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Nestled amongst never-ending tea and coffee estates in the Palani hills of Tamil Nadu, at 2200 metres above sea level, lies Kodaikanal — a haven of cool air, wafting mist, occasional showers and lush greenery! Peace of mind, pieces of home-made chocolates, therapeutic walks in the ancient forest and frenetic paddle boating is what this little hill station is all about. Nature seems to have been partial to Kodaikanal as its breathtaking beauty and invigorating climate envelopes your senses in a manner few places do.

Five hundred kilometres from Chennai, with good roads that make the distance wither, is where we take you this month. Kodaikanal is a place to rejuvenate amidst forests heavy with the fragrance of eucalyptus or to park your boat in the middle of the serene lake and read that book you’ve been wanting to for so long.

T he most crowded tourist season in Kodaikanal is during the summer — mid-April to mid-June. The best time to visit is when the monsoon season is coming to an end, usually during end-August and early September. December and January are good too, but you need to have a liking for nippy weather and plenty of warm clothing to make the most of this holiday town.

If pristine nature and glorious landscapes give you a high, August and September may not be the ideal time due to the mist that rolls around the hills like an erratic vagabond.

The temperatures rarely climb higher than 22-24C during summer but drop down to around 4-5C during winter. Officially the off-season is on from June 16 to March 31.

Clothing-wise, you’ll need woollies for the evening almost all year round. If you’re keen on doing some trekking in the ‘sholas’ (forests), pack sturdy walking shoes and insect repellent.

To prepare your car for the 1100km round trip, a routine service would suffice. Key areas to check are tyre pressures because the road affords high speeds; brakes, especially for the steep roads 50km before Kodaikanal; and the lights if you happen to drive by night.

When in Tamil Nadu . . ....do as the Tamilians

Potato plantations on the road from Kodai to Vilpatty. Watch out for wild boars darting across.

do, in plain language — speak Tamil. Hindi is treated like an ostracised son and English is rarely bothered with. So what we bring you is a simple guide to a few choice phrases in Tamil that can take you places in Tamil Nadu.

“Where can I get petrol?”

Petrol engai kedaikum?

“Is there a hotel nearby?”

Pakkathillai hotel irukka?

“How do I get to Trichyfrom here?”

Ingaydhu Trichyku eppadi poradhu?

“How do I get to Kodaikanal from here?”

Ingaydhu Kodaikanala eppadi poradhu?

“Is there a place to staythe night nearby?”

Rathri thangarathukku pakathilley edum kedaikumah?

“Is there a mechanic nearby?”

Pakathilley mechanic irukkah?

“Excuse me, are you Veerappan?”

Ennagae, ninga Veerappanah?

Kodaikanal’s Boat & Rowing Club lets out row and paddle boats for fun-filled drift on the Kodai Lake at a reasonable charge.

For the first 50-odd kilometres out of Chennai the road, though it is a four-laner, is teeming with pedestrians, rickshaws and local transport buses.

After that it converges into a two-laner but with sparse traffic except for the towns encountered en route. Truck drivers plying on this route are a playful lot with each having a signature tune of his own which he plays merrily to announce his arrival or just like that.

National Highway 45 all the way to Dindigul is straight and wide, with hardly any blind corners or speedbreakers. You may come across the odd family on a single-seater moped, but the rider keeps to his lane or on the shoulder which is considered the safest by him.

After Dindigul you hit State Highway 36 which takes you to Kodaikanal. The last 50km however abound with blind corners and steep inclines. Full concentration is the need of the hour.

In Kodai use your car as little as possible. Hire a cycle or a horse and do your bit in saving the little town’s fragile environment.

At present Kodai is seeing a lull in tourism — so this is possibly the best time to drive down there.