Lost In The Kodaikanal Jungles with 360 Inn

Kodaikanal is typically associated with fond memories. However there is a dark side of this hill station that has seldom been explored. Places where a misjudgement by a few steps can make a difference between day and night. 4 friends from Chennai realized this the hard way after being lost in the jungles of Kodaikanal for an entire day. What started off as a trek turned into an adventurous battle against nature alone into the jungles.

The trek to the waterfalls about 6 kms from Kodaikanal city started off very smoothly.The only hitch was the absence of our regular guide due to unavoidable circumstances. I decided to take the group myself through the scenic but dense forest route. We left for our destination at about 10 am sharp. As we walked through the deciduous forests ( due to lack of rain) the group were thoroughly enjoying themselves basking in the sunlight piercing through the trees. The first hint of the ordeal ahead came when we wandered away from the actual path. Guides typically judge the path through the forests by looking for broken shrubs or twigs . Broken twigs indicate that someone has walked through the path earlier as a result of which the shrubs are broken (due to the foot being placed on it).Unfortunately in our case the puyal (storm) that had lashed in Kodaikanal a month back had destroyed traces of those broken twigs and hence hampered my observations. However I managed to correct myself and get the group back on track. We were delayed by 20 minutes. For the last 10 minutes we managed to reach the waterfall by listening intently to the sound of the gushing stream as we got closer. What would typically take an hour and a half took us about 2 hrs to reach. The group had a good time under the waterfall. Since it was winter the water was too cold. We decided to head back to the city after about 30 minutes.

On our way back, we had estimated it to take us the same time to get back. As we headed back the way we came a group of monkeys blocking our path. We managed to get them out of our way, we looked up at a TV tower that was about 300ft above us. Since I had seen the TV tower on our way to the waterfall I decided to keep an eye on it as an anchor for our trip back. Unfortunately in a few moments the tower was hidden behind a group of dense trees. Finding our way through the shrubs the path looked pretty much clear and straightforward to me. We found ourselves walking downslope. It struck me as pretty odd that we were going down much faster than we had gone upslope to the waterfall. But there was nothing else to rely on since other routes seemed dense and impenetrable. The thought that the rain could have destroyed other routes didn’t strike me then ! After about 45 minutes of walking , I stepped on a layer of loose mud and before I could realize I fell hard on a huge slab of stone which hit me directly on my left knee. For a moment the pain was so immense that I was pretty much sure I had a fracture. But I guess having the group of customers with me I had no choice but to get up and find a way out of this situation. We decided we will walk the path and figure out where it would take us. At a distance we could see a dilapidated stone cottage identical to the one that we have read in ‘Hansel and Gretel’ . Fortunately there was no man eating witch in this cottage. We reached a dead end after the cottage which ended in a high fence. We realized we had nowhere to go from here except about 800 ft upwards. We could now see the TV tower which was now much higher than we had seen it an hour back. Moreover I was just dragging my left leg and the pain was getting worse. The time was already 2pm . I told the group that we had no other option but to jump over the fence and climb all the way up since our side of fence was too dense to climb up. I somehow managed to climb the fence and decided to climb about 400ft above to check if there was a path. As I reached the top there was a barricade on top which was again a dead end. I signaled to the group below that we would have to climb over to the side of the fence that we had initially come from and get up from there, the side that initially thought was dense.

All of us were too exhausted even to think if we were on the right path. We decided to focus on the TV tower and try to get as close to it as possible. After about 10 minutes of literally tearing our way through various shrubs we could see the huge fence compound of 'Mahindra Zest'. When we looked below we couldnt believe that we had climbed almost 800 ft to reach Zest. We climbed the fence and apologized to Mahindra for being trespassers. When we explained our plight to them they were kind enough to give us a bottle of water. We thanked them profusely and left !

This is one adventure that we at 360 Inn will remember for a long time !

Hiking to the temples of yore with 360 Inn

When we look back at the end of the current year there is a pall of gloom with all the recent terrorist attacks. As much as there is gloom there is hope!

A group of 5 friends from chennai decided to bid goodbye to the year 2008 with us @ 360 Inn. They wanted an unforgettable and memorable experience that would last a lifetime ! Last but not the least they wanted to be left alone and temporarily cut off from the outside world and venture into uncharted territory !

In the days of yore, people used to walk through miles and miles of forests to have a rendezvous with god since temples were situated far away from civilization deep in the woods ! This weekend, we set the stage for these 5 people to visit such a temple about 45 kms from Kodai city deep in the Kodaikanal jungles. Legend has it that deers and sambhars seek shelter in this temple to protect themselves from tigers and leopards !

The trek to the temple took us through dense shola forests after which we reached a clearing that led us to a mountain that we had to hike to reach our destination. We had packed our lunch since the trek was about 7 kms one way from the 360 Inn cabins and the group wanted to spend some time at the temple. On our way we came across some tiger excrement which had a nail within it which probably belonged to a deer or a sambhar. The dump being very fresh, the guide warned us we might have company if we didn't head back to our cabins before daylight!

As we reached the temple, we came across a herd of bisons grazing the vast landscape that unfolded in front of us oblivious of the stock market turmoil and the economic climate wrecking the world below! We looked at them with a sense of awe wondering how pathetic our life was compared to theirs!

The group had the opportunity to share a private moment with the almighty (that only the rich such as Amitabh Bachchan and Anil ambani seem to afford these days) admist the clouds at an altitude of 7000 ft with wild animals for company . Our guide offered us some 'Karpooram' (Camphor) and we bid goodbye to 2008 with a renewed hope for 2009 !

We just didn't look up to the gods but went up to them and got back to earth in time for the new year !

SMOT Business School Outbound Programme - Living it out rustically in the misty jungles with 360 Inn

In one of the most intriguing moments of this trip we were at the slippery edge of an overflowing river that we had to cross in the midst of pouring rain. Unfortunately my camera couldn't capture that river crossing moment. A slip might have cost me a fracture, a risk that i decided not to take !

A group of 40 students arrived from Chennai on the 6th Of September to live it out rustically deep in the Kodaikanal jungles. You could call it an outbound activity or an offbeat adventure. As fun as it might sound, the group was just not prepared for what they faced for the next 2 nights. A relentless onslaught of nature's fury in the form of leeches, persistent rains, overflowing streams and slippery terrains that put to extreme test their mental strength, team work, determination and resilience.

We picked them at 10:30 am at Poombaarai village on 6th. The group was then divided into teams of 6 each after which they set out on a gruelling 17km trek to our forest cabins in a remote village. Each team was given a guide, terrain map, lunch pack and a bag of salt that they would have to rely on to get to their destination.

It was around 5pm when they reached their destination about 35 kms from Kodaikanal city tired, weary and completely exhausted ! We set up a campfire for the night and retired early. The next day, each group of 6 people was assigned a task of cooking food for their group and share common food with the whole group of 40. We supplied them with basic items such as vegetables, rice, oil grown on our agricultural farm and a few knives. Each team had to collect their own firewood and water for cooking. To make matters worse, it started drizzling as the mist set in at noon. The teams then set out locating and cutting wood for fire and gathering water for cooking. It was fun watching them struggle against the might of nature and slowly getting to understand as to how blessed they were to get food on a platter within the comfort zones of their homes !

Infact the best learning experience was making rotis on stone though they were roasted on a tava!

On the night of the 7th September we wrapped up the adventure trip with a grand campfire session that was setup by the students themselves. Amazing team work can do wonders was the key lesson learnt !

This trip was arranged by us, 360 Inn for SMOT business school as a part of their outbound initiative

Venturing into Leech infested jungles of Kodaikanal with 360 Inn

There are times when so much frustration creeps into our everyday lives that we long to take off to a place where there are no signs or traces of human habitation. Places where few or no human beings have ventured before and where even sunlight doesn't get through ! If at all there are living beings they are 'blood sucking Leeches' .

Kodaikanal is not exactly known for leeches ! On the fringes of the Indira Gandhi National Forest ( a bio-diversity nature reserve famous for tigers, bisons etc) lies a beautiful village nestled in the midst of ancient caves and the almost extinct shola forests. We are always on the lookout for village natives who have been to such places and who are very familiar with the environment since they are the ones who we have to rely upon during the trek. Last week we had a group of 4 people coming from Chennai ( 2 men and 2 women). They were looking for a fairly adventurous trek . So we decided we will take them into a few areas that were unexplored.

On 12th of June , we were ready for our rendezvous with a guy who was known for his familiarity with trekking terrains that were not just adventurous but dangerous as well. On that day, he was performing the wedding ceremonies for his niece whose marriage was to take place the next day. At 10:30 am we saw a short, 70 year old man walk towards us with a sickle in one hand and an umbrella on the other . We almost fell off when we got to know that he was our guide, the guy whom we had to rely on if any calamities befell us. All our apprehensions regarding his capabilities were dispelled when we saw him walk and the way he cut branches to make way for us through the forest ! Here was a guy who was creating a path, making his way through the forest using calculated guesses that only management consultants are known for ! I was amazed by his confidence and his quick pace that was difficult for us to keep up with. We were around the 30s and he around the 70s.

The initial part of our journey was fine and quite scenic and i found myself wondering if this trek was really adventurous as i had thought it would be, until we hit a road which we had to cross. Beyond the road was a forest with thick undergrowth of trees that didnt seem to have any kind of path within it. The man turned and warned us that from now on, we would have to be ready to face a steady but relentless onslaught of leeches and then smiled at us. We were not very sure if he was joking since we had shoes while he was walking with a bare bathroom chappal. When we mentioned this to him he remarked that the leeches would come on to us and not him ! Soon we headed into the thick undergrowth. With every step the forest got denser and denser and the man ahead of us was cutting his way through the trees to get us deeper. All of a sudden we could see tiny 'snail-like' creatures crawling on us . Every time we warded off one, 10 others would crawl up. Inspite of the man helping us, a few in the group were terrified.

After trekking about 7 kms the women in the group realized that the going would only get tougher since it was a 15 km trek one way and decided to head back to the cabin . Though the guys in the group were disappointed there was no choice.

We discussed our options at the campfire at night. We could either go for a regular trek the next day which was an option that the guys were not too happy with it. The second option was for the women to go on a short trek with one of our guides while us guys would get back to face the leeches with a well planned strategy. We decided on the latter.

So the next day we filled our backpacks with salt bags since they were the only way to counter leech attacks. Ofcourse none of us had really any experience with leeches. We just figured we can pull it off. Atleast if we could do it we would know how leeches would react to salt. We walked down to the village to meet our man who had a sarcastic smile on him. As usual, he had a sickle and an umbrella with him. He suggested that since the women weren't around we might as well go on another trek right into the Indira Gandhi national forest which would be much more adventurous than the previously day's trek. His philosophy was that risk didnt matter since god had already written everyone's place and time of death ! Having known this guy's skills we decided to go ahead with it come what may. Moreover, i own a beautiful plot on this route about 15 kms in the forest which has a beautiful waterfall. We decided to head there.

The site at the waterfall was amazing. Due to the rainy seasons the water was gushing in with full force and we were having a lot of fun! On our route back we decided to take a shorter route back to the cabin since we were getting late. Just as we started heading back we saw a stretch of sand next to the waterfall on which there were several leeches crawling around. We removed our salt bags and poured a little salt on one of them to see how the leeches would react. Leeches typically grow long as they suck blood . But when we dropped salt on them they started to curl up and after about 5- 10 minutes lay lifeless curled in a fetal position. As we headed back we saw several leeches under our foot which we ignored. Our man instructed us to walk fast so the leeches would not have enough time to crawl onto us. After a few miles having left the thick undergrowth we removed our shoes to check. I had 2 leech bites on my foot. Luckily the leech had fallen down and there was very less loss of blood.

As we were exhausted and tired i had a jeep pick us up and drop us back to the cabin. On the way we came face to face with a group of bisons grazing in the forests. We took a snap and headed back to our cabin.

Life does suck sometimes, leeches do always !

Kodaikanal Village visits with 360 Inn

Last weekend, we had a group of 4 from Bangalore. Unlike our previous customers, this group was visiting Kodaikanal for the first time. Though they were quite keen on an eco vacation (camping and trekking) they were also interested in visiting a few regular tourist spots. I thought this was an interesting opportunity for 360 Inn to provide a very contrasting picture of two different aspects of Kodaikanal, one being regular tourism and the other being offbeat adventures.


Given their short trip to Kodaikanal ( reaching on saturday morning and leaving sunday evening) and their love for the outdoors we picked them up from the bus stand on the 3rd and headed immediately for a 4km forest trek to Vattakanal falls. I could really feel their passion for the outdoors seeing them enjoy their bath in the waterfalls. I realized this was what they wanted, a perfect eco vacation ( taking bath not in a bathroom in a resort but under a waterfall). We then headed to a few tourist places. By afternoon the traffic in Kodai was at its peak , much worse than in Bangalore. Having shown our guests the 'not so interesting' part of Kodaikanal we decided it was time to show them what we do best, what we felt they would love.

At about 5:00 pm on saturday, six of us ( 4 in the group and my guides) left for a quaint village nestled in the hills about 30 km inside the Kodaikanal jungles. We had arranged for them to stay in a cabin about 2 kms from the village. The cabins, which are on a hilltop, do not have any electricity and are equipped with neat western style bathrooms outside. Nights are spent around a campfire and each room has a set of candles to find your way within your room. We will ofcourse have a torch for you to navigate or trek around the place during the night. Any other amenities such as food and drinks (soft drinks/alcohol) would be arranged for by 360 inn from the village itself. We always have 2 people accompanying our guests ( one person takes care of your preferences while the other is your trekking guide).

Coming back to the trip, our guests arrived at their destination at around 8pm and had dinner at the village to get a taste of the traditional village food. This is an experience that no resort can offer. The food at villages is so different from the usual food that one gets at resorts. Each village has its own gastronomic idiosyncracy that is very difficult to imbibe staying in a typical resort. Moreover, the innocence and warmth of these villagers gives such a homely touch ! On the way back to the cabin from the village our guests were lucky to spot a few bisons grazing at the nearby farm. After an hour long chat at the campfire they retired for the night .

The next day we had organized a 6 hour long trek (11km one way) to the next village and back. This trek would take us through the beautiful countryside with all its streams, waterfalls and forests. On the way we came across a dead owl. Our guide also showed our guests lemon scented grass and other forms of kodai specific vegetation. Ofcourse there is always a chance of spotting a bison or a leopard.

360 Inn village visits are a unique experience where you can watch the lifestyles of villagers from close quarters. You also get to enjoy the solitude of such surroundings (undisturbed by the outside world) in remote cabins where the only lights and sound you will hear will be that of fireflys and night creatures. Ofcourse our team @ 360 Inn will always stand by onsite with you to make sure you dont miss out on the 'necessary evils' of city life such as food and drinks (including alcohol) !

Sometimes it is great to be kept in the dark !

360 Inn introduces camping in the Kodaikanal jungles, not for the faint hearted !!!

For all you backpackers and nature enthusiasts out there, how about a camping experience? We realize that many of our customers are still new to camping. So we are introducing a pseudo camping experience in Kodaikanal where you will stay in the middle of a reserve forest in a "no frills" forest cottage and the only sounds you will hear are the soft rippling sound of water from the nearby lake, the sounds of the night creatures and an occasional roar of a wild bison/wild cat with just a few forest guards lodging nearby!!! And how about waking up to the sound of birds chirping , taking long walks in the early morning mists, far away from the maddening crowds , walking barefoot on the moist grass, taking bath in the cool lake water, basking in the mild sun, exploring acres of forest land with no signs of human habitation?????

About 30kms from kodaikanal lies a beautiful lake inside a reserve forest- a large fresh water natural lake which is far more beautiful and exotic than the now crowded kodai lake. The entry into this forest is restricted .

However we can get you permissions to stay overnight in a no-frills forest cottage with no electricity or running water (just the lake) where you will forget about all such “inconveniences” when you look out of the window and see the mountains and the lake beckoning you to explore and discover yourself!! We will also organize day/night treks deep into the forest where all you have to rely upon is your senses and our knowledgeable guide who has stayed in this reserve forest for 35 years! We can also arrange for a cook to serve you meals. But ofcourse you are free to make your own food over a bon-fire!

This is strictly for the adventurous and especially for those souls who have had enough of the regular touristy vacations and just want to camp and trek untill they drop!!! The only warning is you may not want to go back to your hum-drum existence in the city!!!

Some rules for camping:
1. Please act responsibly.
2. Do not litter, plastic is banned and please collect all your refuse back to the town for disposal
3. The place is frequented by wild bisons, wild cats etc. You are responsible for your safety. Please respect wildlife and they will do likewise

us @360inn.com

Trekking with 360 Inn last weekend

We would like to give you all a first hand account of the trek last weekend.

First of all, its great to know that our customers are finding us. In the last few weeks we have had customers calling 360 Inn regarding trekking in Kodaikanal. Most of them have been to Kodaikanal earlier and were looking for something to do in Kodai other than the usual. As i had said earlier we were very clear when we started 360 Inn that our value proposition would be "showcasing aspects of Kodai other than tourism". Nice to know we are being found by people who want exactly that.

This weekend we had four youngsters from Bangalore. These guys had called us up five days before their arrival date in Kodaikanal as we had specified in the 360Inn blog ( we prefer this to tailor the trip to your needs). They had been to kodaikanal before and were looking for something adventurous for 2 days. Having got their specific requirements ( total trekking round trip of about 20km), we decided to explore a few terrains in Kodai ourselves. Unfortunately some of our work was hampered by the relentless showers in Kodai. So we had to also keep in mind how the trek paths could be affected by showers on the day of the trek.

In Kodaikanal, trekking is organized by guides who are controlled by a union. Moreover, there are very few guides who have access to routes that are pristine and jaw dropping. So organizing a trek is not so much about finding trekking routes as it is about finding the right guide. Luckily we have a network of local people who cover 90% of trekking routes in Kodaikanal. We ourselves try to explore new routes to cover the remaining.

On the day of arrival of these 4 youngsters from Bangalore our usual guide had a minor accident for which he had to be hospitalized! We had just about half an hour to get things in place before our customers arrived on the morning of 5th april 2008 . I had to make a few frantic phone calls to get hold of a guide. Moreover, i had to explain to him that we needed a terrain that was challenging enough for these youngsters , a trek that would require them to give all they had , an experience that they would consider worth coming back to Kodaikanal ! I was not very sure if i had convinced the guide, but decided to take a chance by dangling a carrotful of promises that i would employ him in the future if he could deliver.

Sharp at 10:15am on the 5th April 2008, we met our customers at the gate over which we had to jump to begin our trek ! I will not be able to describe anything beyond this in words. But iam sure the above pictures would help !

We had initially planned for 2 days of trekking and some sight seeing. But the guys were so exhausted after the trek that they decided to cancel other activities for the day unless i could offer them something as good as or better than the trek did. And iam sure they knew the answer to it and hence headed to their room for the rest of the day.

Sometimes i look back and wonder about my transition from the corporate environment (product management) and how different the experiences are. But the more i think of it the more iam convinced of the fact that at the end of the day i do the same job which is to address customer requirements wherever they come from. And what makes my job better here is the fact that i have full flexibility in doing what it takes to deliver what the customer expects and have immense satisfaction seeing them tired and exhausted after a literally "breathtaking" trek.

And mind you, i try to make it to every trek with my customers to get a feel for what they expect ! I have always been a 'hands-on' product manager :-)