Ode to Kodaikanal

 

Rolling Meadows  and lush grasslands, tall eucalyptus trees and dense shola forests, breathtaking valley views and waterfalls that materialise from nowhere and, the omnipresent lake - these, and many more, are the enduring images of Kodaikanal, or more endearingly, ‎Kodi, that haven in the Palani hills, which has been my favourite refuge, for over fifty years now! 

It is said that a picture paints a thousand words and it is through the pictures that I have been fortunate enough to shoot, over the years, that I present this ode to Kodaikanal. I remember my first visit to Kodi, as a schoolboy in the care of my uncle and aunt, winding our way up the ghat road. The memories are many - of a carefree childhood, young adulthood and beyond, and while the ravages of time and the mindless exploitation for commercial gain have left their ugly scars on this verdant land, Kodi still remains the 'Princess of hill stations'!

Over the years, trips to this tranquil sanctuary in the hills have become less frequent than I would have liked, but the magic of her attraction has remained undiminished. Whether it is the serenity of the placid lake on a cold winter morning or the freshness of the eucalyptus laden mountain air, one's senses are constantly caressed and spirits uplifted, like nowhere else.

The soothing silence of the night is broken only by the sound of crickets and as you gaze up into the brilliant night sky filled with a million stars, you realise the havoc that pollution has wreaked on our urban landscapes. The early morning walk around the lake is admittedly less pleasurable these days, thanks to the insensitivity of us homosapiens, but for a city dweller such as I, still quite an enjoyable start to the day.

Of course, no account of this magnificent landscape would be complete without a mention of its beautiful flowers, from rhododendrons to magnolias and dahlias and the mind boggling variety of bird life! Every colour, shape and size is on display, a veritable feast for the senses.