Although Kodai residents still talk of going “shopping to Madurai”, Kodaikanal’s range of consumer goods expands from year to year. You can now buy banking pans (when in stock), socks (of a kind) and pressure cookers (but no spare parts). But the resident grumbles because everyday household thigs are always I short supply, everything has to come up in lorries.
What sort of shopping dies a tourist usually indulge in? You won’t be looking for pressure cookers or plastic buckets, most probably. You may want to take back souvenirs, or gifts for friends. Cottage craft is the place for you. This is rather a unique institution, which promotes and sells the handiwork of development projects. Some of these produce exquisite embroidery, among the finest to be found in the south. There is a wode range of pricesl from candles for a few rupees to heavily embroidered table cloths for a thousand. Following in Ooty’s footsteps, Kodai is also becoming known for home-made chocolate.
There is a chocolate shop in the bazaar as well as one on Seven Roads, across the road from Tava restaurant. You must also try and take back some Kodai cheese. The cheese factory was started twenty years ago by its enterprising proprietor after training in Switzerland, and makes cheddars, gruyere and processed cheese. These, as well as cheese make at the Kodai Milk Union are on sale at several shops including Ravi’s, across the road from Kodai School. And if you haven’t brought enough warm clothes, pop down to the Goodwill centre on the Milk Union Road. They have knick-knacks as well as second-hand sweaters and clothes from the States; on a lucky day when new boxes have been opened, you can pick up a smart sweater, very cheap. Proceeds from sales go to social work projects in the local community, so you’re doing a good turn to someone else as well as second-hand sweaters and clothes from the States; on a lucky day when new boxes have been opened, you can pick up a smart sweater, very cheap. Proceeds from sales go to social work projects in the local community, so you’re doing a good turn to someone else as well. Opposite the dental clinic on the lake is the” Art Gallery” where you can buy driftwood art pieces, dried flowers and other souvenirs.
Handicrafts
Kashmir Handicrafts center in Anna Salai is famous for shawls, Jewellary, Brass, Leather items, Bone and Walnut wood articles.
Cottage Crafts Shop (Anna Salai), run by the voluntary organisation Corsock, (Coordinating Council for Social Concerns in Kodai), sells goods crafted by development groups and uses the commission charged to help the needy.
On PT Rd you'll find Kashmiri shops, as well as the Potter's Shed (Time: 9am - 8pm Thu - Tue, 9am - 5pm Wed) with fine ceramics; proceeds go to help disadvantaged children. The road leading south to the lake is sometime lined with stalls run by Tibetans selling warm clothing, Shawls and other fabrics - good, cheap stuff to keep you warm on chilly nights.
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