In the local dialect, "Apani Dhani" means "Our Hamlet", an affectionate name given to the place by Ramesh C. Jangid, founder of the ecolodge and a pioneer of a form of militant tourism in India, especially in Rajasthan and his own native region of Nawalgarh.  

Get off the beaten track in India with a stay at Apani Dhani Ecolodge

For a lot of travelers in India, New Delhi is the capital of everything that they need to get away from as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, the town has some wonderful secrets that I would like to share with you.

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A mountain town, surrounded by lakes and waterfalls.

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A pretty, little mountain town, Kodaikanal sits by a lake lined with little grocery stores where you can snack on a range of local delicacies, both rich and spicy or not, that are sold along the banks. The area has a wide range of places to stay and <a href="/india/">attracts visitors</a> who often come for several days, if not weeks. In fact the town is filled with excellent places to eat and one of the bakeries is considered to be the best in the whole of Tamil Nadu. It's food is amazing - locals and tourists alike will queue up buy its pastries and come back for more. Even if I've forgotten its name, don't worry, just follow the crowd! Despite the fact that the altitudeis high, the area surrounding Kodaikanal is perfect for biking and, with its comfortable temperatures, there are often quite a lot of people cycling on the mountain roads. You should definately check out the waterfalls, where families of monkeys come to play and sneak snacks from tourists. Some traders sell bananas for you to give to these cheeky primates.

A mountain town, surrounded by lakes and waterfalls.

Kodaikanal, or Kodi, as it's affectionately known by the locals, is a former mountain resort where the English would go to escape the scorching Tamil plains. Its colonial past remains; the architecture and artificial lake look like they come straight out of a London park! Kodi is a great place to take a break if you've been touring for several days or weeks during your <a href="/india/">trip to India</a>. Its calm streets and lakeside shores breathe peace and quiet. If you can, come here by bus from Madurai. The route is beautiful and, as the bus winds its way up the mountains, you'll pass by numerous cultivated terraces that dot the landscape, creating a patchwork pattern. During your time in Kodaikanal, you can explore its streets, tour the lake by pedal boat or head to Sunset Point to watch the sun go down. There's always the option to hire a local guide to take you up the Nilgiri Mountains that border the town.

A peaceful haven, nestled in the Tamil mountains, Kodaikanal is the perfect place to go hiking or to take a relaxing break.

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