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Kodaikanal
"Kodai "
Kodaikanal
city
Map
Established1845 [1]
Population
 (2001)
 • Total32,931
Websitehttp://www.municipality.tn.gov.in/kodaikanal/index.htm
E-Mail: commr.kodaikanal@tn.gov.in

Kodaikanal (Template:Lang-ta) is a city[2] and a Taluk division of Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Kodaikanal is often referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" and is a popular tourist destination.

Kodaikanal was established in 1845, as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the plains. [3] Much of the local economy is based on the Hospitality industry serving tourism.

Etymology

Main article: History of Kodaikanal § Etymology

It is not known who first used this name or what they intended it to mean.The word Kodaikanal is formed from the two Tamil words Kodai and Kanal. Kanal means dense forest or closed forest. By pronounsing with short tamil o as Kodi, means Creepers. Thus, Kodai Kanal means the forest of creepers in reference to the dense undergrowth of creeping vines in the forest.[4]

Another Tamil word for creepers is Valli, the honey collecting daughter of the chief of the Veddas mountain tribe. The chief and his wife prayed to the Mountain God for a girl-child and their prayers were answered when the chief found a new-born girl child during a hunting expedition. As she was found among creeper plants, they named the child Valli and she grew up as princess of the tribe in Kurinji and became the consort of lord Murugan. [5]The romantic traditions of Murugan in Sangam literature are thus associated with the name Kodaikanal.

The Forest of Creepers was the English language meaning given in 1885 during the early western habitation of the place,[6] and is still accepted. [7]

History

Main article: History of Kodaikanal

The earliest residents of Kodaikanal were the Palaiyar tribal people. The earliest specific references to Kodaikanal and the Palani Hills are found in Tamil Sangam literature of the early Christian era.[8] Modern Kodaikanal was established by American Christian missionaries and British bureaucrats in 1845, as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the plains. [9] In the 20th century a few elite Indians came to realise the value of this enchanting hill station and started relocating here.[10]

Geography

1955 Topographic map of Kodaikanal
South facing escarpment from Dolphins Nose

The town of Kodaikanal sits on a plateau above the southern escarpment of the upper Palni Hills at Template:M to ft, between the Parappar and Gundar Valleys. These hills form the eastward spur of the Western Ghats on the Western side of South India. It has an irregular basin as its heartland, the centre of which is now a Template:Km to mi circumference manmade lake.

meadows and grasslands cover the hillsides. Gigantic Eucalyptus trees and shola forests flourish in the valleys. Mighty rocks and cascading streams. rise up from the valleys. There are many cascading streams, high waterfalls and ubiquitous gardens and flower beds in bloom.[10] p.1


Neighbouring villages & towns

North of the town, high hills that slope down into the villages of Pallangi and Vilpatti stand guard. On the east the hill slopes less abruptly into the lower Palnis. A precipitous escarpment facing the Cumbum Valley is on the south. On the west is a plateau leading to Manjampatti Valley, Indira Gandhi National Park, the Anamalai Hills and the main body of the Western Ghats.

Economy

Season Months
Peak Season April-June
Low Season Feb-March; July-September
Second Season October-January

The economy of Kodaikanal is predominantly run by tourism.[11] The town's infrastructure changes every year in preparation for the peak tourist season. Major roads are converted into one-way lanes to regulate the constant inflow of traffic and special police are brought in for the safety of the tourists and protection of local businesses. Hotels are often fully booked during the high season, and remain virtually empty during the off-season. Due to the rapid development of nearby cities such as Madurai and Coimbatore, the town is starting to enjoy year-round tourism.

There are at least 50 hotels catering to all categories of tourists[12] and over 30 south & north Indian, continental, western and Chinese restaurants, and many more small eateries and tea stalls.

There are at least six retail bank branches and five automated teller machines (ATM) in Kodaikanal. The Bank of India has a branch and ATM at S.G.J Thangadurai Building, Anna Salai. The Canara Bank has a branch and ATM at CLS book shop complex, Anna Salai. The Central Bank of India branch is at M M Street, Law's Ghat Road, Perumalmalai. The Indian Bank has a branch and ATM at Anna Salai. The State Bank of India has a branch at Anna Salai and also has an ATM on Lake Road, outside Kodaikanal International School [13]. The Union Bank of India has a branch at Naidupuram and also has an ATM on the 1st Floor of Municipal Shopping Complex opposite the Old Bus Stand, Anna Salai.[14], [15]

The Kodaikanal Co-operative Land Development Bank, The Kodaikanal Co-operative Urban Bank at Anna Salai and the Madurai District Central Co-operative Bank at Post Office Road offer only local Commercial banking services.[16]

Anna Salai, Street bazaar, with Mount Perumalmalai in distance

There is an excellent bazaar where residents, local villagers and tourists come buy woollen clothing, flowers, fresh grocery, meat, handicrafts, hot snacks, cheap toys, medicinal herbs and oils, hardware, dry goods and cooking fuels. The cosmopolitan nature of Kodai is evident on Anna Salai, the main business street, where it is common to see local villagers, European and American students and backpackers, foreign retirees and families from other parts of India, all mixed together in their common activity of shopping.

Plums, pears, chillies, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, garlic and onions are cultivated by terrace farmers in surrounding villages.[17] Most are trucked to other parts of India and some are sold in the local market. Popular tourist souvenirs include handicrafts, home-made chocolates, postcards and Eucalyptus oil. [18]


Health

The two major medical facilities are the Van Allen Hospital and the Government Hospital. These hospitals treat patients with common ailments and injuries and perform child delivery and care, but are not equipped with modern medical equipment for complicated diagnoses and surgeries.

In April 1915, Dr.Van Allen raised funds to construct the first unit of the hospital at the entrance of Coaker's walk. It was named after him. Facilities got updated from time to time and now it has X-ray machine, well equipped pathological lab, and operation theatre with blood transfusion facilities. It's working Hours are Monday to Friday : 9.30 to 11.30 a.m, 2.30 to 4.30 p.m, Saturday : 9.30 to 11.30 a.m.

Government Hospital is situated on the hillside near Rock cottage on lower shola road. It was a small municipal hospital until 1927. Now it has X-ray, Dental, Maternity ward and other facilities.[19]

Education

Kodaikanal is renowned for the Kodaikanal International School and the Kodaikanal Public School [20] The other schools are: St. Peters Matriculation Higher Secondary School [21], Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Bhavan's Gandhi Vidyashram, Brindavan Public School, St. Joseph's Public School , St. Xavier's High School and St. John's Girls Higher Secondary School.

The two colleges here are Kodaikanal Christian College and Sacred Heart College. Mother Theresas University is distinctive as India's only university devoted to exclusively women's issues.[22] [23] [24] Recently a new engineering college specializing in Information Technology, Kodaikanal Institute of Technology under Anna University, has been established Template:Km to mi below Kodaikanal town. It has a Template:Acre to ha Wireless networked campus including of state-of-art Laboratories, Digital Library & Learning Management System, 24/7 high-speed 8 Mbps Internet facility and a Hostel.[25]

Religion

La Sallete Church

Since Kodaikanal was founded by the American and European Missionaries, Christian churches are abundant in Kodaikanal. They include Church of South India - opposite Bryant Park, Gorapur, Lake End, La Salette, Lutheran Mission, Sacred Heart - Munjikal, Saint Antony’s - Antonyar Kovil street, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Joseph's, Saint Mary's and Saint Peter’s - Cockers Walk road. Amongst the most popular is Union Church with a large Tamil congregation and Margaret Eddy Memorial Chapel at Kodai International School with lively services in a typically American style and distintive stone architecture.

There are many Hindu Temples in Kodaikanal including the Durgai Amman Kovil, Kurinji Andavar Kovil, Mariamman Kovil, Observatory Murugan Kovil and Vinayagar Kovil. The Muslim mosques are Ellis Villa and Munjikal. There is an active community of Tibetan Buddhist refugees.

Civil society

Kodaikanal has several clubs and civil society organizations operating for social, charitable and environmental goals.

Kodaikanal Golf Club, Hole No.12, 256 Yards, Par 4

Established clubs in Kodaikanal are the Kodaikanal Boat Club (est. 1890) with nearly 650 permanent members; The Indian Club (est. 1915) on Poet Thyagarajar road; Kodaikanal Lions Club (est. 1985) under the jurisdiction of Lions Clubs International (district 324B) and the Kodaikanal Golf Club (est. 1895) with over 600 members and an 18 hole golf course, spread over 143 acres. [26]

Kodaikanal has several Social service societies which promote local trade and increase employment of rural villagers in the town's periphery by participating in its tourism fueled growth. These include the Kodaikanal People Development Group (KOPDEG) which has been successful in providing employment for marginalized women and marketing their products. The Made-in-India tagged products from Kopedeg are unique to Kodaikanal and are targeted at foreign tourists who regularly buy them as souvenirs.[27]

The Cottage Crafts Shop at Anna Salai, is run by the voluntary organisation, Coordinating Council for Social Concerns in Kodai (CORSOK). They sell goods crafted by development groups and uses the commission charged to help the needy.[28]

In 1994 the "Potter's Shed" was inaugurated. This pottery and craft Shop in Kodaikanal has made and sold hundreds of thousands of fine pieces of locally made pottery. All profits from this business are contributed to the Bethania Kids, Center For Children with Disabilities.[29]

The Kodaikanal Lake Protection Council and Vattakkanal Organization for Youth, Community and Environment (VOYCE) are active in preserving Kodaikanal's environment. Plastic bags are banned and almost all shops and roadside vendors heed the rule and use recycled paper bags in fear of a social reprisal. Local hotels have also participated in improving the environment by placing garbage cans all across the town, with their prominent donated by signs acting as silent salesmen.[30]

Places of Interest

Kodaikanal has several scenic natural attractions which are enjoyed by its visitors and make it a popular romantic destination for newlyweds. These are described in order of distance from the bus-stand.

Kodaikanal lake View showing: Mount Perumal, Boat house, Carlton Hotel, Kodaikanal International School, Fish hatchery, Lake Road.

Kodaikanal Lake, Template:Km to mi from the bus stand, is an artificial, roughly star-shaped 45 ha (60 acres) lake built in 1863. It is recognized as Kodaikanal's most popular geographic landmark and tourist attraction. Rowboats and pedalos can be hired at the Kodaikanal Boat Club with its main entrance near the only five-star hotel in Kodaikanal, The Carlton. Horses and bicycles can be hired beside the lake for short periods. The Template:Km to mi path that skirts the periphery of this lovely lake is a favourite walk for the locals and tourists alike.

Bryant Park, Just east of the lake and Template:Km to mi from the bus stand, is a wonderfully maintained Template:Acre to ha botanical garden. The park was planned and built in 1908 by a forest officer from Madurai, H.D.Bryant, and named after him. With 325 species of trees, shrubs and cactuses, the park is a rainbow of stunning flowers during the peak season. A large section is dedicated to nearly 740 varieties of roses. There is a 1857 Eucalyptus tree and a Bodhi tree which adds a religious significance to the park. Ornamental plants are cultivated in a nursery for sale. The park organizes horticultural exhibits and flower shows every summer, to coincide with the peak season. Entrance fee to the park is nominal and it is open all year.[31]

View from Coaker's Walk

Coaker's Walk, Template:Km to mi from the bus-stand, constructed by Lt.Coaker in 1872, is a Template:Km to mi paved pedestrian path running along the edge of steep slopes on the southern side of Kodai. The walk, winding around Mount Nebo, starts in front of the Van Allen hospital, running parallel to the Van Allen Hospital Road and joins the main road beside St.Peter's Church, providing a stunning panoramic view of the plains. On a clear day one can view as far as Dolphin's Nose in south, the valley of the Pambar River in the southeast, Periyakulam town and even the city of Madurai. A fascinating rare phenomenon called Brocken spectre can be witnessed, when a person can see his shadow on the clouds with a rainbow halo. This occurs when the sun is behind the viewer and clouds and mist are to the front. There is an observatory with a telescope halfway along the walk. Entrance fee to the walkway is nominal and it is open all year.[32]

Bear shola falls

Bear Shola Falls, Template:Km to mi from the bus-stand, is a tall waterfall in a Reserve forest. The final approach to this quiet area is a gently climbing foot-path.

Green Valley View, (formerly called Suicide Point) Template:Km to mi from the bus-stand and near the golf course, has an excellent panoramic view of the plains and a sheer drop of Template:M to ft overlooking the Vaigai Dam to the south. The stairway leading up to it is highly commercialized and lined with rows of shops to tempt tourists.[33]

Shenbaganur Museum of Natural History, Template:Km to mi from the bus-stand, founded in 1895, is open to the public for viewing their outstanding taxidermy collection of more than 500 species of animals, birds and insects and a living collection of over 300 exotic orchid species. The museum is affliated with Loyola College in Chennai and exhibits artifacts of the ancient Palaiyar tribes people whose descendants still live in these hills.[34]

Solar Tunnel Telescope at
IIA-Kodaikanal Solar Observatory

Kodaikanal Solar Observatory Template:Km to mi from the bus-stand on Observatory Road, at Template:M to ft is the highest location near Kodai. The first observations were commenced here in 1901.[35] Former Director John Evershed, discovered the phenomenon of radial motion in sunspots, now known as the Evershed effect. The Kodaikanal Terrestrial Telescope can view a grand panorama including: Sothupparai Dam, Vaigai Dam, Periyakulam and Varaha river. This Indian Institute of Astrophysics facility has a comprehensive Astronomical Science museum with organized public tours, access to the astronomy library, and scheduled night-time telescopic sky viewing. It is open daily to the public during peak season, and a few hours each Friday the rest of the year.[36]

Pillar Rocks

Pillar Rocks, Template:Km to mi from the bus-stand, is a set of three giant rock pillars which stand Template:M to ft meters high. [37] Managed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, The viewpoint can be crowded but is not commercialized. There is an excellent public garden adjacent to the viewpoint.

Guna caves, made popular by the Tamil movie Guna, previously called Devil’s Kitchen, are deep bat-infested chambers between the three gigantic boulders that are the Pillar Rocks. The deep narrow ravines of the caves are now closed to public due to the trajic deaths of twelve youths there.[citation needed] These dangerous caves are highly protected now, and tourists can see sections of the cave system from afar.[38]

Dolphins Nose

Dolphin's Nose, Template:Km to mi from the bus stand, is flat rock projecting over a breathtaking chasm Template:Ft to m deep. It is an undisturbed area Template:Km to mi down a very steep rocky trail beginning soon after Pambar Bridge. Orange juice vendors along the trail offer a welcome rest stop. Beautiful views of steep rocky escarpments rising from the plains can be seen. The old village of Vellagavi can be reached through a rugged bridle path here. A short paved walkway leads from the road here to Pambar falls. [39]

Silver Cascade

Silver Cascade, Template:Km to mi from Kodaikanal at a wide bend in the long and winding Laws Ghat Road, at altitude Template:M to ft, is a Template:M to ft waterfall formed from the outflow of Kodaikanal Lake.[40]The water quality is reportedly poor and not good enough for bathing.[41] This impressive waterfall is a popular stop for first-time visitors. There are a few souvenir and fruit vendors and many monkeys here. There is also a smaller but more serene waterfall below the bridge which crosses the stream here.

Kurinji Andavar Murugan temple, Template:Km to mi from the bus-stand, is famous for its Kurinji flower which blossoms in the area only once every 12 years. The deity here is called Sri Kurinji Easware, who is in fact Lord Murugan. This temple was built in 1936 by a European lady, who on coming to India, converted to Hinduism. She changed her name to Leelavathi and married a Mr.Ramanathan. She is also known as Lady Ramanathan. This temple is under the management of Arulmighu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Thiru Kovil, Palani.[42]

Transport

Road sign at Perumal junction

Almost all distances from Kodaikanal are calculated with the lake as the central point of reference. The nearest airports are Madurai (Template:Km to mi), Trichy (Template:Km to mi) and Coimbatore (Template:Km to mi). The nearest Railway stations are Palani Railway Station (Template:Km to mi) north, Kodai Road Station (Template:Km to mi) south east and Dindigul Railway Junction (Template:Km to mi) east.[43]

The 2 - 3 hours drive to Kodai via the steep and winding Ghat roads from Batlagundu or Palani is a memorable experience. Travelers may stop at turnouts on the road and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Palani hills.[44] There is a 28 km shortcut from Periyakulam to Kodaikanal via Kumbakarai under construction. Bicycle rentals, taxis, vans and limited city buses are available.[45] Rickshaws are not available.[46]

Notes

  1. ^ Kodaikanal Department Of Municipal Administration And Water Supply, Historical Moments, 2005
  2. ^ city definition: Town#India
  3. ^ Mitchell Nora, Indian Hill Station: Kodaikanal, University of Chicago, Dept. of Geography, ch 2, Rational for Tropical Hill Sations, pp13-15, 1972. Original from the University of California Digitized Jan 28, 2008
  4. ^ Kodaikanal Department Of Municipal Administration And Water Supply, The meanings of the name Kodaikanal, 2005
  5. ^ Sangam_landscape#Kurinji_.E2.80.93_Mountainous_Region
  6. ^ The Cyclopaedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia by Edward Balfour, Published by B. Quaritch, 1885, Item notes: vol.2 H-NYSA, P583, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Jan 29, 2008
  7. ^ Mitchell Nora, Indian Hill Station: Kodaikanal, University of Chicago, Dept. of Geography, place creepers, p. 98, 1972. Original from the University of California Digitized Jan 28, 2008
  8. ^ Mitchell Nora, Indian Hill Station: Kodaikanal, University of Chicago, Dept. of Geography, Kodaikanal Sangam, p97, 1972 Original from the University of California Digitized Jan 28, 2008
  9. ^ Mitchell Nora, Indian Hill Station: Kodaikanal, University of Chicago, Dept. of Geography, ch 2, Rational for Tropical Hill Sations, pp13-15, 1972. Original from the University of California Digitized Jan 28, 2008
  10. ^ a b Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation and Department of Tourism, Kodaikanal Princess of Hill Stations
  11. ^ kodaikanal.com, Kodaikanal - Shopping
  12. ^ www.kodaikanal.com, Kodaikanal - Hotels
  13. ^ State Bank of India, ATM Locator
  14. ^ kodaikanal.com Kodaikanal Banks
  15. ^ atmbankindia, ATM Bank Locations in Kodaikanal
  16. ^ kodaikanalonline.com Banks
  17. ^ kodaikanal.com, Agriculture
  18. ^ kodaikanal.com, Kodaikanal - Shopping
  19. ^ kodaikanal.com, - Hospitals
  20. ^ Kodaikanal Public School.
  21. ^ http://petersschoolkodai.com St. Peters School
  22. ^ Theresa University
  23. ^ Mother Theresa Women's University, retrieved Feb 25, 2007
  24. ^ Mother Theresa Womens University
  25. ^ Kodaikanal institute of technology, About us
  26. ^ Kodaikanal General Information, retrieved 4/12/2007Hotels/Restaurants, Banks, Hospitals, Schools, Temple, Recreation
  27. ^ Kodaikanal People Development Group
  28. ^ Cite error: The named reference shop was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ^ Bethania Kids Potter's Shed, Kodaikanal
  30. ^ R.W. Stewart and Tanya Balcar,Shola - Environmentla Newsletter, The Anglade Institute of Natural History, Sacred Heart College, Shembaganur, Kodaikanal 624104, India, pp318-319, No. (26, December 2000) Environmental Information System - ENVIS : India, Pambar Shola : A Success Story in Conservation-V - Profit from Waste
  31. ^ Kodaikanal Travel Guide, Bryant Park, 2007
  32. ^ www.kodaikanal.com, Kodaikanal - Coaker walk
  33. ^ TripsGuru Travel Services, Switzerland of the East, Green Valley View
  34. ^ NLC Ltd. (2004) "Important places -Kodaikanal" retrieved 4/12/2007"Important places -Kodaikanal"
  35. ^ Indian Institute of Astrophysics - A Brief History, Solar Observatory at Kodaikanal, retrieved 3/13/2007.[1]
  36. ^ Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, Kodaikanal Observatory
  37. ^ Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation and Department of Tourism, "Kodaikanal-Princess of Hill Stations", [2] p. 2
  38. ^ Saravanan Ang Mo Kio ,Life is 2 Alive, The Guna Cave - Devils Kitchen (2006-10-9)
  39. ^ www.kodaikanal.com, Kodaikanal - Dolphin Nose
  40. ^ , By Indian Academy of Sciences, Published by Indian Academy of Sciences (1972) Item notes: v.76 1972 Jul-Dec, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Apr 12, 2006, Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, p. 126
  41. ^ TripsGuru Travel Services, Switzerland of the East, Silver Cascade
  42. ^ Arulmighu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Thiru Kovil, Palani, Kurinji Andavar Temple
  43. ^ Kodaionline, Kodaikanal Travel Mode, 2008
  44. ^ Dindugal District Collectors Office, retrieved 4/12/2007About Dindugal District
  45. ^ Kodai Travel Guide,Kodaikanal a Beautiful Hill Resort
  46. ^ NLC Ltd., Important places around Neyveli Kodaikanal
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