Kodaikanal Tourism

Kodaikanal is a hill town in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s set in an area of granite cliffs, forested valleys, lakes, waterfalls and grassy hills. At 2,000 meters above sea level, the town centers around man-made, star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake, bordered by evergreen forest. Rowing boats can be hired, and hikers and cyclists follow the 5k Lake Road path around the shore.

The earliest residents of Kodaikanal were the Palaiyar tribal people. Modern Kodaikanal was established by American Christian missionaries and British bureaucrats in 1845, as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the plains. In the 20th century a few elite Indians started relocating to this enchanting hill station and it started becoming popular among nature lovers.

Kodaikanal is not extensively commercialized like Ooty and it offers a pleasant experience to tourists with relatively less crowd. Apart from the pleasant weather, Kodaikanal has several tourist attractions like Kodai Lake, Bryant Park, Coaker's Walk, Bear Shola Falls, Silver Cascade, Pillar Rocks, etc. The hills offer beautiful views all around, especially from the Coaker's Walk.

Madurai is the nearest Airport to Kodai. There is no direct train facility to Kodaikanal. Kodai Road, situated on Madurai - Dindigul route is the nearest train station. This station has good connectivity with major cities in India. Direct bus connectivity is available from Madurai, Coimbatore, Palani, Dindigul, Ooty, etc. Buses from Madurai to Kodaikanal start from Arappalayam Bus Station. From Coimbatore, buses to Kodaikanal run from Ukkadam Bus stand. Best time to visit Kodaikanal is April to June during the summer. Monsoon from September to October also offers different experience.