Good morning! It is Day 2!
What happened?
Last night was the hardest part we survived through in this trip. The temperature went below expected and we were left shivering and hungry. Three out of four of us have fallen sick. I am the only healthy and energetic one, out of the four of us. Last night turned out to be quite a turmoil for all of us.
And?
Anyways, this morning was indeed a happy one. Just as I had expected, the sunshine and birds were here yet again to wake me up. I started today with a snippet of wisdom from the book Most and More by Mahatria, a book I depend on for my morning motivation. After a short read, I took a short stroll outside in my dad's company, still wrapped up in a warm blanket. We chatted about deep realizations as well as daily trivia. We walked through the tiny vertical garden, admiring the flowers and plants.
After a pleasant chat, we began getting ready for today's adventure.
What's next?
Just like last night, today's trip wasn't smooth sailing either. After several throwing-up sessions midway (not me, my sister!), we reached our first stop, La Sallette, a beautiful French church built uphill way back in the late nineteenth century. It is a quaint place with a colossal sculpture of Mother Mary, Father Joseph holding baby Jesus and Jesus himself. Below their feet are two angels, two other remarkable creations.
What blew me away was the perfection of the sculptures and their impeccable maintenance. One could never tell its age at sight, for they have been preserved for more than a century and yet, they have not lost their sheen over the years. This place is filled with history and heritage, which is quite obvious through the French engravings in the memory of the people who had been instrumental in the construction of this elegant church.
The serene atmosphere has the power to hush every chaotic soul into a silence. Though I was born Hindu, I never felt any connect with God. I am a karmic person and I have felt that eternal connect only with Nature and my soul within. However, to me, I enjoy the atmosphere of churches not because I believe in God, only because I enjoy silence.
Where are we going next?
After that, we moved on to our next destination - Moir Point, a spot famous for its breathtaking view of the entire town of Kodaikanal. Thanks to our foggy luck, it was totally enveloped in fog that we couldn't see a thing.
The roadside stalls are nothing of the usual here. One can get unique souvenirs to take back home at a very low price. Another interesting aspect is about a floral variety (yes, flowers again) that never withers! I learnt that the flowers can keep themselves fresh and vibrant without water or soil for up to a year! These are native to Kodaikanal and hence, we got three bunches at just Rs.50!
My favorite part
Next, we went to the Queen of attractions (to me, at least) *drumroll*..........Guna Cave!
Know earlier as the Devil's Kitchen, this cave was renamed as the Guna Cave after the Tamil blockbuster and Kamal Hassan-starrer 'Guna' went on floors in the early 90s. The most popular song of the film and a yesteryear sensation, Kanmani Anbodu, was shot right here in these caves. What once was a mere local attraction was directly catapulted to fame by the film Guna and attracted thousands of movie buffs to this humble cave. Unfortunately, public was denied entry into the cave due to unforeseen deaths since a decade now.
Nevertheless, I trek in high spirits, only to be amazed by the view in the forest. The fog, however, only added a touch of mystery here as I ventured deeper. The narrow rocky path in the woods eventually broadened to reveal something I had never seen before.
As I continued on the rocky terrain, I stumbled upon a large strand of the roots of a tree. Only when I looked up did I notice the humongous network of thick, woody, coiled roots where each strand was as thick as myself (if I sprawled over it). It was an unusual and captivating sight, which was the reason behind the flocking photographers.
What I felt...
How ironic is the bond between nature and common man! Probably, nature knew what human ignorance could result in, and hence the coil. At some point, the human mind comes to the verge of shutdown, juggling more than it is designed to. The mind and its thoughts are the ones that can build a castle higher than the heavens and still reduce it to ashes. Thoughts are love. Thoughts are confusion. Thoughts have the potential to crush the tallest barriers and yet tie up a man with invisible chains of worry.
Hence, the coil.
Just beside that was a high view perch on which I climbed. The fast blowing mist could either refresh you (if you visit in summer) or freeze your muscles to the point of seizures and paralysis (if you visit in winter). My case, unfortunately, was the latter.
This experience is something that will always enjoy a special place in my memories.
That brings Day 2 at Kodaikanal to an end.
Stay tuned for more updates!
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