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Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal

hill station · Tamil Nadu

Kodaikanal sits at 2,133 metres on a plateau ridge of the Palani Hills in Dindigul district, ringed by dense pine forest, rugged granite cliffs and waterfalls.

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

Kodaikanal sits at 2,133 metres on a plateau ridge of the Palani Hills in Dindigul district, ringed by dense pine forest, rugged granite cliffs and waterfalls. It is the 'Gift of the Forest', and one of South India's mountain resorts. The town gathers round the star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake, where people cycle, ride horses and take boats out. Beyond the cool mountain air, what is good here is the old institutional architecture, the wide pine-fringed walks such as Coaker's Walk, and the sheer drops at the plateau's edge looking out over the rolling lowlands.

When to go

September to May, when the weather is 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

American Christian missionaries and British bureaucrats, both wanting out of the hot lowlands, formally founded the town in 1845. Its heritage schools and libraries still carry that American-colonial stamp. Kodaikanal is famous the world over for the rare Kurinji flower, which blooms once every twelve years.

How to reach

The closest airport is Madurai Airport, 120 km away. The nearest railhead is Kodai Road Railway Station, 80 km down the hill, linked by a winding mountain road.

Kodaikanal in 2 days

See the full itinerary

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

Bazaar street food

Kodai Bazaar

Bazaar street food

Momos, bajji and cutlets

juices

juices

Plums, pears and fresh juices

Hill fruit

Hill fruit

Plums, pears and fresh juices

Kodai homemade chocolate

Kodai Bazaar

Kodai homemade chocolate

Hand-made chocolates and fudge

Kodai farm cheese

Kodai farm cheese

Local hill-farm cheeses

South Indian meals

South Indian meals

Dosa, idli and thalis

Nearby getaways

Madurai

Madurai

~3 hrs

Munnar (KL)

~4 hrs

Palani

Palani

~1.5 hrs

Things to do

How to spend your time in Kodaikanal.

Bryant Park & Silver Cascade

Bryant Park & Silver Cascade

Gardens and a roadside waterfall

Dolphin's Nose & Pine Forest

Dolphin's Nose & Pine Forest

Viewpoint and photogenic pine woods

Popular attractions

The places in Kodaikanal most people come for.

Kodaikanal Lake

Kodaikanal Lake

Attraction

Pillar Rocks Viewpoint

Pillar Rocks Viewpoint

Viewpoint

See all attractions

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.

Been to Kodaikanal?

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