Kodaikanal

More Images...

About the city

Beautiful landscape, lush green valleys andits cool climate make Kodaikanal one of the most popular hill stations. Discovered by missionaries in 1840's, this town is spread out around a star-shaped Kodai Lake. Its cool (altitude 2133m), and the lake provides boating and carp fishing. Trout fishing is available in nearby streams, which are stocked and waiting to be unearthed.

Coaker's Walk gives a panoramic view of the plains, and Bryant Park, at the eastern end of the lake, is a mass of flowers.

Kodaikanal is a good trekking base; Perumal Peak (2234m) is an easy day's walk from Perumalmalai village. The more ambitious can try the 2695m-high Anai Mudi Peak (the highest in South India), and it should be possible to walk down to Periyar from there along the ridge.

The view of the Amaravathi Dam, a shimmering sapphire sheet of water is an unforgettable sight. Driving higher, banana trees give way to tall eucalyptus trees, and the whole countryside is dotted with wildflowers in jeweled colors, magenta and purple predominating. There is a marked nip in the air, as one reaches for one's cardigan, or shawl. At a bend in the road, the shimmer and roar of the Silver Cascade waterfall welcome the tourist.

Almost cheek by jowl with the Kodaikanal School is the Lutheran Church-a Gothic stone building Kurinchi Templewith stained glass windows and modern paintings and batiks portraying scenes from the life of Christ. Nearby is an even more famous church-Christ the King Church-again, a very Gothic and solemn granite structure with stained glass windows.

The names of the buildings in Kodaikanal are very evocative: 'Loch End' and 'Mansarovar'-these two houses by the lakeside bridge the time span from colonial times to the present; Hillbrook, Furzbank, Wood-cote, Whispering Pines, and Rock Cottage-all conjure up the beauty and spirit of their natural ambience.

Jacaranda trees burst out in purple profusion, as though singing hosannas to the skies. Magnolia trees guard their 'escaping' fragrance, while cherry trees sweep in graceful pink arcs.

On the east side of the lake is Bryant's Park, named after the forest officer who planned its layout around the turn of the century. Beautiful pine and eucalyptus trees grow here. There is one ancient eucalyptus tree dating back to 1846, which is 250 feet high and 10 feet wide. The well-laid out gardens contain many annuals and perennials like azaleas, watsonias, dahlias, stock, primulas, fusschias, asters, etc. Many exotic varieties of orchids are housed in the Orchid House.

Literally meaning the ‘gift of the forest', Kodaikanal has always lived up to this name! This was the discovery of the Americans and nature seems to have been extra generous in granting it the boon of woody slopes, enchanting waterfalls, beautiful lakes and rare flora and fauna. The fact is, most of the activities are centred around the Kodai Lake, and this also serves the base for excursions around the town. As you move around these sights and sounds, the town unfolds like a maze of cafés, hotels and signs of fresh home-made chocolates and honey available here! It might all look the same, but take the usual boat ride, trot on a pony and explore that, which is truly Kodai

Arriving in Kodai town, you are greeted by orchards of peach and pear trees with their graceful branches silhouetted in artistic curves against the evening sky. Buildings with gabled roofs dot the skyline. Broken fragments of light from the setting sun are caught and kindled in the wind-rippled water appearing like myriad lamps floating on the lake. Soon, as though on cue, lights start twinkling all over the hillside, and even the stars pick up the message, and heaven and earth are a riot of light, as though beaming messages of goodwill to each other.

The terrific tranquillity of the hill resort is simply put awesome. The summer retreat of Kodaikanal literally means gift of the forest. In fact the serenity experienced at Kodaikanal is seldom found in other hill stations across India.

In a state where the scenery and terrain is perhaps more varied than in any other part of the country, it is indeed difficult to decide which is the best feature of multi-faceted Tamil Nadu.

The forested slopes of the majestic hills of the Western Ghats vie with the magnificent beaches of the Coromandel Coast, Located 120 kms away from Madurai; Kodaikkanal is a beautiful hill station and is at an altitude of 2133 mtr on the southern tip of the upper Palani hills in the Western ghats. Kodaikkanal has a bracing climate where temperature does not vary much from summer to winter. Fruits like plums and plantains grow abundantly on the wooded slopes apart from a wide variety of flowers, among which is the famous Kurinji flower, which blooms once in twelve years.

Kodai's most enchanting sights include the star shaped lake, spread over an area of 24 hectares where fishing allowed and boating facilities are available; one of the world's oldest Solar Observatories that was built in 1899; and the Orchidorium at the Sacred Heart College where about 300 species of orchids can be seen. There are also a number of picturesque walks like Coaker's Walk and Priest's Walk. Kodai's best viewpoints are Pillar Rocks, and Green Valley View. Bear Shola Falls, Silver Cascade, Fairy Falls and Glen Falls are popular with picnickers while the Perumal Peak is a favourite with trekkers. The Kurinji andavar temple 3.2 kms away is dedicated to Lord Subramanya.

Local Languages

Tamil & English

Moving Around

Rickshaws are available to moving around the city, though we recommend walking around town. This ensures complete exploration of all its treasures. Luxury buses are also available during peak season.

Verdant hills, blue lakes, wooded walks, cascading falls and a flower that blooms once in twelve years. Nestled in the misty Palani Hills, Kodaikanal is a serene mountain getaway. Affectionately nicknamed 'Kodi', the hill-town's secluded green environs are favoured by honeymooning couples and by those seeking to commune with nature. Its rare kurinji blossom adds to Kodi's romantic charm, symbolizing the anticipation felt by every traveller heading towards its picturesque countryside. A hill station discovered by the British, Kodaikanal's famous Kodai Lake and myriad colonial lodges were once the scene of much activity, echoed today in the starched, liveried uniforms of its bearers and waiters. The rest of Kodi remains unchanged --its pristine beauty and alluring charm continue to woo visitors year after year.

Fast Facts

Time Zone: GMT +0530 (Indian Standard Time) Latitude: 10.13N Longitude: 77.32E STD Code: 4542 Area: 21 sq km / 9 sq miles Population: 32,931

Orientation

Situated 120 km northwest of Madurai, Kodaikanal is a hill station on the southern ridges of the Palani Hills in Dindigul District in the State of Tamil Nadu. The main street in Kodaikanal is the Bazaar Road (Anna Salai).

History

The first prehistoric inhabitants of the hills of Kodaikanal were dolmen-builders called Paliyans and traces of their culture still exist today in artifacts and other remains that have been unearthed in and around the town. In around the 14th century, villagers from the Palani foothills fled here to escape from the invasion of Tipu Sultan. Kodaikanal's development as a hill-station would only begin with the British arrival in 1821 when Lt. B.S. Ward, a surveyor visited Kodaikanal. His reports about the pleasant climate and natural beauty of the place attracted many American missionary workers to this place with an aim of escaping the oppressive heat and fatal epidemics that had hit Tamil Nadu during this period. This town was also located at a convenient distance from Periyakulam and Madurai. Dr. Wight would visit Kodaikanal in 1836 and record his observations, which would become an important reference source for botanists in later years. Also, in the year 1875 Southern Railways extended the train route from Chennai to Madurai and Tuticorin, making Kodaikanal easily accessible and eventually a popular tourist destination.

Modern History

In order to make transportation even smoother, a government deputed engineer Major Law submitted a plan to build a motorable road to the hills and this was finally executed and completely by 1916, allowing public buses to ply between Kodaikanal to nearby towns.

Recent History

Today, Kodaikanal continues to hold the proud position of being one of the most popular hill-stations in India. In fact, since last year, efforts are being made to introduce more amenities to Kodaikanal so as to attract more tourists. One such effort has been to open the Munnar-Kodaikanal Ghat road, the shortest link road connecting Kerala and Tamil Nadu, so as to increase the flow of tourists to the hill station from Kerala.

Kodaikanal has a history as old as time. Printed in time are the prehistoric stories of this ancient land. There are references to Kodaikanal in the Tamil Sangam literature of the early Christian era. In the historic times, the primitive tribes of Paliyans and Pulyans resided near the Palani Hills and their descendants still live here in scattered villages.

Kodai is the only hill-station in India which was set-up by the Americans, though the British soon joined. American missionaries established a school for European children here in the mid-1840s, the legacy of which is the Kodaikanal International School which is one of the most prestigious schools in the country.