Kodaikanal is now open for tourists; e-passes required

Kodaikanal Hills is now open for tourists, but one will need a valid e-pass from the respective district administration to visit there. The hill station usually attracts tons of visitors every year from around the country, but had to remain closed for 5.5 months in the wake of Coronavirus lockdown.

As the Tamil Nadu state government eased some of the lockdown restrictions as per Unlock 4.0 guidelines, it allowed inter-district buses and trains to resume operations from September 7. Meanwhile, stakeholders from the tourism industry in Kodaikanal requested to open up tourism activities, after which the Dindigul District Administration gave permission to reopen only three tourist spots, such as Rose Garden, Bryant Park, and Chettiar Park for the tourists from now on.
Reportedly, other famous locations such as the famous Green Valley View, Berijam Lake, etc., would be opened in a phased manner after consulting with the forest and other department officials.
Although the government has cancelled the e-pass system for intra-state and inter-state travels, it has made e-pass a mandatory requirement for visitors to popular tourist destinations, such as Nilgiris, Kodaikanal, Ooty, and Yercaud. However, those from the same district will not require the e-passes, as they can proceed to the hills with their address proof. Referring to this, Dindigul Collector M Vijayalakshmi said that those applying for an e-pass to travel to Kodaikanal would need to click the ‘tourist’ category on the online application.
Also, the tourist spots have been opened following the standard operating procedure, such as ensuring people are wearing face masks, are sanitising their hands, and are following adequate social distance. Moreover, water and food would not be available on the premises as per the guidelines.