Tropical Hill Station Stop

These flowers were growing everywhere!
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Leaving the heat of the north behind we were ready to head down south to visit Katy's Aunt and Uncle near the hill station of Kodaikanal, which interestingly was the only hill station in India set up by the Americans.  The hillstations of India were created so that people could escape the heat of the plains and enjoy cool mountain air holidays.

Admittedly, we were less than thrilled to start our trip down because of the sheer amount of traveling required to get there. From Khajuraho we took a 4 hour cab ride to the train station at Jhansi. Our train was scheduled to leave that night at 10pm but decided to cruise shamefully into the station at 4am instead. When we boarded the train we found both our beds occupied and the aisles crammed with people. Apparently an earlier train had been canceled and all its stranded passengers decided to board ours instead. After kicking people out of our beds we settled in for the sweaty 41 hour ride to Chennai.

Auntee Maureeeen and Katy outside the house.
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After an afternoon in Chennai we immediately boarded another overnight train and 12 hours later we reached Kodai road. At 5am we hopped off the train and ran to the waiting bus to beat the crowds traveling to Kodaikanal. A 3 hour, windy bus ride brought us up into the cool mountain air and at long last we reached Kodaikanal.

Katy’s Uncle Joe met us at the bus stop and drove us to their house which was located in Perumalmalai just outside Kodaikanal. The steep twisting driveway led to a small path that wove up through dense foliage to the farm house. It sat on a mountainside that overlooked nearby mountains and the valley below. The house was surrounded by tropical plants and fruits and looked like a resort in Costa Rica. We found ourselves asking, “Is this really India?”

A View of the mountains from the front of the house
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We spent much of the first day relaxing and enjoying the sprawling mountain views and peaceful quiet. Auntie Maureen made a few fantastic Indian meals and Joe let us sample his home brewed fruit wines. That afternoon a violent thunderstorm blew through the mountains and knocked out power for the rest of the day. The remainder of the evening was spent catching up under candle light.

The next day we drove up to bustling Kodaikanal to walk around the town. Maureen gave us a tour of the school where she used to teach German and we had a couple of meals at a local restaurant. By coincidence, this was the same school one of Katy’s coworkers had attended! With rain clouds threatening we took a quick boat ride out on the manmade lake until it started to sprinkle.

Joe rowing us around Kodai lake as Maureen tells us stories
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On our last day we went with Maureen to a nearby organic farm for a walk around the property. We met the two sisters who ran the farm and were treated to coffee and sweets. A guard led us up a steep staircase to a hilltop lookout, and then back down a rougher path through the coffee plants on the other side.

The plantation was as lush as a tropical rain forest. The overgrown path wound its way through banana trees, coffee plants, jack fruit trees, and flowering vines. It was the first time we had seen an area so fertile and cool in India, such a contrast and a welcome relief from the 120+ degree heat of the north.

View of some of the house and front garden patch
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That night our short stay came to an end and we caught a cab back to the bus station for our train to Chennai. Next stop Santorini!