Kodaikanal – Princess of Hills

Kodaikanal is a beautiful and picturesque hill station placed in the Palani Hills in the Western Ghats. The town also has been christened as the Princess of hill stations due to its scenic beauty and popularity.

Kodaikanal is one of the very popular and most sought Honeymoons and holiday destination hill resorts in South India. This hill station stands 7200 feet above sea level and is situated in the upper Palani Hills of the western ghats near Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

The cool and misty weather, the scenic beauty of the rolling hills and the wooded forest of Kodaikanal and its surroundings will mesmerise any visitor throughout the year. Walkthrough the wooded forests, row in the lake, bath in one of the splashing waterfalls, go for horse riding and cycling around the lake or simply admire the views.

There are several tourist sites in and around Kodaikanal such as the Coaker’s Walk, Bear Shola Falls, Bryant’s Park, the Kodaikanal Lake, the Green Valley View, the Shembaganur Museum of Natural History, the Kodaikanal Science Observatory, the Pillar Rocks, the Guna caves, the Silver Cascade, the Dolphin’s Nose, the Kurinji Andavar Murugan temple and the Berijam Lake.

There are also several churches that are worth a visit. Kodaikanal is also famous for its fruits such as plums and pears. The place is a chocolate lover’s paradise with numerous stores which sell homemade chocolate. Kodaikanal also produces eucalyptus oil.

The rare Kurinji flowers which blossom once every twelve years can also be found in Kodaikanal. The place also offers scope for several adventure activities such as trekking, boating, horse riding and cycling to name a few.

The temperature range of Kodaikanal in summer generally rises to 37 degrees Celsius. Temperature can go as low as 9 degrees Celsius in the winter.

Below are a few places that you cannot miss while being on tour in Kodaikanal

Lake Kodaikanal

One of the main attractions for the tourists of Kodaikanal is the Kodai lake which is probably the most visited place of not only the city but also of the state of Tamil Nadu.

It is man-made and the beauty of the lake lies in its star-like shape and its massive size covering an area of 60 acres. You can spend hours by the lake enjoying the natural beauty surrounding the lake, which owes itself to the presence of the lush green Palani Hills Range.

Besides, the place has been turned into a tourist attraction by offering activities like boating, horse riding, cycling and a few other adventure activities.

Bryant Park

Bryant Park is worth visiting and will add to your relaxation if you take an interest in botany. It is a botanical park situated on the eastern side of the lake.

Located very close to Kodai Lake, Bryant Park is a famous botanical garden that hosts over 325 different species of flowers, cactuses, shrubs, and trees. When the flowers are blooming, the place looks like a rainbow. An old Eucalyptus tree, which is nearly 160 years old, is another attraction of this park.

There is a beautiful glasshouse inside the park with nicely organised flower pots. There is a child play area within the park. The park has also got a small lake filled with water plants. The park is very well maintained and attracts large crowds during the evening time.

Kurinji Andavar Temple

The Kurinji Andavar temple is also one of the top tourist destinations of Kodaikanal. The Kurinji Andavar Temple is dedicated to Lord Muruga, the God of Hills and as per the Tamil literature, Kurinji means ‘hill region’ and Andavar means ‘God’, hence Lord Muruga is referred to as ‘God of the hill’.

Located around 3km away from the pristine Kodaikanal Lake this shrine is considered to be highly respected and reputed sanctified place in the Kodai region.

The location of the temple is somewhat offbeat, and the view it provides over the back with the glimpse of the Palani Hills is just breathtaking.

The temple also provides a majestic view of the Vaigai Dam in the background. The temple name comes from the Kurinji flowers, which are known to bloom once every twelve years.

Berijam Lake

The Berijam Lake is just 20 km from the hill station, Kodaikanal. The lake is situated inside a forest where a permit is required to go in.

Several types of mushrooms grow around the areas. Places such as the fire tower, lake view, silent valley and medicine forest area close to the lake which is added tourist attraction. This is a good place to be one with the wild.

Tourists can move among the surroundings of the lake to get an unmatched experience.

Pillar Rocks

Pillar Rocks is one of the must-visit sightseeing locations of Kodaikanal. Known for the three strange, yet interesting rock formations that resemble tall pillars. The Pillar Rocks are also a top sightseeing spot in Kodaikanal, and the natural vistas scenery is fantastic to watch. The name of the place mainly came from three rocks, which seem nearly vertical, and rise to a height of around 400 feet.

These rocks stand majestically with an air of pride. The mirage of mist covering the hill sometimes gives the feel of sailing among the clouds. The chambers between these two massive rocks are called the Devil’s Kitchen and the pillars provide a spectacular bird’s view of the surroundings.

Coaker’s Walk

No other place in Kodaikanal can be a better place to walk than the Coaker’s Walk itself. A kilometre-long man-made walkway, the Coaker’s Walk is a great place to enjoy stunning views of the lush green mountains of the region while walking. The walk was built way back in 1872 by Lt. Coaker, after whom it is named.

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 valleys and 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.

Evenings are the best time to experience the beauty of this place when the mystic clouds slowly cover the mountains and the hills appear covered by white carpet.

Fairy Fall

The Fairy falls one of the top Kodaikanal tourist places and is located in the Pambarpuram area. The natural beauty of this fall is breathtaking, and it is a delight to see the water cascade down the mountain top at high speed. Fairy Falls is one of the major tourist attractions of Kodaikanal as it is a famous spot for swimming. With everything the Fairy Falls provide, from serenity to natural beauty, this place is worth a visit in Kodaikanal.