What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you listen to the popular Tamil tune “Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan” from the Kamal Hasan starrer movie “Guna”? The natural yet mysterious Guna cave derives its name from the psychological romance movie shot in 1992. Here are a few interesting points on the Devil’s Kitchen in Kodaikanal:
- The Guna cave is also known as the “Devil’s Kitchen”, and is located on the outskirts of the hill station of Kodaikanal which is accessible from the Moir Point.
- The place got raving popularity after the success of the movie “Guna” as more tourists started visiting the cave to catch a glimpse of the massive, pillar-shaped rocks.
- Frequented only by hikers before the movie was shot, the Guna cave has a group of caverns located amidst the three massive boulders called Pillar Rocks.
- The gorge is immersed in the thick low clouds during the monsoon and winter seasons. The main entrance of the cave is separated from the hill top by about 400 metres.
- Guna caves, one of the highly visited tourist places today, was first discovered by B.S. Ward, an English Officer, in 1821. The caves are located at an altitude of 2230 metres above sea level.
- The distance between Guna caves and Kodaikanal Bus Station is 8.5km. You need to walk about 1.5 km from the Pillar rock to reach Guna Caves.
- Walk through a delightful pine forest with the roots of the trees emerging onto the surface, lending an eerie look to the place.
- The site also has historical significance, in addition to being a popular touring destination. You can view the cave from a distance as its surroundings generally remain closed citing security reasons. You can enjoy the beauty of the spot especially if the sun is out and shining.