The Peepal Grove School

Gudalur is one of those places where the weather can change in five minutes, and being on Old Court Road means we see it all. The Peepal Grove School is tucked away near the Gudalur Bazar Post, so it’s right in the middle of everything but feels a bit removed once you walk inside. The road outside is narrow and can get jammed with people going to the court or the market. We have to be careful with the kids during drop-off because the vehicles come around the corner pretty fast. The building itself has that old Gudalur feel, with thick walls and windows that sometimes rattle when the wind picks up from the hills. It gets damp during the monsoon, and we spend a lot of time checking the roof for leaks or making sure the moss isn't taking over the stairs. Inside, it’s mostly just rows of wooden desks and blackboards that need a fresh coat of paint every summer. There’s a lot of walking involved here, up and down the slopes of the property. We don't have many fancy gadgets, just the basics that have worked for years. The staff room is always full of umbrellas and bags because you never know when it's going to pour. When the bazaar is busy, you can hear the faint sound of horns and vendors, but mostly it's just the sound of the kids in the yard or the rain hitting the tin parts of the roof.