10 Best Things To Do In Kodaikanal, India
A popular hideaway from the torrid and humid climate of the mainland Kodaikanal is a hill town in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. With temperatures not soaring beyond 20 degrees in the summer months of May and June, the place is a tourist delight with myriad adventure activities such as boating, trekking, horse riding and cycling.
Apart from the enchanting natural beauty of trees, lakes, rocks, grassy hills and waterfalls, Princess of Hill Stations, Kodaikanal is also home to the rare Kurunji flower which blooms just once in 12 years.
Perched amidst a dense forest atop a plateau, Kodaikanal is also famous for pears and plum fruits. The place is a chocolate lover’s paradise with numerous stores selling homemade chocolate. Kodaikanal also produces eucalyptus oil.
How to Get to Kodaikanal
Madurai Airport is closest to Kodaikanal at 120 kilometers (74.56 miles) away from the hill station. Kodai road is the nearest railway station to Kodaikanal which is 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) away. The Coimbatore Junction is the nearest major railway station. Kodaikanal can also be reached by bus from cities across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Buses are also available from Bangalore.
1. Kodaikanal Lake
This beautiful man-made lake is located at the center of the Kodaikanal city. It is an excellent place with a lot of activities around. You can participate in cycling, horse riding, boating or simply sitting near the edge of the lake and enjoying the view. The entire circle of the lake is approximately 6 kilometers in summers. It is crowded due to the rush for boating. The morning walk along the lake amidst mist descending from the surrounding mountains is fantastic. You can also get rented cycles for 30 minutes to one hour. Horse rides are also available. With a big park, good shopping area and lots of street eateries, it is an excellent place to be in Kodaikanal.
Kodaikanal Lake
Address: 3 km (1.86 miles) from the bus standWebsite: Kodaikanal Lake
2. Coaker's Walk
Located exactly opposite Bryant Park, it’s a 1 kilometer walk along forests and flowers. It is a photographer’s delight with a spectacular view of floating clouds and a unique landscape below. There are vendors along the walk selling cheap woolen clothes and handcrafted items like earrings of good quality at a very reasonable price.
Coaker’s Walk is a paradise for nature lovers. The scenic beauty is awesome and if you are lucky you can have a glimpse of exotic birds. The Telescope House offers a beautiful view of the valley and its nearby towns. It is good to have the walk around 7 a.m. when the park opens.
Coaker's Walk
Address: 1 km (0.62 miles) from the lake of KodaikanalWebsite: Coaker’s Walk
3. Pillar Rocks
This iconic place has three sets of gigantic rocks which look like pillars emerging from the mist. These beautiful and gigantic rocks are at their best when the sky is clear. As the pillar stands vertically by the side, there is a gap in between, which is a part of Guna Caves. The huge rock coming out from the Earth is fantastic to see. Many times, these rocks are surrounded by mist. One has to wait patiently for the mist to get lifted.
Pillar Rocks
Address: 5 Km (3.10 miles) from the Kodai Lake
4. Pine Forest
This place is a real beauty of Mother Nature. The spectacle of tall pines trees is beautiful. The entire place is pinkish in color and a walk amidst the huge pine trees gives a very different kind of feel. A small waterfall is also there inside the forest. The water is clean; however, the path is rugged and slippery. It is a nice place to roam around and click pictures. One can do horse riding there.
Pine Forest
Website: Pine Forest
5. Kurinji Andavar Temple
It is a beautiful lord Murugan temple, the God of Hills as per the Tamil literature, located on the top of the hill. The calm and peaceful temple offers a beautiful view of Vaigai Dam and Palani Hills. The temple is also a venue for the summer festival, which is celebrated in the month of May every year. During this festival, tourists flock to the temple to seek the blessings of Lord Muruga.
Kurinji Andavar Temple
Address: Located in Pommbarai village near to Kerala borderWebsite: Kurinji Andavar Temple
6. Dolphin's Nose
It is basically a rock at the end of a cliff resembling a Dolphin Nose. It’s a lovely 15 minute of trekking around 1.5 kilometers down to Dolphin Nose and Echo Rock from Vattakanal. The valley view and slopes of Western Ghats are mesmerizing. It is advisable to wear proper trekking shoes and make sure you have lots of fluids with you and some dry snacks. Food stalls are there in between but are quite expensive.
Dolphin's Nose
Address: 8 km (4.97 miles) from the main city of KodaikanalWebsite: Dolphin’s Nose
7. Silent Valley
It is an amazing place with the smell of Nilgiri and cold wind blowing amidst the misty environment. The approach road to the valley is very scenic. The view of the hill from this place is quite beautiful. The Berijam lake area further adds to the beauty of the place. The best time to make a visit to this valley is during early morning because after the morning it is so misty that you cannot see anything.
Silent Valley
Website: Silent Valley
8. Shembaganur Museum of Natural History
It is a small but a wonderful Museum with a collection of more than 100 species of birds, mammals and reptiles. The museum also has fossils, shells and coins. Stuffed animals, birds, reptiles and bone parts of large fish species are very interesting and informative. Artifacts made by the ancestors of the Paliyan Tribes can also be found there.
Shembaganur Museum of Natural History
Address: 5 km (3.10 miles) from Kodaikanal Lake
9. Silver Cascade Falls
This waterfall is on the way to Kodaikanal from Batlagundu and is the first attraction. The fall looks great in spite of less water. A bath in this fall is considered good owing to the presence of various minerals in the water. The view is wonderful and “local chocolates,“ "sweaters,” and “coats” at cheaper rates are also available.
Silver Cascade Falls, Kodaikanal
Address: 8 km (4.97 miles) from KodaikanalWebsite: Silver Cascade Falls
10. Subrahmanya temple (Kartikeya Temple)
Located on a scenic cliff, the 3,000 year old beautiful temple has a statue of Lord Kartikeya and Lord Ganesha inside the altar. The serenity and constant chanting of Lord Subrahmanya welcome the visitors and one can see the famous Murugan temple of Palani from the hilltop. The cool climate of Kodaikanal and the calmness of the temple soothe the body and soul.
Behind the temple, there is a hall where free food is provided to the poor daily. There are many handicraft shops around the temple available at reasonable rates.
Subrahmanya temple (Kartikeya Temple)
Address: 18 km (11.18 miles) from Kodaikanal
Popular hideaway for the torrid and humid climate
Source: Wikimedia
A chocolate lover’s paradise, Princess of Hill Stations Kodaikanal offers myriad adventure activities like boating, trekking, horse riding and cycling. The beauty of the place can be best experienced then described.
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