Tourist places in and around Kodaikanal

Dolphin's Nose,

Dolphin's Nose, located about eight km from the lake, is a flat projecting rock from where one can have a breathtaking view of the yawning chasm below.

Perumal Peak

The Perumal Peak, about 11 km from Kodaikanal, is a trekker's delight. Climbers begin their ascent from the Neutral Saddle.

Located 12 km from Kodai, this is the highest peak in the Kodai range at 2400 m and is an extremely popular trekking spot.

Kukal Cave,

Kukal Cave, 40 km from Kodaikanal, is a favourite camping site for trekkers. Reportedly, descendants of the Paliyans still live here.

These caves are actually overhanging slabs of rocks and a favourite spot for trekkers. These caves are believed to have been home to the Paliyan Tribe. While navigating your way through these caves, be careful of leeches who tend to stick to you.

Coaker's Walk,

About a kilometer from the lake is Coaker's Walk, named after St. Coaker of the Royal Engineers, offering a fantastic view of the plains and the distant hills. There is a rugged pristine beauty about these vistas, and the mist rising in veils from the valley below, gives the place an unreal quality.

This is a one kilometer walk around the lake and derives its name from Lt. Coaker who prepared the map of Kodai. The walk is through a steep slope on the south of Kodai and houses a Telescope House, which offers striking views of the valley.

The scenic hill-edge pathway 1km from the Kodai Lake. A telescope installed here provides fine views of the surrounding valley.

Berijam Lake

This is one of the most beautiful picnic and trekking spots in Kodai, located some 30 kms from the town. This scenic spot was the discovery of the British, when it was only a swamp. Today the lake is lined with pine trees and options of boating and fishing make the spot particularly lively. The area around is also known for the abundantly growing Magic Mushrooms, which are believed to have hallucinogenic effects if consumed. However, don't attempt to pick these on your own, since several poisonous varieties also grow here. The lake and forest are protected and you need to seek permission from the Forest Office in Kodaikanal. Remember to head out as early as you can, since the forest office closes by 12 noon.

Berijam Lake supplies drinking water to Periyakulam town, and is 21 km from Kodaikanal (beyond the Pillar Rocks). It is a popular picnic spot with a beautiful view.

Berijam Lake, situated 21 km from the township, lies in a beautiful valley, reflecting the glory of the specious in its clean waters. Dolphin's nose (8 Kms), a projecting rock provides a view of the deep chasm below. Then go on get higher upon life. Climb the misty and high Perumal Peak. And you'll be rewarded with one of the most wonderful views in and around Kodaikkanal.

Kodai Lake

This magnificent man-made lake is star-shaped and set midst lush greenery. A paved road around it provides options of walking and cycling. In addition, the Boating & Rowing Club here offers options for enjoy a boat-ride on the lake. Children would especially have a good time with the pony rides here.

Open from: 9.00 am-5.30 pm Kodaikanal Lake is a 24-hectare lake bounded by a 5 km long road and the central point of Kodai. A bund was constructed to form this lake which was then stocked with fish. The first boat too was brought from Tuticorin. In 1890, a boat club was formed and in 1910 a new boathouse was constructed.

The star-shaped deep blue lake sparkles like a jewel in the crown amidst the emeral green wooded slopes. It was created in 1863, by Sir Vere Hentry Levinge (1885), the collector of Madurai.

Waterfalls

The landscape of Kodai is dotted with sparkling waterfalls with extremely quaint names! The Silver Cascade waterfall is located on the Ghat Road and is particularly enthralling as it cascades down 180 ft. Bear Shola Falls is located close to the lake and is a popular picnic spot set amidst the hilly areas. An interesting legend about its name is that this site used to be haunted by bears. Fairy Falls is known for its natural basin where picnickers take a dip. The Thalaiyar Falls or Rat Tail Falls are one of the widest and highest falls in India, cascading to a drop of 975 ft! Pambar Falls or Grand Cascade Falls is accessible by a zig-zag path and gushes down a series of rock formations.

Telescope Houses

These are two telescope houses, which are ideal places to catch panoramic views of the town.

Bryant Park

Located on the eastern side of the lake, this botanical park is a beautifully maintained store house of flowers, hybrids and rafts. A large number of exotic flowers are found on the glasshouse. This park is the site of the annual Horticulture Show in May, when several varieties of flowers are put up on display.

Shenbaganur Museum

Located almost 5 km from the lake, this Museum is the best place to watch the several remains of the varied flora and fauna of the region. Maintained by the Sacred Heart College, this is believed to be one of the best Orchidariums in the country with over 300 species of orchids and exotic plants grown here.

Shenbaganur Museum Founded in 1895, and maintained by the Sacred Heart College, a Theological Seminary, it is devoted to archaeological remains and the flora and fauna of the hills. A Spanish priest, Father Ugarthe contributed the major collections to the Museum. One of the biggest orchidoriums in the country with more than 300 species of orchids is also housed here.

The archaeological remains and the flora and fauna of the hills are displayed here. It also has one of the best orchidriums in the country with over 300 species of orchids. There are several stuffed birds and butterflies etc.

Pillar Rocks (7.4 km)

Located 8 km from the lake, this is a set of three boulders, each almost 400 ft high located next to each other, and providing a panoramic view of the region.

Pillar Rocks . Three boulders stand shoulder to shoulder vertically measuring to a height of about 122 meters. It has a mini garden with lovely flowers.

The excellent view point is one of the most popular attractions of Kodai. There are 3 granite formations measuring 400ft in height. One can also see over 100 dolmens and other megalithic remains dating back to 2nd century. A mini garden has been developed here.

Kurinji Andavar Temple

Located 3 km from the lake, this temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan, God of the Hills. The temple complex offers panoramic views of the plains, Palani Hills and Vaigai Dam. It is also the best place to watch the Kurinji flower blossoms once in 12 years, which swathes the hills in a shade of blue.

Kurinji Andvar Temple is a famous shrine dedicated to Lord Muruga, and associated with the Kurinji flowers, which carpet the hillsides and blooms once in 12 years. Kurinji also means hill region in Tamil literature and Andavar means God. Hence Lord Muruga is referred as ‘God of Hill' here. From this temple you can have a view of the Palani and Vaigai dams.

Kodaikanal Solar Observatory

Located almost 6 km from the town, this observatory is located at the highest point in the Kodai Hills. The phenomenon of radial motion is sunspots were discovered by John Evershed, now named Evershed Effect. You can catch glimpses of the hills, Sothupparai Dam, Vaigai Dam, Varaha River and Periyakulam from the Kodaikanal Terrestrial Telescope kept here.

The shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan was built in 1936, by an European lady and named after the unique ‘Kurinji' flower. The temple affords a fine view of palani, the famous pilgrim centre and vaigai Dam.

Kodai Churches

Among the few churches that dot the landscape, Lutheran Church is a gothic structure housing paintings that portray scenes from Jesus' life. Close to the church is the Christ the King Church made of granite and sporting stained-glass-painted windows.

Green Valley View

This is one of the most scenic spots of Kodai wrapped in a mist of clouds and at a height of almost 1000 ft, offering panoramic views of the valley.

Annamalai National Park

This sanctuary is rich in wildlife and teak forests. Tea and coffee plantation is an added attraction. Situated at an altitude of 1,400 metres, it has various kinds of fauna like elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sloth bear, deer, wild bear, wild dog, porcupine, flying squirrel, jackal, pangolin, civet cat and birds like rocket-tailed drongo, whiskered bulbul, black headed oriole, tree pie, spotted dove, green pigeon, etc. The Amaravathi reservoir in the Anamalais has a large number of crocodiles. There are also many places of scenic beauty such as Karainshola, Anaikunthi shola, grass hills, water falls, groves, teak forests, estates, dams and reservoirs.

Boat Club

T.T.D.C boats, Kodai boats, carton boatsprovide boating facilities here. Annual boat pageant is held in May during the summer Festival.

Bear Shola Falls

The falls 1.6kms from the lake are popular among picnickers.

Bryant Park

The beautiful botanical park loies on the eastern side of the lake, near the coker's walk. Annual Flower show is held here during the summer Festival.

Chettiyar Park

The beautiful and well maintained park lies towards the north - eastern side of the town, on the way to Kurinji Andavar temple. The amazing purple bloom of the Kurinji Flowers can be seenhere once in every tweleve years.

Solar Astrophysical Observatory

It wasw established in 1889, about 3kms uphill from the Kodai Lake. Visitors can also see a small museum here.

Around Kodaikkanal

Palani (64 km)

Palani Hills Driving along the cool green darkness with the trees making a canopy overhead, one reaches Green Valley View. Gnarled cypress roots make a natural crazy path to the sheer drop of 1,000 feet that overlooks the Vaigai Dam. Clouds are banked like snow, and violet haze envelopes the distant hills. Here too, the mist rises from the valley, imparting a solemn, out-of-this-world beauty to the scene. The exclusive Kodai Golf Club is very near Green Valley View.

Past the Golf Club is the 114-acre Golf Links, another colonial legacy-an undulating green velvet carpet. Thick woods line the road leading to the Pillar Rocks. These are three vertical pillars standing shoulder to shoulder measuring 112 m. The ground drops sheer below them, creating a dramatic impact and affording a stupendous view of the valley below. Soon mists wrap up the pillars in mystery and one wonders whether they are real, or whether they were a figment of one's imagination. Then the sun melts the mists away and the rocks rise, solemn and majestic, dappled in sun and shadow: the effect is ethereal and awe-inspiring.

The abundance of pear orchards is a striking feature of the Kodaikanal landscape. Here and there, a solitary snowy blossom seems to peep out tentatively to reconnoiter the weather conditions, and one has a hint of the profusion of pear blossoms to follow, when the branches would be heavy with their own blooms, leaving scant room for leaves.

A sheer lacy curtain of water, so aptly named 'Fairy Falls,' is nearby. About five and a half km from the lake is the Shenbaganur Museum, maintained by the Sacred Heart College, a Theological Seminary founded in 1895. The stuffed-birds and the butterfly collection are remarkable. The archeological collection is meticulously documented. One can see the implements and the burial urns of the Paliyans here. One of the best orchidariums in the country, with more than 300 species of orchids, is also located on the premises of Sacred Heart College.

This major pilgrim centre of the south is one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Subramanya. The road from Kodaikkanal to Palani is endowed with breath taking beauty. The sacred Malaikovil or hill temple dedicated to Lord Murugan or Subramanya is perched atop a 140m high hill and can be reached by a flight of 659 steps or an electrically operated winch. It enshrines a unique idol of the presiding deity, known here as Sri Dandayuthapani, as the idol is made of medicinal herbs.

The temple at Palani is one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya. Dedicated to Sri Dandayuthapani, the temple is built atop a 140 mtr high hill and can be reached either using the steps or the electrically operated winch. During the festivals of Panguni Utthiram (March-April) and Adi Krithikai (July-August) Kavadi dancers dance and walk their way from far and near as they flock to the temple in hundreds, often in a state of trance.

Summer Festival: Celebrated in May every year. Boat race and flower show are also held on the occasion. It is a major tourist attraction.