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Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal

hill station · Tamil Nadu

Kodaikanal is a beautiful and high-altitude hill station at an elevation of 2,133 metres on a plateau ridge of the Palani Hills in Dindigul district.

State
Tamil Nadu
Type
Hill Station
Best season
Summer
Things to do
3+

Kodaikanal is a beautiful and high-altitude hill station at an elevation of 2,133 metres on a plateau ridge of the Palani Hills in Dindigul district. Enveloped by dense pine forests, rugged granite cliffs, and natural waterfalls, it stands as the 'Gift of the Forest' and a mountain resort in South India. The heart of the town centers around the scenic star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake, popular for cycling, horseback riding, and rowing operations. Beyond its refreshing mountain climate, Kodaikanal features old-world institutional charm, wide pine-fringed walking trails like Coaker's Walk, and deep vertical cliff line drops that overlook the rolling lowlands below.

When to go

The best time to visit Kodaikanal is from September to May when the weather is pleasantly cool and the valley skies are clear.

Why visit

Kodaikanal is quieter than Ooty and greener for it. Coaker's Walk is a kilometre of cliff edge with the plains below, and the Kurinji shrub on these slopes flowers once every twelve years — ask locally when the next one is due.

Cultural notes

Formally founded in 1845 by American Christian missionaries and British bureaucrats looking to escape the hot lowlands, the town retains a distinct American-colonial character visible in its heritage schools and libraries. It is internationally famous for the rare Kurinji flower, which blooms once every twelve years.

How to reach

The closest domestic air gateway is Madurai Airport, located 120 km away. The nearest rail head is at Kodai Road Railway Station, situated 80 km down the hill, smoothly connected via a well-maintained winding mountain pass highway corridor.

2 days in Kodaikanal

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Kodaikanal LakeDay 1

Day 1

Kodaikanal Lake

Man-made, dug in the 1860s, and star-shaped only from the air. The five-kilometre perimeter road is the good part, so hire a bicycle. Boats are rowed or pedalled and the queue at the boat club is long on weekends.

Coaker's Walk

Day 1

Coaker's Walk

A kilometre of paved cliff path cut in the 1870s, with the plains a long way below and a small entry fee. In mist you will see nothing at all, which happens often — go early, before the cloud comes up the valley.

Day 1

Bryant Park

Bryant Park

Day 1

Silver Cascade

Silver Cascade

Day 2

Day 2

Pillar Rocks

Pillar Rocks

Day 2

Dolphin's Nose

Dolphin's Nose

Day 2

Pine Forest & Guna Cave

Pine Forest & Guna Cave

Day 2

Chocolate & cheese shopping

Chocolate & cheese shopping

Kodaikanal guide & itineraries

Kodaikanal is perfect for

familycouplesnature

What & where to eat

Kodai Bazaar

Bazaar street food

Momos, bajji and cutlets

Hill fruit

Plums, pears and fresh juices

juices

Plums, pears and fresh juices

Kodai Bazaar

Kodai homemade chocolate

Hand-made chocolates and fudge

Kodai farm cheese

Local hill-farm cheeses

South Indian meals

Dosa, idli and thalis

Nearby getaways

Madurai

~3 hrs

Munnar (KL)

~4 hrs

Palani

~1.5 hrs

Frequently asked questions

How many days in Kodaikanal?
2 days for the lake, walks and viewpoints.
Best time for Kodaikanal?
April to June to escape the heat, and September to October; carry warm layers.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Kodaikanal.

Kodaikanal Lake

Star-shaped lake with boating and cycling

Bryant Park & Silver Cascade

Gardens and a roadside waterfall

Dolphin's Nose & Pine Forest

Viewpoint and photogenic pine woods

Reviews & ratings

What travellers say about Kodaikanal

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