Day 3 – A Nature Trek to Dolphin’s Nose

Date: 13-Apr-15

We completed one year of our marriage on this day. What an incredible year it had been, filled with wonderful memories, valuable lessons, and unforgettable experiences. A big thank you to Thilak for making the year so special.

The day began with anniversary wishes from our family members. When we stepped out onto the balcony, we were greeted by a beautiful sight, a long line of clouds resting gently on top of the mountains. It was the perfect beginning to our final day in Kodaikanal.

The plan for the day was simple: trek to Dolphin’s Nose and then begin our return journey to Bangalore. Since we were unsure how much time the trek would take, we decided to check out of our cottage in the morning itself. After the trek, we would start directly towards Bangalore without returning to the accommodation.

We quickly got ready, checked out of the hotel, enjoyed breakfast at Hilltop Woodlands, and headed towards Dolphin’s Nose View Point.

Beginning the trek to Dolphin’s Nose View Point

As planned the previous day, Thilak parked the car near La Saleth Church on St. Mary’s Road, and we began our trek at around 9:15 AM. From this point, Dolphin’s Nose View Point is approximately 3 km away.

While researching the trek, we noticed that very few travel blogs mentioned the exact route to Dolphin’s Nose. Using Google Maps, Thilak identified this route as the most suitable option, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. Although the path was narrow and not well maintained, it was easily one of the most scenic routes I have ever walked.

Initially, I was a little nervous because the trail passed through a forested area, and we knew very little about the route. However, my fears proved to be completely unfounded. The trail was safe, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The path followed the route shown on Google Maps and wound through dense forests. It was not a tar road, but the cool, cloudy weather made the trek extremely pleasant.

A surprise along the way – Vattakanal Falls

After walking some distance, we reached the Pambar Stream. Near the stream, we came across a junction where another road joined our trail. Unlike the forest path we had been following, this road was well constructed, and many vehicles were arriving from that direction.

This route connected to the other side of Upper Shola Road, which Google Maps had marked as a walking trail. For a brief moment, we wondered whether we should have driven through that route instead. However, the forest path we had chosen was so scenic that we quickly realized we would have missed a memorable experience had we stayed inside the car.

Just beyond Pambar Stream, we discovered Vattakanal Falls, a delightful surprise that was never part of our original plan.

As we continued walking, the clouds once again descended onto the road. The already beautiful trail became even more magical as mist drifted through the trees around us. After approximately 1 km, the well-constructed road ended, and we arrived at a parking area where several vehicles were parked.

The final stretch to Dolphin’s nose viewpoint

From the parking area onward, everyone has to walk to reach Dolphin’s Nose View Point. There were a few small shops near the parking area. After confirming the directions with a shopkeeper, we continued our journey.

This section of the trek was considerably steeper and much more rugged. The path was a mud trail filled with boulders of various sizes. In several places, exposed tree roots covered the ground, making the descent slightly challenging. A few houses and small shops along the route had benches where visitors could rest. Since we were walking downhill, I did not feel particularly tired. However, the thought of climbing back up later did concern me. Many families, including women and children, were trekking ahead of us. Watching their enthusiasm and energy was inspiring and encouraged me to keep going.

As we approached the viewpoint, the cloud cover became denser. The surroundings looked absolutely magnificent. At around 11:00 AM, we finally reached Dolphin’s Nose.

Standing above the clouds

The view was breathtaking. The massive rock formation, shaped like the nose of a dolphin, extended dramatically over the valley below. Although many visitors ventured close to the edge, both of us were uncomfortable taking that risk and chose to admire the scenery from a safer distance. The entire area was wrapped in clouds, creating an atmosphere that felt almost surreal. The experience was unforgettable.

I am grateful to Thilak for insisting that we visit this place. Had we skipped it, we would have missed one of the highlights of our Kodaikanal trip.

We spent nearly half an hour enjoying the scenery, breathing in the fresh mountain air, and simply appreciating the beauty around us before beginning our return trek at around 11:30 AM.

Route Map

A rainy farewell to Kodaikanal

The return journey was the more challenging part of the trek because we now had to climb the steep trail. Surprisingly, I did not feel as tired as I had expected, perhaps the pleasant weather helped.

When we were about halfway back, it began to drizzle. Fortunately, we had carried an umbrella. As we neared La Saleth Church, roughly half a kilometre away, the drizzle turned into a heavy downpour. Within minutes, we were almost completely drenched. Yet, neither of us felt disappointed. Instead, it felt like the perfect ending to our anniversary trip. The rain, the clouds, and the beautiful surroundings made the farewell even more memorable. Since we were soaked, we decided to skip lunch in Kodaikanal and planned to stop somewhere near Dindigul instead. With that, we bid farewell to the wonderful hill town that had given us so many unforgettable memories.

Return journey to Bangalore

For our return trip, we took the route through Kodai Road to join NH7. The drive from Kodaikanal to Kodai Road was exceptional. The roads were extremely well maintained, and the weather was simply fantastic. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed this stretch of the journey. At around 2:00 PM, we reached Batlagundu, where we stopped at a small hotel for lunch before continuing towards Bangalore.

The drive along NH7 turned out to be far more enjoyable than I had expected. The pleasant weather kept the journey interesting, and our little Nano maintained speeds of over 100 km/h for much of the drive. The only downside was the toll charges. During the return journey alone, we paid a total of ₹412 in toll fees.

At around 9:00 PM, we finally reached home, bringing our wonderful trip to an end.

Travel snapshot

As the trip came to a close, both of us felt happy that we had chosen Kodaikanal as the destination for our first wedding anniversary.

Every moment we spent there remains special in our memories. The tree-lined roads, drifting clouds, romantic rain, scenic viewpoints, mist-covered mountains, and the unforgettable trek to Dolphin’s Nose all combined to create an experience we will cherish forever. Some journeys are memorable because of the places you visit. Others become unforgettable because of the moments you share. For us, this trip was the perfect blend of both.

• Route Travelled: Spring Valley Residency > Hotel Hilltop Woodlands > La Saleth Church > Dolphin’s Nose 
  Return Journey: La Saleth Church > Kodai Road > Batlagundu > Dindigul > Karur > Namakkal > Salem > Dharmapuri > Krishnagiri > Hosur > Electronic City > BTM Layout

See also:

• Kodaikanal Trip – Planning
• Day 1 – Beautiful Drive to a Beautiful Place
• Day 2 – Journey through the clouds