viewpoint

Iconic Pillar Rocks

The most iconic destination in Kodaikanal is its lake. Its first view from the Upper Lake Viewpoint was spectacular. And it made us more intrigued to reach near its shore. The way to the lake from here was a long winding road. The tourist surge during the year-end added to our woe. At last, we were by the lake. We were welcomed by the enormous lake; its pristine blue water, the cool breeze, and sweet sunshine just made our afternoon. The lake has some boating facilities as well. 

Upper Lake Viewpoint

A lazy afternoon by the Kodaikanal Lake

If you love gardens and parks, Kodaikanal has a lot to offer. The most spectacular among the various parks here are the Chettiar and Bryant Parks. Our last destination of the day was Bryant Park which was in full bloom with lots of seasonal flowers. Although the park offers amazing landscaping, it was totally chaotic, thanks to the hordes of tourists during the peak season. We wrapped up our day with a sip of Nilgiri tea from a nearby shack and headed back to our night's shelter.

Bryant Park

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature