So after a couple of days in Madurai, Summer had arrived early and whatever about my visitor from Ireland and myself, even the locals start to melt in 38C – time to head for a hill station…

Kodaikanal

Originally built in the 19th century by foreign missionaries to escape the heat and the then prevelance of tropical diseases in the plains – nowadays its backpackers, hikers and honeymooning couples that come fleeing the heat.  At 2,100 meters up, Kodaikanal was a good 15-20C cooler than Madurai – this makes the region an ideal spot for growing everything from carrots, cabbages and pears to tea and spices.

Kodaikanal Lake

La Salette Church

Tea Plantation

Also discovered that I wasn’t quite the first from Westmeath to discover Kodaikanal – meet Sir Vere Henry Levinge, Baronet of Knockdrin Castle – who’s commerated here with a lakeside memorial.

He was prominent as an administrator in developing the town in the late 19th century and for amongst other things building the dam that created the town’s lake. It would seem the Irish get everywhere…

Alleppey & Cochin

I’d been to Alleppey (known locally as Alappuzha) before but only for an overnight trip on one of its well-known riverboats. With a couple of extra days, it was time to get lost in the backwaters. The whole area is cris-crossed with canals – originally used for the shippment of both rice and spices etc from further east and great for kayaking.

Allepey also has an excellent beach which unlike most beaches in South India was only moderately leathal for swimming. The Lonely Planet describes it as a ‘fraught’ beach, but the locals were swimming, so we said we’d give it a shot.

Last stop Cochin – the commercial capital of Kerala… one last sunset – for now.