Finally, a hill station you can head to without any qualms! Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu is now welcoming tourists who can show a valid e-pass. Here is what you need to know. By Amitha Ameen
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With the recent Unlock 4.0, Tamil Nadu has eased a lot of its lockdown restrictions including allowing travellers to visit hill stations. Apart from allowing inter-district buses and trains to resume, the state has also announced the resumption of travel to popular hill stations after being closed for more than five months now.
The move came after tourism stakeholders from Kodaikanal requested the Dindigul District Administration to reopen tourism in the region. The administration has now given permission for three tourist spots to reopen, namely Rose Garden, Bryant Park and Chettiar Park. Other important areas that will remain closed for the time being include the famous Green Valley View and Berijam Lake.
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While the government has cancelled the e-pass requirement for intra-state and inter-state travel, it has made the same mandatory for hill stations simply because these districts don’t have the same bandwidths as a big city would to handle a large or sudden spike in COVID-19 cases. Along with Kodaikanal, the other hill stations that require e-pass include Yercaud and Nilgiris.
According to a report on Times of India, the Dindigul Collector M Vijayalakshmi said that those wishing to apply for an e-pass to enter Kodaikanal need to click the ‘tourist’ category in the official portal.
As far as tourist spots are considered, all standard operating procedures apply such as sanitizers, face masks and social distancing. And travellers are advised to carry their own food and water when they visit tourist hotspots.
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