Kodaikanal - Culture

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Kodaikanal - Culture

In 1879, seventy-five Europeans come to Kodai for the ‘season’ the summer months. In 1883 the new hill station had a permanent nucleus of 615 residents, and by the mid 1900 s there were about a hundred Europeans living in kodai. Who were they? Probably missionaries, retried civil servants and army officials, coffee planters and a small smattering of entrepreneurs like Mr.Tapp who, later, started a cafe the Tea House, opposite the Boat House. You could order a tray of hot scones to be brought to yuour boat, or a bowl of strawberries and cream, But we cannot talk about boats without introducing the lake, and this cannot be done unless Sir Vere Levinge is brought into the picture.

Before his time the lake was a swamp where boys shot snipe, shepherds watched their flocks and sambar and even tiger came down for a drink in its streams. In 1867 Sir Vere, Collector of Mudarai from 1860, decided to settle in Kodaikanal. He was the type of citizen we rarely see, someone who actively nurtured his surroundings for the good of everyone. (Today, he’dbe called a conservationist). He introduced new varieties of fruit, vegetables and flowers, improved and built roads and was every willing to donate his own money for public works. But his major achievement was the creation, in 1863, of the lake. Apparently spending money from his own pocket, he had the swampy valley bunded to form the star-fish shaped attraction that lakhs of tourists walk around, sail on and admire.

Kodaikanal - Culture

Home » Tamilnadu » Important Places » Kodaikanal » Culture