Guna Caves Kodaikanal

Jomzgf · 26th February 2009, 09:32

Hi...

I had been to kodaikanal about a month back. That was a great drive from Palani up there, for there was not much traffic and it was as if i was driving through a private road

.

There we finished almost all places like lake n cockers walk etc soon. Then headed towards "Guna Caves" akka "Devil's Kitchen".But was shocked & disappointed- It’s a place that’s fenced with barbwire ever since 12 boys decided to go too deep into the caves five years ago, and didn’t come back. That was the one place we wanted to see for almost all the other sites seems familiar except for the suicide points.

Also came across a piece of news about a lucky malayalee guy, who survived his fall into one of the depths of the caves. But the saddest part is, the news is in Tamil :( . I read the English part which came on the results page.

Anyone who has gone there?? Know any guides who can guide us to the caves?? Planning to drive up here again.!

--jomzgf

brraj · 26th February 2009, 10:23

I have been there done that.
Its very adventurous and people ignoring the fence is common there.
There are three places where you need to be very careful while crossing, if you slip you are dead. You need to jump from once rock to another rock to reach the end point and then you see HELL and locals call it as 'PATALA'.

esteem_lover · 26th February 2009, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by brraj

There are three places where you need to be very careful while crossing, if you slip you are dead. You need to jump from once rock to another rock to reach the end point and then you see HELL and locals call it as 'PATALA'.

Sounds like a video game. Is it closed now ? How is HELL like ?

brraj · 26th February 2009, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Sounds like a video game.

Yes, You have to be there to believe it. People want to play real life games and endanger their lives and that includes me aswell. Curiosity KILLS

.
But, I have to say that was one of thrilling experience in my life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Is it closed now ?

I have no idea about current condition as this was 4 years back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

How is HELL like ?

No definition, you need to experience it.

Jomzgf · 26th February 2009, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by brraj

I have been there done that.
Its very adventurous and people ignoring the fence is common there.
There are three places where you need to be very careful while crossing, if you slip you are dead. You need to jump from once rock to another rock to reach the end point and then you see HELL and locals call it as 'PATALA'.

I happened to see all these iron meshes on the ground above these deep dark holes.!This one is on the top portion, well within the fenced area. Ther is a video in youtube, in that also i think they have put meshes on these deep parts within the cave. But i'm not sure if it is the same portion which u are saying.!

Have you heard about that person who survived the fall..??

Tempelhof · 26th February 2009, 11:22

See Exploring guna cave | Panorama of Doodles

Jomzgf · 26th February 2009, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by brraj

Yes, You have to be there to believe it. People want to play real life games and endanger their lives and that includes me aswell. Curiosity KILLS

.
But, I have to say that was one of thrilling experience in my life.

I have no idea about current condition as this was 4 years back.

No definition, you need to experience it.

U can have a look of HELL when u go there..!! But i tell you the surroundings of this HELL is beautiful.

brraj · 26th February 2009, 12:03

You guys are lot lucky to go now as there are meshes all around and atleast now you don't have to jump rocks

.

I have no idea about the person who survived the fall, But when we went there locals say that at least once in a week people go missing.

You can have a look at this video

YouTube - Guna Caves

@esteem_lover : You can see the hell at the end of this video believe me video doesn’t do any justice.

esteem_lover · 26th February 2009, 12:17

Ok, now i get it. This is called guna caves because of the movie Guna ?

brraj · 26th February 2009, 12:23

Yes, its named after kamalahasan's famous movie guna.

jraj · 26th February 2009, 12:44

Yes "Devil's kitchen" was renamed as Guna caves after Kamal shot his movie there.
Went there in 1998 during college days and had lots of adventures.Sincere suggestion would be not to indulge in any such adventures as one small mis step and even the body couldnt be collected.

Went there again in 2008 and now that place resembles a zoo,in the sense that you have fences all around and you virtually are inside a cage and see the place.But I would say the Govt is right in doing this to avoid lives being lost.

The same goes to Suicide point as well.It has been renamed as Green valley view and you have shops lined on both sides of the narrow pathway and you have heavy fencing in the view point.The beauty of the place is lost but the fencing etc serves its purpose.

neoranjit · 26th February 2009, 12:46

As brraj said, one scary place. I happened to visit even before the fences came on. There are small 'gaps' that lead you straight down the hill . A lot of ppl have lost their lives here accidentally.

Jomzgf · 26th February 2009, 13:04

yes this is the video that i mentioned. There is a link in tamil news. Can i paste the link here?

Spitfire · 26th February 2009, 13:13

Amazing place.. Sad it has been fanced out. If done with safety equipment could have been a awesome place to go for a hike.

Jomzgf · 26th February 2009, 13:15

dear brraj

How did you go down there.? was there guide to help you out?

And regarding the guy who was rescued, there is a link in thatstami.oneindia.com .

The story goes like this. This guy along with his friends went for the trip without the parents knowledge. They had had liquor too it seems. while trying to explore the caves, this guy fell. All the others were in panic as they cannot call up home and say this news. The authorities also had no hope. Then one other guy in the gang thought of going near the spot and he called out for his friend and he replied. So the second guy said he would rescue his friend and asked to give a rope and threw it down.

This is the story behind the fall and rescue that i heard. May be that guy who fell was lucky enough that he did not go too deep.

26th February 2009, 09:32	#1
Jomzgf Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: banglore Posts: 7 Thanked: 3 Times	Guna Caves Kodaikanal Hi... I had been to kodaikanal about a month back. That was a great drive from Palani up there, for there was not much traffic and it was as if i was driving through a private road . There we finished almost all places like lake n cockers walk etc soon. Then headed towards "Guna Caves" akka "Devil's Kitchen".But was shocked & disappointed- It’s a place that’s fenced with barbwire ever since 12 boys decided to go too deep into the caves five years ago, and didn’t come back. That was the one place we wanted to see for almost all the other sites seems familiar except for the suicide points. Also came across a piece of news about a lucky malayalee guy, who survived his fall into one of the depths of the caves. But the saddest part is, the news is in Tamil :( . I read the English part which came on the results page. Anyone who has gone there?? Know any guides who can guide us to the caves?? Planning to drive up here again.! --jomzgf
	(2) Thanks

26th February 2009, 10:23	#2
brraj BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 913 Thanked: 1,282 Times	I have been there done that. Its very adventurous and people ignoring the fence is common there. There are three places where you need to be very careful while crossing, if you slip you are dead. You need to jump from once rock to another rock to reach the end point and then you see HELL and locals call it as 'PATALA'.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 11:22	#6
Tempelhof BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 477 Thanked: 152 Times	See Exploring guna cave \| Panorama of Doodles Last edited by Rehaan : 26th February 2009 at 13:20. Reason: Hi, please avoid quoting an entire large post. It inconveniences our small screen & mobile readers. Thanks.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 12:17	#9
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	Ok, now i get it. This is called guna caves because of the movie Guna ?
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 12:23	#10
brraj BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 913 Thanked: 1,282 Times	Yes, its named after kamalahasan's famous movie guna.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 12:44	#11
jraj BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Michigan,USA Posts: 487 Thanked: 173 Times View My Garage	Yes "Devil's kitchen" was renamed as Guna caves after Kamal shot his movie there. Went there in 1998 during college days and had lots of adventures.Sincere suggestion would be not to indulge in any such adventures as one small mis step and even the body couldnt be collected. Went there again in 2008 and now that place resembles a zoo,in the sense that you have fences all around and you virtually are inside a cage and see the place.But I would say the Govt is right in doing this to avoid lives being lost. The same goes to Suicide point as well.It has been renamed as Green valley view and you have shops lined on both sides of the narrow pathway and you have heavy fencing in the view point.The beauty of the place is lost but the fencing etc serves its purpose.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 12:46	#12
neoranjit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 588 Thanked: 195 Times View My Garage	As brraj said, one scary place. I happened to visit even before the fences came on. There are small 'gaps' that lead you straight down the hill . A lot of ppl have lost their lives here accidentally.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 13:04	#13
Jomzgf Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: banglore Posts: 7 Thanked: 3 Times	yes this is the video that i mentioned. There is a link in tamil news. Can i paste the link here? Last edited by Rehaan : 26th February 2009 at 13:19. Reason: Yes you may post the link. Also, please avoid quoting an entire large post. It inconveniences our small screen viewers.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 13:13	#14
Spitfire BANNED Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Panaji - Goa/Bangalore - Karnataka Posts: 3,312 Thanked: 774 Times	Amazing place.. Sad it has been fanced out. If done with safety equipment could have been a awesome place to go for a hike.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 13:15	#15
Jomzgf Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: banglore Posts: 7 Thanked: 3 Times	dear brraj How did you go down there.? was there guide to help you out? And regarding the guy who was rescued, there is a link in thatstami.oneindia.com . The story goes like this. This guy along with his friends went for the trip without the parents knowledge. They had had liquor too it seems. while trying to explore the caves, this guy fell. All the others were in panic as they cannot call up home and say this news. The authorities also had no hope. Then one other guy in the gang thought of going near the spot and he called out for his friend and he replied. So the second guy said he would rescue his friend and asked to give a rope and threw it down. This is the story behind the fall and rescue that i heard. May be that guy who fell was lucky enough that he did not go too deep.
	() Thanks