The Devil's Kitchen or Guna Caves

I write this piece with profound sadness as it concerns a unique natural wonder known as the Devil's Kitchen. Nestled on the outskirts of Kodaikanal town and accessible from the renowned Moir Point, this place remained hidden and seldom visited, known mostly to avid hikers until it gained widespread fame following the filming of a Tamil movie named 'Guna' here in 1992 CE. Usually, I find joy in witnessing lesser-known sites gaining popularity, but the tale of Devil's Kitchen takes a different turn.

Devil's Kitchen consists of a cluster of caves nestled amidst three colossal boulders known as the Pillar Rocks, discovered by an English Officer named B.S. Ward back in 1821 CE. Perched at an elevation of 2230 meters, these Pillar Rocks earned their name due to their pillar-like appearance jutting out of the cliff face, once cloaked in Shola trees and indigenous grasses. Over time, introduced by Europeans and Americans, several non-native tree species found a home here. Beyond the caverns, the twisted roots of the Shola trees added to the intrigue and charm of this site, remaining undiscovered until the early 1990s, frequented only by a handful of adventurers. The rugged, vegetation-draped caverns posed a perilous expedition, with the main attraction being the descent into the crevice between the third pillar rock and the cliff face, known as the Devil's Kitchen—the deepest cave of them all.

Then came 1992 CE, when the Tamil film 'Guna,' starring the acclaimed actor Kamal Haasan, set foot inside the haunting depths of the Devil's Kitchen caves. Regrettably, it is said that the film crew left a mark, damaging some areas within. Once the film hit the screens, hundreds of tourists flocked to this once-hidden gem, quickly transforming it into a bustling tourist hub, affectionately dubbed 'Guna Caves' by the locals.

However, with this newfound fame came a darker side. The pristine forest was marred by litter, and the vegetation fell victim to vandalism. Tragically, a few young souls met their end within these caverns. Consequently, the once-accessible, narrow depths of the caves are now sealed off from the public forever. Today, all that remains visible from a distance are the barred entranceways, while the surviving patches of vegetation and gnarled Shola trees offer a poignant reminder of what once was.

In the end, as we bid farewell to the Devil's Kitchen as it was once known, we are left with fleeting glimpses and memories of its former majesty. Travel well, but tread lightly upon these fragile wonders of nature.

Happy travelling.