Magz Plazza

The Kodaikanal Chandhai

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 13:13

On Sunday of every week , Poet Thyagarajar Road (P.T. Rd) at Kodaikanal is closed for the sunday vegetable market. The whole road is occupied by vegetable vendors who come to Kodaikanal from the plains (Vathalagundu and surrounding areas) to sell various vegetables. What makes the chandhai very unique is the entire value chain from the farmer to the consumer.

Vegetables that are local to Kodai are beans, carrots, raddish,cauliflower, beetroot, garlic and potatoes. However all the Kodai villages that produce these vegetables sell it off to wholesale agents who sell these to other agents in local markets in Madurai and Trichy. Some of the stuff from Madurai again comes back to Kodai and gets sold in the Chandhai market. A very small portion of the Kodaikanal produce is also sold directly in the Chandhai . So, very often one can see 2 different types of beetroot or carrots or cauliflower at the Chandai (one from the plains and one that is Kodaikanal grown). Kodaikanal vegetables have a larger leaf around a smaller vegetable. Vegetables such as ladies finger, ginger, brinjal etc come from the plains.

The vendors are bound by a union that stipulates prices according to quality and type. So everyone sells at almost the same price. As the day progresses, depending on the amount sold, the vendors reduce their price to empty their stock. So if you are looking for a bargain, you could do well to shop at Chandhai after 2pm.