Kodaikanal Off The Beaten Path

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If you head to Kodaikanal from Coimbatore you can not miss the huge windmills on both sides of roads.

To be very precise they will fall after the Pollachi town. You can stop by and shoot those dianasours in your recording media.

Kodaikanal is such a great place to take it easy from the rigors of traveling in India! The weather is cool and the people are quite friendly. I loved the hustle bustle of India but sometimes I did need a break from it. Kodaikanal seemed quite a bit different.

21 km. from Kodaikanal in TamilNadu nesting in the midst of a thick wood, is an ideal picnic spot and campsite. Berijam is the most beautiful lake in all of South India. Originally discovered by the British & Spanish people, this place was a swamp 80 -100 years ago. It has been converted into a lake with catchments areas around the lake. The lake itself is situated at a very high altitude, just a couple of hundred feet below Kodaikanal. The lake has very pure water and is the main source of water for the town,
Periyakulam, which is situated, in the valley below Kodaikanal. Berijam Lake lies in a beautiful valley, reflecting the glory of the specious in its fresh waters. An ideal locale for trekking.
Berijam, dotted with dense pine and acacia trees, is a quiet spot like an outpost. From here you can trek up to Kavunji, which is a laid-back village. (Buses also serve Kavunji from Kodaikanal). If you want to have a glimpse of the waterfalls and scenic beauty, trek further up to Polur.
Berijam is the last point you can travel by car or any other four-wheeler. There are two roads from Berijam; one goes to Manner and the other to a small village called Kavunji. Since both the roads are blocked for traffic, they are just perfect for trekking. The Manner trek is about 40 km from Berijam and Kavunji is about 9 km. You can even catch a bus from Kodaikanal to Kavunji and trek to Berijam. It is indeed a spectacular scene to view the bison and deer all around the place.
Forest laws protect Berijam Lake and the immensely beautiful forest.Tourists need special permission from the forest office, in Kodaikanal, to go there. Tourists are allowed to stay in Berijam till the evening. However, persuasive trekkers get to stay overnight in Berijam at a dormitory which can serve as a base for trekking.
Rest and relax in comfort amidst South India's finest scenic beauty, or enjoy the rugged outdoor life by trekking. The mystic power and beauty of the lake can be yours as long as you wish.

An ideal picnic spot located 1.6-km from the lake, which can be by a
picturesque, rugged hill path. Bears once used to drink water above the
falls.
To reach this place, cross the lake bund, pass the Telephone exchange on
your right, and at the junction take the lower road past Clifton Hotel. The
approach is rugged hill path. The falls are at the best in rainy season.