A Roller coaster visit to Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal, the queen of hills was one of the places to visit in my bucket list right from my childhood. I always dreamt of going there someday in my adulthood whenever I watched a song on TV that is shot in Kodaikanal. I got a chance to visit that place with my friend, a cute leech who got stuck to me from 2012. We from two different cities met at a common spot Palani from where we both boarded to Kodaikanal. Palani bus stop was the best ever example for a poor sanitation as we could catch all form of diseases if we visit once, there we need to stand on a queue to get a token for getting into the Kodaikanal bus. We waited for the bus for a very long time, finally we boarded the bus and started crunching the snacks right from wafers to chips. When we climbed up at the first hair pin bend we shouted in a glee; as we progressed the temperature became colder. The bus driver drove carefully in such a way, before each and every hair pin bend he gave a proper horn to avoid accidents. In spite of it many young travellers overtook the big vehicle risked their own lives. On the way to Kodaikanal we saw many shops of home made chocolates, spices, coffee, honey and small eateries with magi, gobi pakodas. There were trucks carrying fresh tubers including carrot, turnip, raddish, beetroot. Most of the plum trees were destroyed in forest fire. On the way we could see many small streams apart from the big waterfalls, they were magical. There were some garlands offered to deities who resided under the small falls in each and every bends. Some looked like stones some were like idols. They are worshipped by the residents. We reached kodaikanal from there we should reach Poombarai where we booked for a camping, the bus was very late that made us to open our snacks bag. they didn't inform us about the situation in Kodaikanal. Where You won't get buses on time. They didn't pick us from the spot we wasted a whole day for them. There were no proper jeeps available. They are in bad condition and they are not sufficient for the number of people who arrive at the camp. Food was very bad. Place was full of garbage. Not maintained properly. It's not worth the money still for travel freaks and trek freaks can give a try. Next day morning they took us for a trek for waterfalls I stopped in the middle as I had high pressure. I was wondering how a cow was climbing up on the way that is so steep covered with grass and mist. I returned back. We went to kodaikanal and stayed in a hotel named spring valley. This was an another disaster. We had a worst experience ever. They didn't even intimate about how to use the lights and hot water. We went out and bought jellies and chocolates that night. It was very dark and cold. The next day morning hot water was stopped 1 hour before check out. They said they will supply break fast and it's not for free. When we recieved it we saw worms swimming in sambar and boiled insects in Pongal. They were very money minded. We wasted our money.We went out and had a nice breakfast dosa, Pongal, idly with vadas in a small shop shown by our Angel (car driver). He took us to near his house to introduce us with his family we showed a hi on the way from the car. We got a little hope only after seeing him because other than him all are cheating and could not be trustable Day 2 of our visit began with Mary, we visited a Catholic church which was 100 years old somehow after struggling to place the lighted candles we went inside. Eventhough I am an aethist I felt visiting the church for a hope. From there we went to Pambar falls, which was amazing I love to play in water I love to live in water the sounds of water splashing on the rocks took all my negativity. We went on bare foot as the footwear would never give friction. We went down to the falls there were many trees that felt down in the water. It was little dangerous that there is no prediction on when will the trees would fall on the water. We could not bath on the water as it was colder. The rocks took the shape of a dolphin nose on which you will be standing 1000 ft above the land. This was a breath taking view and it really tried to take my breath it was around 4 kilometers we need to walk up and down on a path full of rocks and tree roots that served as stairs with some mud in between. Fortunately there was no rain when we visited still it was a nightmare for me. I felt claustrophobic even when I had my leech with me. She was walking far away from me I was breathless I could not breathe properly I tried breathing heavily with a noise a angel from nowhere came to me and gave me some water. It told me to breathe with my mouth while climbing. Somehow I managed to climb up and I fought with my leech for not taking care of me. While we were fighting on the way to lake rain kissed us. It stopped when we got down the car. We took tickets for the boating and we two alone pedalled along the lake with our life jackets. I gained back my confidence that is lost in Dolphin Nose, as we pedalled on with our own force. There was a fountain in the centre of the lake we were near to that then we took a turn. On the way to the starting spot we met with an accident from the opposite boat we lost our track then we put the gear and started pedalling. There was huge traffic and many of them turned to be Patrols giving signals. Many made sounds of horn while driving back. It was complete fun finally we got drenched by the sudden rain just before we landed to the spot. We had an experience of visiting a low budget Venice. Throughout the journey I could say that Kodaikanal a beautiful art of nature is being spoiled and polluted by human beings in the name of tourism. There will be around ten to twenty pieces of garbage in any frame you set. Not just the land in water falls and little streams you could see small pieces of paper, plastic, waste clothes, bottles. Someday the mother nature would punish us back.