To provide maximum benefit to the tourists during their short stay at Kodaikanal, the Dindigul District Administration has planned new initiatives such as tree top stay homes, elephant safari, trek through forest and spice circuit, paragliding, butterfly park and hop-on hop-off tours.
Dindigul Collector M. Vallalar has written letters to the Forest department officials seeking permission to introduce elephant safari, forest trek and for erecting tree top stay homes; to Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation for hop-on hop-off tours and to horticulture department for rose garden.
“Usually, tourists spend around two-three days. Since Kodaikanal has favourable season for six months, we want tourists to spend some quality time. Elephant Safari will kick off soon. It will be introduced near Pillar Rock as wild elephants are spotted near Mannavanur village. The next in line is trek inside the forest to create awareness about preserving the environment. We will take tourists three to four km inside the forest. Besides trek along spice circuit is also planned,” Mr. Vallalar told The Hindu .
According to him, it would take some more time to erect the tree-top stay homes, as the forest officials are in the process of identifying the right trees.
As per the proposal, around five huts with a small pantry would be erected for honeymoon couples. These huts will be placed about two metres from the ground.
Battery car
Introduction of battery operated car in and around the lake is proposed to enable senior citizens and others, afraid of going for a boat ride/horse ride, to have a pleasant view of the lake. A rose garden will come up on a horticulture farm near observatory in six months time. The rose garden costing Rs.95 lakh will be spread over seven acres.
Having failed to get positive response from TTDC officials for the proposed hop-on hop-off tour, the Dindigul District Administration is planning to do it on its own. Butterfly Park will take some more time, while talks are on to study the technical feasibility for introducing paragliding, Mr. Vallalar said.
