Food Culture & Festivals of Kodaikanal

In Kodaikanal, you can enjoy the different varieties of cuisines like Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Western. Also Homemade Chocolates, Sandwiches, Brownies, cheeses and some hot 'chai' are the most famous dishes in kodaikanal. Among locals, “Noodle Soups” and “Momos” are the most favourite ones.

So here below we take a comprehensive look at the places to eat at when in Kodai.

1. Tibetan Brothers Hotel: The lovely Tibetan folks have settled in many parts of India and I’m thankful to them for bringing their cuisine closer to home from the mountains. The Thukpa at Tibetan Brothers Hotel is nothing short of amazing. A bowl of Thukpa was enough for a complete meal for two of us. Another quick drop-by for their momos and we skipped the traditional steamed ones with the Fried Momos. Tibetan Brothers Hotel is a must try when in Kodaikanal for the simplistic food they offer in a warm dining place.

2. Cloud Street: A walk down PT Road and you’ll be amazed by the quaint little cafes it houses. From Indian, Tibetan to Continental, all kinds line this small street in Kodaikanal. Cloud Street deserves special mention for the fact that they make use of fresh ingredients to whip up some brilliant continental dishes. After a trek to the Dolphin’s Nose (which had me thinking to get back on the treadmill once again) we dropped by Cloud Street. A simple Pesto Pasta felt so good and flavorful that I don’t remember the last time I had so freshly used ingredients in my food. The Chicken Pot Pie was absolutely delicious too.

3. Royal Tibet: Another famous Tibetan establishment in Kodaikanal which we had a chance to drop in. Maybe it was an off day on their end but the food was disastrous. There are many who swear by Royal Tibet but I personally couldn’t even stand the strong smell that emanated in the hotel. A little bite of the Thukpa and Momos that we’d ordered had me pushing away the plate to a distance. The smell of uncooked meat had lingered long enough for me not to continue further. I should have just stuck to Tibetan Brother Hotel.

The celebrations in the small town of Kodaikanal are as vibrant as the natural beauty that this place has in store for its visitors. The enchanting town is truly blessed with different cultures because of the large numbers of tourists who come from different parts of the country.

However, that does not mean that the town has left behind its tradition and culture. It still holds dearly to its ethnic practices when it comes to the spirit of festivals.

Pongal: Topping the charts is the very famous Pongal festival. This is one festival which is a hit among all the regions of the country. Like rest of the state of Tamil Nadu, Pongal in Kodaikanal is also celebrated with equal extravagance and grandeur in the month of harvest, i.e. January. This is the harvest festival of the region and hence holds a great place in everybody’s heart. Anyone who comes to the town during the celebrations can feel the beat of the town pulse by pulse as this is the time when the town gives a neck to neck competition to the beauty that is naturally bestowed upon this hill station.

Natyanjali Festival: Celebrated in the month of February or March, this festival is dedicated to the Lord of dance, Natraj who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Hence, the celebrations are marked with dance performances from different parts of the country. It is celebrated locally and the festivities can be spotted in different parts of the town. Also, this is the only festival where the tourist through different sources can take part in the festivities. You have the moves, then this festival is for you.

Chithirai Festival: This is one of those festivals which bring in the people together as a community. The celebrations are held in the month of April and are backed by procession of Lord Kallazhagar or Lord Vishnu. People engulfed in the ras of spiritualism dance their way through the town and reach a certain point where a traditional puja is held with all the rituals and customs that have been taken from century old traditions.

Mother Salette Festival: This one is celebrated at the very popular Mother Salette Church that is considered to be a 133 years old edifice of Kodaikanal. Every year in August, a nine day festivities is organised at the church that includes people from all corners of Tamil Nadu actively participating. The festival reaches its jolly conclusion on the 14th and the 15th of August when a grand feast is organised for everybody.

Along with such traditional celebrations, Kodaikanal also hosts several other fairs serving varied interests of the visitors and the locals alike. Some of the more popular ones are:

The Summer Festival: The festival finds its origin in the fact that initially Kodaikanal acted as a summer retreat for the American and the British settlers. Coming from that era, it is still celebrated with equal zeal and involvement in the month of May when the town is also at its best climate wise.  The festivities at this one include boat races, flower exhibitions, and interesting fruit shows.

Tea and Tourism Festival: This is one the most famous festivals among the tourists in the country and also other parts of the world. During the festival held in January every year, people get served with a wide variety of tea for tasting by the Tourism Department. If they like what they taste, which they do, then they can also buy the tea of every variety imaginable from this festival. Along with that, you can also enjoy the delectable South Indian cuisine and other cultural programs that are organised just for the valued tourists.