Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal, the "Princess of Hill Stations": a star-shaped lake, misty cliffs, pine forests and waterfalls in South India's quintessential colonial-era hill retreat.

Kodaikanal lies in Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, in the Palani Hills — an eastern spur of the Western Ghats — at about 2,100 m. Known as the "Princess of Hill Stations", it was developed as a summer retreat in the mid-19th century by American missionaries and British colonists. Sightseeing centers on the star-shaped Kodai Lake: east of the lake are Coaker's Walk and Bryant Park; to the southwest a forest circuit links Pine Forest, Guna Caves, Pillar Rocks, Green Valley View and Moir Point; farther west lie Berijam Lake (permit required), the terraced village of Poombarai and Mannavanur Lake; along the ghat road on the east side are Silver Cascade and Thalaiyar Falls, while Vattakanal is the starting point for the walk to Dolphin's Nose. The climate is cool. April–June is South India's peak summer-escape season, with crowds and high room rates; September–October is fresh after the rains; in December–February mornings and evenings can drop to around 5°C, so bring a jacket; the northeast monsoon brings more rain in October–December. Getting there: the nearest railway station is Kodai Road (about 80 km), and Madurai Airport is about 120 km away, with a 3–4 hour drive up the hill. Most sights in the area require a hired car or your own vehicle, and traffic jams are common on peak-season weekends. Stay 2–3 days: one for the lake and forest circuit, one for the western villages and lakes, plus an optional day of trekking. Local specialties include homemade chocolate, eucalyptus oil and mushrooms.

Top sights

• Kodaikanal Lake – A man-made, star-shaped lake dug in 1863. Its 5 km circuit is ideal for cycling and horse riding, and it forms the heart of Kodaikanal.
• Coaker's Walk – A viewing path of about 1 km built along a steep cliff. On clear days, you can look down over the valley and the distant plains, and it is…
• Pillar Rocks – Three granite pillars, each about 120 meters tall, stand side by side at the cliff edge. They are Kodaikanal's most iconic landscape.
• Bryant Park – A botanical garden established in 1908, with abundant roses, hybrid flowers, and greenhouse plants. It holds a flower show every May.
• Guna Caves (Devil's Kitchen) – A deep rock-fissure cave that became famous after the 1991 film Guna and the 2024 film Manjummel Boys.
• Berijam Lake – A reservoir lake deep in a forest reserve. Entry requires a forest department permit, and it offers excellent wildlife and primeval forest…
• Dolphin's Nose – A flat rock shaped like a dolphin's snout juts out over a deep valley. It is reached by a roughly 3 km downhill hike from Vattakanal.
• Silver Cascade Falls – A roughly 55-meter waterfall beside the mountain road, fed by Kodaikanal Lake. It is the first stop on the way up the hills.
• Bear Shola Falls – A seasonal waterfall in the forest on the edge of town, named after the bears that once came here to drink. It is reachable on foot.
• Green Valley View – A cliff-edge viewpoint once known as 'Suicide Point', overlooking a valley nearly 1,500 meters deep and the distant Vaigai Dam.
• Pine Forest – Rows of towering pines form straight avenues carpeted with needles, making this Kodaikanal's most popular woodland for photos.
• Kurinji Andavar Temple – A hilltop temple dedicated to Murugan, famous for the Kurinji flower that blooms once every 12 years, with views of the Palani Hills and Va…
• Shenbaganur Museum of Natural History – A natural history museum on the grounds of a Jesuit college, with specimens of Palani Hills wildlife and a collection of orchids.
• Kodaikanal Solar Observatory – A solar observatory established in 1899, where the 'Evershed Effect' was discovered, with a small astronomy museum on site.
• Poombarai Village – A traditional hill village on terraced slopes, where layered fields and an ancient Murugan temple create a classic mountain village scene.
• Mannavanur Lake – A tranquil lake set in highland meadows, with a government sheep and rabbit farm nearby. The scenery resembles a New Zealand pasture.
• Chettiar Park – A small terraced garden on the road to Kurinji Andavar Temple, planted with rare Kurinji flowers, and very peaceful.
• Thalaiyar Falls (Rat Tail Falls) – One of India's tallest waterfalls, with a drop of about 297 meters. Seen from a lookout on the uphill road, it looks as slender as a rat's…
• Fairy Falls – A small waterfall hidden among eucalyptus and shola forest about 5 km west of town. Few visitors come, the setting is quiet, and it can be…
• Perumal Peak – A 2,440-meter peak in the eastern Palani Hills and a classic day hike. From the summit there are wide views over the plains and surrounding…
• Palani Murugan Temple – One of the six holy abodes of Murugan, a hilltop temple in the foot-hill town of Palani. It can be reached by cable car or by climbing near…
• Moir Point – A cliff viewpoint at the entrance to the Berijam Lake trail, overlooking a deep valley, with a stone memorial to the engineer who built the…

Where to eat

• Cloud Street Café – A retro café across from the tourism office, with a fireplace, serving wood-fired pizza and pasta, with live music on w…
• Pastry Corner Bakery – A small bakery that has operated for about thirty years on Bazaar Road, known for its egg sandwiches, cream buns and ho…
• Tava Vegetarian Restaurant – A small vegetarian eatery inside the market, where Punjabi parathas and curries are popular with visitors and locals al…
• Astoria Veg Restaurant – An old vegetarian eatery near the bus stand, offering good-value, authentic South Indian set meals and ghee dosas.
• Ten Degrees Café – A small second-floor café at Seven Roads Junction, run by a chef and his wife, famous for its coconut mousse and fusion…

Itineraries

• Madurai to Twin Hill Stations (Munnar) – Ascend from the ancient temple city to two hill stations, crossing the Western Ghats into the tea hills of Kerala.