I have been to Kodai at March 28, 2008 my plan was for 3 days(Friday to Sunday).My journey started from Bangalore, I booked ticket in KSRTC to and fro. Bus started at 9.15pm and reached Kodai at 9.30am its almost 12hrs journey from Bangalore. I booked rooms online in TTDC, it was good and the rates were normal, we cannot expect too much like private hotels but not bad. I reached the hotel by 10am on Friday. I need to tell about the people in kodai they are very friendly. I got one driver for sight seeing and for other places. The reason why I’m posting this review was because of the driver, he is very nice guy because I heard drivers cheat the public but he really helped me a lot and he took to many places in kodai which was new to me. I have already been to kodai twice with my friends but I have not seen this place which the driver showed me this time. I went with my wife so the driver took only us in the car(Omni). Since it was off season he charged only 1500/- for three days I think it’s the cheapest. I asked some friends they told 2500/- etc but he did not ask much.
I need to give his details of the driver to the reader**:
*Driver Name: Deno
Phone Number: 9894329804(TamilNadu)
If anyone want to book for sightseeing you can contact him before and book in advance because most of the travel agent take in bulk( 2 or 3 couples together) which will not be good because we can spend our own time in some places. Deno(Driver) can speak Tamil, Hindi and English.
*About the places:
First day(Friday)** we went to lake, boating and there by one park called Bryant Park(good place for walk). Near the lake we can have some good home made chocolates(you can find some government registered shops) and Masala Tea which is very famous in Kodai. And then we went for cycling around the lake its almost 5km. After that we were back to our room. We had some good lunch and dinner at TTDC where we stayed. For all this place our driver took with no charges.
Second day(Saturday) we went to Bear Sola falls, Vattakanal falls, Mountain Beauty, Dolphin nose, Echo Rock, Difference Rock. Bear Sola falls & Vattakanal falls is good place where you can play with water falling from some height. To reach Dolphin nose and Echo rock you need to walk for 2km where the roads are not there only between tree roots etc we need to walk.
Third day(Sunday) We went for local sight seeing like coaker walk, green valley, guna cuve etc which is almost 17 places in kodai for sight seeing. All the places our driver took and he also tells about the history. Almost for the places we had mist…so we enjoyed the second day compared to third day.
So reader better avoid visiting usual places go for some different places like Fire watching Tower, Berijam Lake etc which I know and I had no time to see in Kodai. We came back to room by 3pm because we had bus(KSRTC) at 7pm. We were ready at 6pm our driver came and dropped us in bus stop. Bus reached Bangalore at 7pm. Our trip was good because of the driver which I got in kodai. Reader, if you go with your family better book rooms in advance and go. Regarding the climate it good in the off season also… in off season you can enjoy without any crowd.