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.
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.
Major Attractions of Munnar
- 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.
