Kodaikanal

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Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal (also known as Kodai) is a city and a municipality in Dindigul district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Kurinji Flower is in full bloom around December once in 12 years, and it bathes the vallery in a beautiful sea of blue. Its because of this the hills are known as Nilgiris ('Nil' means Blue and 'Giri' means Hill). Its currently in full bloom this year(2006); its next bloom is expected in 2018. Slung between the high roock outcrops like acres and acres of green velvet and criss-crossed by clear sparkling streams, were the grasslands. According to the botanist Fr K M Matthew, These rolling downs of the undulating plateaux once occupied here fourths of the Upper palnis. The herbivorous wildlife grazed in the grasslands which was also the home of countless insects. These grasslands were a unique feature of the upper plateaux. It was wild, isolated country, its only calendar the twelve-yearly flowering of the Strobilanthus or kurunji flower, which covered the hillsides with its purple blooms.

In the valleys there are dense patches of broad-leaved, evergreen rain forests called shoals. Unlike rain forests on the plains, the trees here do not reach majestic heights because of the high altitude and constant, heavy wind. These moss and lichen laden forests are prime watersheds. They absorb water during the monsoon and release it judiciously all year round. When we cut forests we are breaking down what Fr Mathew calls our water tanks, resulting in floods during the monsoon and drought to follow. Kodaikanal is a hill station on the southern tip of the upper Palani Hills. Kodai is also a minor tourist attraction, and many of the locals make their living through tourist services. Kodaikanal is sometimes referred to as "Princess of Hill stations." Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerises any visitor. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enhancing waterfalls and a beautiful lake, Kodaikanal is a charming hill station.

Kodai is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m high and covers an area of 21.45-sq-km. The hill town is renowned for its educational institutions of international repute. The pride of Kodaikanal is the 'Kurinji-flower', which blossoms once in 12 years. The hill-plantain fruits and plums are known for their freshness and taste. Kodaikanal is one of the beautiful hill station in India , it is unique rows and rows of silky pine trees sloping down to clear, cold streams, spectacular views which suddenly disappear in foamy mist, people bundled up in sweaters and overcoats this is certainly not everyone’s mental image of India. To be sure there are other hill stations, but most of them have been smothered by urban development. We seek peace and quiet in a hill station, not the noise and fumes of factories. Hopefully the powers-that-be will not allow kodaikanal to become spoilt. Hill station, at 2133 metres in the Palani Hills, off-shoot of the Western Ghat Mountain range which runs north-south along the west coast of peninsular India. Kodaikanal is in Tamilnadu state, bodering kerala.

Kodaikanal

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