Spiralling streets, green meadows hiding behind white clouds, lakes, lush pine forests, the strong aroma of natural oils and, of course, troops of monkeys flocking around, Kodaikanal has it all. Etymologically interpreted as “the gift of the forest”, this place has much more to offer than the quintessential cool weather and scenic beauty. The first picture that comes to mind while reminiscing about my trip to this place is a thick stack of dark chocolate bricks layered with crunchy roasted almonds. Sites to Visit I visited the “Princess of Hills” in the summer of 2012. Ten years is way too long to remember the details however, the mystifying aromas and the addictive tastes of the place were too strong to fade. We started our sightseeing by walking along the Coakers Walk, a kilometre long walkway, on the edge of the hill. The panoramic view of the vast stretch of valleys covered by a blanket of white clouds was breathtaking. We spent the first day of our two-day long trip visiting the most recommended sites like the Kodaikanal Lake, spread across a huge circumference of almost five kilometres, the Pillars Rock, a pair of rocks standing tall like pillars and the Guna Caves, named after the popular Kamal Hasan starrer film in 1991. Since entry to these caves is prohibited due to accidents, we just took a look at it from far. We saved the last day for the most exciting part- chocolates! Walking through piles of chocolates, smelling the strong aroma of the beans was surreal. Kodaikanal is one of the pioneers of chocolate manufacturing in India. Historically, the place was developed originally by the Americans. Apart from providing them refuge from the sweltering heat, it also attracted them due to the variety of plant species found here. The cocoa plant was one such discovery that was unknown in India before. As a result, the cacao bean gained value in Kodaikanal even before the revolutionising of chocolate began. Thus, giving this hill station a seeming head start in the chocolate industry. Today, the place is home to some of the biggest chocolate producing factories in India, namely the SV and SG cottage industries, and the Kodai chocolate factory. It is also home to a large number of small homemade chocolate factories that act as a huge tourist attraction. From the aromatic coffee beans to the refreshing fruity flavour to the crunchy nuts hidden beneath the thick layers of smooth chocolate, Kodaikanal gives you all. You can end your trip with the multifaceted scent of the forest- a small bottle of eucalyptus oil.
20 Apr 2023
Uzma Afreen
