Monastic Retreat

Even the most popular travel destination can be a revelation, Shikha Pushpan finds on a trip to Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu.

KODAIKANAL IS TO SOUTHERN INDIA what Shimla is to the North Indian holidaying crowd, or so I believed, till I took a short trip to the idyllic hill station on the crown of the Palani Hills to visit the new Tamara Kodai.

Located at an altitude of 2,195 metres, Kodaikanal is the only Indian hill station to be developed by the Americans. The traces of this legacy can be found in generous measure across the city in the form of distinct stone architecture. The Britons soon followed suit and converted Kodai into their summer retreat. What one sees today is a graceful amalgamation of Victorian charm and laid-back American vibe, blessed by thick, cumulous mist, a quintessential feature of the Western Ghats.

The Tamara Kodai, better known as La Providence among locals, was one of the first few bungalows to come up in Kodaikanal. A monastic retreat in the 1840s, the heritage structure has been restored and converted into a sprawling resort, with its colonial lineage intact in the form of tiled roofs, azulejo tiles, stained glass doors, and cosy fireplaces. In the backyard of its French-style cottages lies the sprawling Pambar Forest, home to virgin waterfalls, gorges, and sanative plants, including the indigenous neelakurinji.