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-   -   KODAIKANAL- Princess Hills in Summer 2010. (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/80105-kodaikanal-princess-hills-summer-2010-a-3.html)

:thumbs up well said Sree.
Excellent expression, nice travelogue, quality pics and good selection of representative pics to tell the story.
One query, tariffs of Villa retreat resort? will be helpful to know that.

@ sami316 & longdrivelover,
Thanks!
www.villaretreat.com this would be helpful to you.
@ laluks, sure sirji.:)
sree70

Yes it did clear the confusion. Tks. Sounds like a good deal though.

@sree70 nice travelogue. I am driving to Kodaikanal this weekend. Have booked Villa Retreat too. Can you provide info on the cost and quality of food/beverages at Villa Retreat?

Nice trip Sree, I plan to cover Kodai some day. The pictures have also come out well.

So after experiencing both routes (1&2) which one would you prefer now and why ??

Wow. Excellent pics. I have been to Kodaikanal in July 2007. I too stayed in Villaretreat. The place is great, especially the reception area is superb. Thanks for sharing the pics.

very nice pictures, congratulations on the trip!!!

Nice pics and well written travelogue! Studied in Kodai for 6 years and this post makes me want to make a ride there...

Thanks! At Villaretreat the resturant is a Multi cuisine & the service, food taste & ambeince are good. The rates are in par with other veg hotels (astoria & woodlands). Try pastry @ danish bakery next to Astoria veg / Bata it tastes superb.

Thanks for the comments. Daduji, I took route2 on both up & downward journeys. I prefered only route2 being shorter & sceinic rather than boring NH7.

@ ootocycle, srikanthpotluri & naveenroy.
Thanks!. Your comments add fire to my spirit.
Wait for the 3rd day thrills & lots of snaps.
Sree

3rd Day of the trip:
Previous Night I was informed @ the resort reception by Mr.Ashok that we can watch the sunrise in Kodai. Got up early morning & grabbed my new camy & started clicking.
@ 5:55 dawn

@5:56

@6:10

@6:11

@6:12

@6:13

@6:14

@6:16

Guess from where i vewied & clicked these snaps?
From insde my Room 107 & through this window @ 6:17

A Shawdow formed on the wall from the sunrays.

the outside window veiw of room 107

After the beautiful sunrise veiw got refreshed and @ 7-30 left to Green valley veiw/suicide point, Pillar rocks & Guna caves/Devils Kitchen.
@ 7-30 am the roads & crowd were empty.
After watching the Silent valley on the way saw the Golf court.

Few Snaps from famous pillar rocks.



Then went to guna caves, here you have buy entry tickets & camera fees. Walked for a short distance & saw barricades & fencing done @ the entry of the caves. Due to the death of 13teenagers few years back the govt. has taken this step.
Snap showing diff barricades

Cave entrance

In few years Plastic will out number the trees in the forest

It was 8-45 am & everyone being hungry drove to Woodlands Hotel for the Breakfast. B/F @ woodlands tasted ok expect for dosas.
Our resort room checkout was @ 9-30am and so rushed to the room & packed all the luggages. None of the team members were willing to leave kodai so early & still few places were to be explored and Planned to leave kodai @ 4-00pm.
Setlled the bills & safely kept the luggages in the locker room provided by the Villaretreat.
Chalked out a plan to visit few falls nearby & Lions Cave. Then to Dolphin Nose, Echo Ponit & Mountain beauty. Took the directions to these places from the resort reception.
On the way to these falls found few guys standing on the road & shouting Guide!Guide!. Picked one slim teenager as a guide for RS.225/-to guide us for above places. (slim teenager:. our car was fully loaded)
A snap enroute

Waterless FAIRY FALLS

LIRL FALLS the old famous lirl soap ad was done here.

VATTAKANAL FALLS

After veiwing the vattakanal falls the the guide led us to the Lions cave. The 3/4th KM path form the V.falls is a narrow path with steep slopes & rugged surface.
trekking path

Lions cave outside

Lions cave Inside

The guide told us before Lions used to live here & hence got the name.I dont know how much true is it.
A panaromic veiw from lions cave

water fall

Trekked back to the top & recharged our selves.
Play & Food station

A beautiful pink flower


After recharging our energies left to Dolphins rock. The Guide was useful in showing us the shortcuts while trekking & also while driving to indivuial places. ( No sign boards to these places)

sree, which direction is the liril and vattakanal falls? I guess these are not in the normal touristy loop road that starts and ends at Coakers walk. Is this in some other direction?Fairy falls is inside and electricty board area and I remember seeing a wall. Now I see some construction from your photo? any idea what's going on there??

Nice snaps. Liked the one with 2 kids !

Yes, this is what I like to do when I'm in Kodai next time - just visit the non tourist places & ofcourse, my visit will be only during winter & not summer.

Hi Sree

Somehow all the photographs are not getting loaded on the screen
or is it only me ?

Sunrise and Sunset are two of the natures wonderful events. I always feel amazed to watch a sunrise or sunset. Watching it in Kodai would be much more romantic and wonderful for sure.

Why did you choose Canon 550D ?, i am seeing more people picking up a Cannon these days. Nikon seems to be loosing the battle slowly. Am I correct in my understanding ?

I've 2 Canons myself. Why I didn't choose Nikon was the exhorbidant price. If you compare the features of Canon & Nikon the price of Canon will work out much cheaper than Nikon.
Edit - This could be my perception, but I see more of Canon service centres in India rather than Nikon; shows Canon's commitment in India.