KODAIKANAL - Princess Of Hill station | development,Railway,education

KODAIKKANAL - Princess Of Hill station

Development  Stages In Kodaikanal :

Travelers going to Kodaikanal began their journey at Ammaia nayakkanur village and had to travel almost 50 kilometers travelling long hours by bullock cart up to Krishnamma Nayak Thope, then another 18 Km by Foot, Pony or Doli [carried by the hired coolies]. By 1853, biologists, British army officers and potential coffee planters thronged the place. In 1854, an improved 16 kilometers (9.9 mile) bridle path was built from Krishnamma Nayak Thope. the most significant change took place in the region when a group of American and British missionaries joined hands to establish a cathedral in the place.

Later on, the first Church was made in 1860 and then as the time passes by, many developments took place in Kodaikanal,Sir Vere Hendry Leving the Collector of Madurai created the Kodaikanal Lake in 1863 and a Boat Club was set up in 1890 and Boating was introduced to public and tourists only in 1932. Brightly Illuminated 9 Km circular Cycle and Walkers path around the Lake is an added attraction now.

Railway  In Kodaikkanal :

 The economy of Kodaikanal predominantly depends on tourism. Plans to Develop Kodaikanal started as early as 1875 when the Railway extended the railway lines from Chennai to Tirunelveli and a train halting station was built at Ammaianayakkanur village, to facilitate the visit to Kodaikanal. The station was named as Kodaikanal Road Station.

The Kodaikanal-Gudalur Railway line was under the contemplation of the Government from 1889 when the Madras and Travancore Governments made an agreement regarding the waters of the Periyar river in 1895 a survey was made in 1897 after the completion of the Periyar dam, the Government granted permission to the then Wilson and Company, Madras to construct a light railway from Kodaikanal railway station, then Ammaayanaickanur railway station, which lies between Dindigul and Madurai railway stations, to Gudalur within two years.

The company failed in floating the capital wanted within the period allotted and thus the permission granted automatically expired. Then the Government made several surveys till 1920 After the close of the First World War, the Government sanctioned in 1920 this line under the postwar reconstruction scheme and directed the District Board, Madurai to intimate to the Government within two years whether it was willing to take UP this work, as the then South Indian Railway Company and the two planters of the Kannan Devan Hills were willing to undertake the work.

In 1922 the district board of Madurai intiiP&ted the Government to cancel the sanction of the Kodaikanal road- Gudalur railway line and requested sanction for the construction of Madurai-Bodinayakanur line

Health : In April 1915, Dr. Van Allen raised funds to construct the first first government hospital at the entrance of Coaker's walk. It was named after him. Its facilities have been updated and now it has an X-ray machine, well equipped pathological lab, and operation theatre with blood transfusion facilities.

Education In Kodaikanal : 

The American and British missionaries brought about further development in the region in the field of education and medicine, Although it started out as a part of their missionary program, the educational institutions in Kodaikanal became a part of an elite group of learning center. Now there are many educational institutions in Kodaikanal. Kodaikanal comes under the Batlagundu educational district. The head office for the educational district serving from Batlagundu government boys higher secondary school.

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