KODAIKANAL

It is a charming hill station, stands amidst sylvan beauty on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. With its rocks, woods, lovely lake and bracing air, Kodaikanal is an ideal hill resort.

Kodaikanal is also a great Honeymoon Destination in South India.
 

How to Reach Kodaikanal?

By Air

Nearest Airport - Coimbatore 180 kms (5 hrs drive)
                       Madurai 120 kms (4 hrs drive)
By train
Kodai Road is the nearest Railway station to reach Kodaikanal which is 80 kms and 3 hrs drive.

By Road
From Dindigul city, kodaikanal is located at a distance of 90 kms approximately and there are plenty of buses plying from various parts of the state. Buses ply from Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Dindigul and Coimbatore. The drive from Kodai road takes approximately 2 hrs while the drive from Madurai takes approximately 3 1/2 hours and from Dindigul it takes about 2 hrs.
 

Distances from Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal to Bangalore - 480 km             Kodaikanal to Chennai - 500 km

Kodaikanal to Ooty - 280 km                   Kodaikanal to Munnar - 180 km

Kodaikanal to Thekkady - 120 km             Kodaikanal to Cochin - 360 km

Kodaikanal to Kanyakumari - 400 km         Kodaikanal to Rameshwaram - 300 km

Kodaikanal to Madurai - 120 km                Kodaikanal to Trichy - 200 km

Driving Road Map to Kodaikanal
1.  Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Salem – Namakkal – Karur – Dindigul –

     Batlagundu – Kodaikanal

2.  Chennai - Villupuram – Trichy – Dindigul – Batlagundu – Kodaikanal

3.  Ooty – Mettupalayam – Coimbatore – Pollachi – Palani – Kodaikanal

4.  Munnar – Theni – Periyakulam – Kodaikanal

5.  Thekkady – Cumbum – Theni – Periyakulam – Kodaikanal

6.  Cochin – Trichur – Palaghat – Pollachi – Palani – Kodaikanal

7.  Kanyakumari – Tirunelveli – Madurai – Batlagundu – Kodaikanal

8.  Rameshwaram - Ramanathapuram - Paramagudi - Madurai - Batlagundu -

     Kodaikanal.

9.  Madurai – Batlagundu – Kodaikanal

10. Trichy – Dindigul – Batlagundu – Kodaikanal

Must See in Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal has several scenic natural attractions which are enjoyed by its visitors and make it a popular romantic destination for newlyweds.

Kodaikanal Lake - At just a distance of 500 metres from the bus stand, is an artificial, roughly star-shaped 60 acres lake built in 1863. It is recognized as Kodaikanal's most popular geographic landmark and tourist attraction. Rowboats and pedal boats can be hired at the Kodaikanal Boat Club. Also tourists can have a leisure walk around the lake.

Bryant Park -  Just east of the lake and 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the bus stand, is a wonderfully maintained 20.5 acres (8.3 ha) botanical garden. The park was planned and built in 1908 by a forest officer from Madurai, H.D.Bryant, and named after him. With 325 species of trees, shrubs and cactuses, the park is a rainbow of stunning flowers during the peak season. A large section is dedicated to nearly 740 varieties of roses.

Coaker's Walk - A kilometre's walk from the lake. It derives the name Lt. Coaker, who prepared the map of Kodai. Coaker's Walk runs along a steep, emerald green wooded slope. From Coaker's Walk one can have a breath-taking view of the plains below. The walk, winding around Mount Nebo, starts in front of the Van Allen hospital, running parallel to the Van Allen Hospital Road and joins the main road beside St.Peter's Church, providing a stunning panoramic view of the plains. On a clear day one can view as far as Dolphin's Nose in the south, the valley of the Pambar River in the southeast, Periyakulam town and even the city of Madurai.

Bear Shola Falls - The Bear Shola falls is another favorite tourist spot in Kodaikanal and it is called so, because in earlier days bears used to come and drink water from this fall. It is one of the most ideal picnic spots in Kodaikanal town and is at a distance of about 2km from the lake and about 1.5km from the bus stand.
 

Green Valley View - Also known as Suicide Point it is at a distance of 5.5 km from the bus-stand and near the golf course, has an excellent panoramic view of the plains and a sheer drop of 1,500 metres overlooking the Vaigai Dam to the south.
 

Shembaganur Museum of Natural History - The museum at a distance of 6 km from the bus-stand, founded in 1895 has a collection of more than 500 species of animals, birds and insects and a living collection of over 300 exotic orchid species.

Kodaikanal Solar Observatory - Kodaikanal Solar Observatory  on Observatory Road, at 2,343 metres  is the highest location near Kodai and about 6 km from the Kodaikanal Bus Stand. Former Director John Evershed, discovered the phenomenon of radial motion in sunspots, now known as the Evershed effect.

Guna caves - Guna Caves also known as called Devil’s Kitchen, are deep bat-infested chambers between the three gigantic boulders that are the Pillar Rocks.

Silver Cascade -  8 kilometres from Kodaikanal at a wide bend in the long and winding Laws Ghat Road, at altitude 1,800 metres  is a 55-metre  waterfall formed from the outflow of Kodaikanal Lake.

Thalaiyar Falls - This is also called as a Rat tail falls, The widest falls ranging from 13th Kilometer on the Ghat road to Kodai. It is one of the highest fall in India, with their 975 feet drop.

Solar Observatory - Just 3 km away from Kodai lake is one of the three solar observatories in the world that were built more than 75 years ago. It is situated at an elevation of 2343 meters which is the highest point of the town. You have to book a ticket for the scheduled shows to get an experience of the solar system, which surely will be worth the money and time you spend on it.

Dolphin's Nose -  8 kilometres from the bus stand is a flat rock projecting over a breathtaking 6,600 metres (21,700 ft) deep. It is an undisturbed area 1 kilometre down a very steep rocky trail beginning soon after Pambar Bridge. A short paved walkway leads from the road here to Pambar falls (which is also locally addressed as 'Liril Falls' after the famous Liril Soap Ad film in 1985)

Kurinji Andavar Murugan temple - The temple is at a distance of 4 km  from the bus-stand and is famous for its Kurinji flower which blossoms in the area only once every 12 years. The deity here is called Sri Kurinji Easwaran -incarnation of Lord Murugan.

Palani - It is 64 kms from kodaikanal, famous pilgrim center of the South and one of the six abodes of Lord, Dhandayuthabani. Direct frequent bus are available from Kodaikanal.It is one of the famous temples in South India and is located at an altitude of 135 meters. Pilgrims can climb the 659 steps or can use the winch facility to reach the sanctum sanctorum.

Tamil Nadu Holiday Packages

Royal Tamil Nadu(14 days)	Tamil Nadu with Kerala (21 days)
Tamil Nadu with Karnataka (16 days)	Tamil Nadu Temple Tour (16 days)
Tamil Nadu Cultural Tour (19 days)	Six Abodes of Lord Muruga Tour (7 days)