Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of
the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerises any
visitor. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enhancing waterfalls and a
beautiful lake, Kodaikanal is a charming hill station of South India.
Kodaikanal is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m high and covers an
area of 21.45-sq-km. The hill town is renowned for its educational
institutions of international repute. The pride of Kodaikanal is the
'Kurinji-flower', which blossoms once in 12 years. The hill-plantain
fruits and plums are known for their freshness and taste.
The Summer Festival in Kodaikanal
There are several beautiful hill stations in Tamil Nadu. With the Summer
Festivals, the hills are even hospitable to welcome the visitors. The
summer festival is held in the 'Queen of Hill Stations', the evergreen
Ooty; the exquisite Kodaikanal or the salubrious heights of Yercaud.
Cultural programs, adventure sports, boat races, flower and fruit shows
add to the splendour of the festival.
Entertainment in Kodaikanal
The Golf Club is located 5-km from the Kodaikanal Lake. Boating and
Angling facilities are available at the

Kodaikanal
Lake. Picturesque trek routes are available in and around Kodaikanal. For
details, contact: The Trek Director, Department of Tourism, Government of
Tamil Nadu, Chennai.
Climate in Kodaikanal
The climate of Kodaikanal is pleasant throughout the year, but the best
time to visit Kodaikanal is from April to June and from September to
October.
Prime Attractions of Kodaikanal
§ Berijam Lake : Berijam Lake is one of the
beautiful picnic spots in Kodai, located 21-km away from the bus stand.
This lake supplies drinking water to Periakalam town. The scenery around
here is delightful.
§ Bryant Park : Bryant Park situated on the
eastern side of the lake, is noted for flowers, hybrids and rafts.
Varieties of flowers can be seen in a glasshouse. The annual horticultural
show is held here in May.
§ Shenbaganur Museum : Shenbaganur Museum is
located about 5-Km from the lake. The Sacred Heart College maintains this
museum. One of the best orchidoriums in the country with more than 300
species of orchids and wide-ranging collection of birds are found here.
§ Boat Club : In 1910, a new boathouse was
constructed, but only from May 1929, few tourists were permitted to avail
boat ride as temporary members. Later on they were extended to the public
and tourists in 1932. Boats like T.T.D.C, Kodai boats, Carlton boats are
available for hire.
§ Kodaikanal Lake : Kodaikanal Lake is a
magnificent man-made lake, which spreads out in a star shape over sixty
acres is a main attraction as it is set among the greenery. The boat club
here offers several pleasure and racing trips.
§ Pillar Rocks : Within the city limits one can
see three boulders standing shoulder - to - shoulder vertically measuring
to a height of about 122 metres providing a panoramic view.
§ Coaker's Walk : Coaker's Walk derives the name
from Lt. Coaker, who prepared the map of Kodai and it is about a kilometre
from the lake, which runs along a steep slope on the southern side of the
Kodai. Some of the best views of the plains can be seen from here.
§ Telescope Houses : To enable the visitors to
have a panoramic view of the valley and the nearby towns, two telescope
houses have been put up at Kodai.
§ Kurinji Andavar Temple : The presiding deity
of the temple is Lord Murugan and is about 3.2-km from the lake. In Tamil
literature "Kurinji" means "Hilly Region" and "Andavar"
means God. From this temple, one can get a view of the northern plains and
Palani Hills.
§ Silver Cascade : Silver Cascade waterfall is
located on the Ghat Road about 8-km from Kodaikanal. The overflow of Kodai
Lake comes down here as 180 feet high falls.
§ Bear Shola Falls : An ideal picnic spot
located 1.6-km from the lake, which can be by a picturesque, rugged hill
path. Bears once used to drink water above the falls.
Places to stay in Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal offers good accommodation facilities to the tourists. The TTDC
run Hotel Tamil Nadu on Fern Hill Road is one example where comfortable
accommodation is provided to tourists.
How to Get There
Air : The nearest airport is at Madurai (120 km from
Kodaikanal).
Rail : The nearest railway stations are the Kodai Road
Railway Station (80-km) and the Palani Railway Station (64-km).
Road : Kodaikanal is connected by road with Chennai
(520-km), Ooty (264-km), Trichy (197-km), Coimbatore (175-km), Kumili
(160-km), and Madurai(120-km). Regular bus services are available from
Madurai, Palani, Kodaikanal Road, Theni, Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Kumuli
(Thekkady) and Coimbatore. Additional buses ply during the season. Taxis
and vans are available for local transportation. There are no
auto-rickshaws in Kodaikanal.
Tourist Information about Kodaikanal
» Area 21.45-sq-km.
» Population 2,7461 (1991 Census)
» Altitude 2,133 metres
» Temperature Range (deg C)
- Summer - Max 19.8ºC, Min 11.3 ºC
- Winter- Max17.3ºC, Min8.3ºC
» Clothing Light woollen in the evening during summer and heavy
woollen during winter.
» Rainfall 165 cms (average). Heavy rains occur during
October-December.
» Languages Spoken Tamil and English
» STD Code 04542
Tourist Office in Kodaikanal
Government of Tamil Nadu Tourist Office Municipal Bus Stand Rest House
Complex (Near Bus Stand), Kodaikanal -624101
Tour Packages of Kodaikanal