Kodaikanal is a popular hill station in south India. Located in the state of Tamilnadu, Kodaikanal is also adored by the name of “Princess of Hills“. Resting over the Nilgiri Hills at an altitude of 7000 ft from the sea level, this popular weekend getaway has everything that a hill station could have – pristine lakes, dense forest, lonely walkways, serene waterfalls, beautiful gardens, numerous hiking trails, cosy eateries and above all the majestic view of misty blue mountains. Yes, it’s hard to explore everything in and around Kodaikanal, but below are the 14 best things that you should not miss while you are here.
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Take a Stroll on Coaker’s Walk
Are you wondering why I placed it in the first place of my list? What’s the big deal in going for a leisure walk in a hill station? Well, for me, it is the best experience always; finding a nice lonely walkaway for some exclusive “me” time talking to the mountains. Be it the Observatory Hill Road in Darjeeling, the Camel’s Back Road in Mussoorie or the Coaker’s Walk in Kodaikanal.
Constructed back in 1872 by Lt. Coaker, this is basically a path for pedestrians for a distance of 1 km along the edge of Kodai hill. The view from the walkaway on a clear day is really gorgeous enough to amaze you for hours. You can see the Dolphin’s Nose on the south and the valley of Pambar river in south-east. You will also get a distant view of the Madurai city on a sunny day.
This mountain walkway is half a kilometre away from the Kodai Lake. It starts near the Van Allen Hospital and joins the main road above Saint Peter’s Church. There is a small observatory with a telescope near the mid-point from where you can get a close view of the valley.
Entry Time: 7 am – 7 pm (All Days)
Entry Fee:
- ₹10 per person
- ₹30 for Still Camera
- ₹20 for telescope house
Visit the Devil’s Kitchen a.k.a. Guna Caves
As the name sounds spooky, so is the place. The belief as per Hindu Mythology, that the Pandavas cook their meals in these caves, made it called as Kitchen. But why Devil’s? Surely it did not mean Pandavas. Well, I guess no one has an answer for that. Some say, it is used to mean the bats that reside here. But both things do not go together – The Pandavas and The Bats. Nevertheless, the mystery in the name will attract you more to visit the place at least once if you are in Kodaikanal.
The other name of it is “Guna Caves” – came from the movie “Guna” that was shot here starring Kamal Hassan in the lead role.
The cave is formed on a cliff by three pillar rocks at an altitude of 2230 metres covered with Shola trees and grass. Getting down to those pillars is very risky as there is a steep drop and people lost their lives trying so. Since then, the access to the caves are closed and you can only see them from the other side of the fence from a raised platform.
The path from Muir Point to Guna Caves is through the Shola forest. The ground piercing roots of the Shola trees, more so near the Guna cave, is really captivating to look at.
Entry Time: 8 am – 4:30 pm (All Days)
Entry Fee:
- ₹10 per person
- ₹20 for still camera
Go for Boating in Kodai Lake
Kodai Lake is the landmark of Kodaikanal. Being at the centre of this hill station, it is the most visited place by locals and tourists. Kodai Lake is a manmade lake which was created back in 1863. It is situated at an altitude of 2100 metre and has a perimeter of 4.5 km. The road circling the lake is very popular among walkers and bikers.
The boathouse run by TTDC (Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation) has options for pedal boat, rowboat and Shikara boat to float on the water of Kodai Lake and spend some quality time together. On a misty afternoon, the lake looks like one of the most romantic places in Kodaikanal.
Entry time: 9 am – 5:30 pm (All Days except Sunday)
Entry Fee:
| Pedal Boat 2 Seater | 30 minutes | ₹100 |
| Pedal Boat 4 Seater | 30 minutes | ₹160 |
| Row Boat 6 Seater | 20 minutes | ₹225 + (₹75 Rower charge) |
| Shikara Boat 2 Seater | 30 minutes | ₹390 + (₹85 Rower charge) |
Hit the Road for Waterfall Hunting
Kodaikanal has many waterfalls in and around the main town. Being situated in the middle of Nilgiri Hills it receives a good amount of rainfall throughout the year which creates many lakes and waterfalls near Kodaikanal.
Though most waterfalls are seasonal and cascade type but exploring them with your friends will be fun. Be it the famous falls of Liril soap ad which popularise it as Liril Falls or the grand cascade of Pambar Falls in the middle of the forest where you can bathe in the pool beneath the waterfall.
The Silver Cascade waterfall on the Kodaikanal-Madurai road, the seasonal Bear Shola waterfall, The Kumbakkarai waterfall at the foothill of Kodaikanal hills, the Vattakanal waterfall and the little Fairy falls are some other water cascades that can also be visited in your trip to Kodaikanal.
Hike to Dolphin’s Nose for a Mesmerising View
There are many short and long hiking trails in and around Kodaikanal. But the most visited one by tourists is Dolphin’s Nose. Well, though the hike is for 1 km only but the view from the point is breathtaking. The distance of Dolphin’s Nose from Kodai Lake is 8 km.
It is basically a flat rock projected out from a cliff and appears like Dolphin’s Nose from far away. One can reach this place by trekking for a km from Vattakanal. To reach the viewpoint, one has to go via an old road after crossing Pambar Bridge. Later a curve rounds the hillside take you to the spot which offers a majestic view of the valley below.
Entry Time: 6 am – 5 pm (All Days)
Drive to Berijam Lake on the “Escape Route”
Have you heard about the “Escape Road” from Kodaikanal? The story goes back to 1942, World War II, when the Japanese bombing Madras, the Britishers thought to build an escape route through Palani forest from Kodaikanal to Munnar. And then to Cochin, where there would be ships lined up to evade the country if needed.
The Berijam Lake comes somewhere on this road, approx 21 km from Muir Point. The rest of the old path from Berijam Lake to Top Station in Munnar is now overgrown with vegetables and only used by villagers and hikers.
There is a two-storied bungalow near Berijam Lake which was built once as a transit point during the escape. It is now used as a Forest Rest House. The Tamilnadu Forest Department has restricted entry on this route only between 9 am – 3 pm for the general public. One has to get a permit from Forest Department Office near Muir Point before he can proceed on this route. And remember only 10 permits are issued each day. That means only 10 tourist cars are allowed to enter beyond the Forest Department Check Post each day.
Beyond the first check post, at 13 km distance you will get a fire watchtower from where you will get a bird’s eye view of the entire lake. Finally going down for another 8 km, you will reach another checkpoint, where the car has to be parked and you have to walk for the last 500 metres to reach the lake. And the forest rest house will be at your left near the check post.
Entry Time: 9 am – 3pm (All Days)
Entry Fee: No
Spend a Lazy Afternoon in the Beautiful Bryant Park
Bryant Park is Kodaikanal’s own botanical garden situated on the eastern side of Kodai Lake. Conceived and landscaped in the year 1908 by a British Forest Officer from Madurai, H.D.Bryant, this garden has a wide variety of flowers and trees inside. There is a glasshouse nursery where some ornamental plants are cultivated for sale.
During the month of May., a flower show is conducted as a part of the Summer Festival. The Bryant Park also serves as a practical centre for education on Ornamental Horticulture and also as a demonstration centre.
Entry Time: 9 am – 6 pm (All Days)
Entry Fee:
- ₹30 per person for Adults
- ₹15 per person for Children
- ₹50 for Still Camera
Get Lost in the Dense Shola Forest
Sholas are patches of forest between the rolling grasslands found in the higher reaches of South India. The forest is seen at the depression between two adjacent hills while the hilltops are covered with montane grasslands. This type of forest usually seen only in South India above the altitude of 1600 metres. These forests help to retain water and is an important source of water for the surrounding ecosystem.
You will find many Shola Forests in and around Kodaikanal. While there is a canopy of high trees throughout the forest, the lower storey is formed by shrubs and grasslands. And the cloud is a constant companion on the top of these forests. The velvety layers of moss and lichen, the occasional presence of orchids and the gigantic fern trees with the moist air and scanty sunlight peeking through the cloud make an eerie surrounding to experience.
Just make sure you do not litter anything in those forests to make the place eerier. That much responsibility is expected from everyone to preserve the Shola ecosystem of Nilgiri Hills.
Enjoy Cycling in and around Kodaikanal
Renting a bicycle is easy in Kodaikanal. You can hire one in hourly rate and hit the roads of this beautiful hill station for an entire day. You can cover most of the sightseeing points and some nearby villages riding on your bicycle. The warm rays of the summer sun on your shoulder, the crisp cool air of the winter caressing through your face and the monsoon cloud playing hide and seek with you will definitely make you fall in love with Kodaikanal irrespective of the season you come here. There is also a dedicated 5 km cycling track around Kodai Lake which is the most popular place for all the bikers in the town.
Take the Blessing of Lord Muruga in Kurinji Andavar Temple
You probably heard of Kurinji the flower that blooms every 12 years. Don’t you? Well, Kodaikanal has a temple with that name.
Kurinji means “hill region” and Andavar means “God”. Lord Muruga is the God of Hills and he is the chief deity of Kurinji Andavar Temple in Kodaikanal. Located at a distance of 3 km from Kodai Lake, this Hindu temple was constructed in the year of 1936 by Lady Ramanathan who was an Englishwoman and an Australian by birth, converted to Hinduism after marriage.
The intricate carvings and the beautiful paintings over the walls of the temple will astound you for sure. And the view of Palani Hills and Vagai dams from the temple complex is an added bonus. So, if you are in Kodaikanal do not forget to take the blessings of Lord Muruga before you leave Kodai.
Entry Time: 7 am – 7 pm (All Days)
Entry Fee: No. There is a small parking fee of 5 for your car.
Taste the Authentic South Indian Cuisine and the Filter Coffee
Nothing can be better than having a tumbler of steamy, aromatic filter coffee in your hand and watching the cloud rolling over Palani Hills. Don’t worry, You don’t need to find any fancy hotel or restaurant for that. You can go to any roadside shack in the sleepy hills of Kodai and enjoy a cup of filter coffee and the surreal landscape together.
And of course, do not miss the delicious south Indian cuisines which will be a treat for your palates. You will see many south Indian restaurants near Anna Salai area in Kodaikanal, visit any one of them. And enjoy the mouth-watering dishes of Dosa, Idli, Pongal and Uttapam with sambar and coconut chutney. If you are a non-vegetarian and like spicy food, then go to an authentic dine out place and try the chicken and the fish cooked in Chettinad style. They are absolutely sensational.
Vegetarian restaurant
- Astoria Veg Restaurant – Address: Astoria Hotel, Near Bus Stand Anna Salai, Kodaikanal 624101; Contact: 04542-240524; Website: http://astoriaveg.com/
- Kovai Annapoorna – Address: Bazaar Rd, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu 624101; Contact: +91 4542 246 181
Non-vegetarian Restaurant
- Hotel Hilltop Restaurant – Address: 150 Club Road Hill Top Towers, Kodaikanal 624101; Contact: +91 4542 240 413
- Flavours, Le Poshe by Sparsa – Address: No 25 Sivanadi Road, Le Poshe Hotel, Kodaikanal 624101; Contact: +91 4542-240514 / +91 8489946688; Website: http://www.leposhehotel.com
Dare to Venture in a Jungle Safari at Night
If you are craving for some serious adventure in Kodaikanal, then you must experience the night safari in Kodaikanal. Organised by a few hotels and tour agencies, the night safari gives an opportunity to feel the thrill of sighting wildlife inside the darkness of thick Shola forest. Even the night views of Upper Lake, the Mango City (Periyakulam) and the Palani Hills also look surreal.
Rejuvenate Yourself in One of the Farm-stays Near Kodaikanal
There are quite a few farm-stays near Kodaikanal where you can detox yourself in the middle of nature. Away from all the hustle and bustle of city life, you can soak into the rustic charm of living and wellness while leaving your phones behind. Stay in a chalet-like cottage or a treehouse, sit beside a water stream, hike to an unknown waterfall, watch the forest lit up with fireflies, bonfire under the moonlit sky – you can do it all in a farmstay near Kodaikanal.
- Karuna Farmstay – Address: Prakasapuram Village, Kodaikanal, 624101, Tamil Nadu; Contact: +91 90809 64271; Email: contact@karunadham.org.in; Website: http://www.karunadham.org.in/
- Elephant Valley Eco Farm Hotel – Address: GaneshPuram, Pethupari, Via Perumal Malai, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu 624104; Contact: +91 915 955 0341; Email: booking@dunewellnessgroup.com Website: https://dunewellnessgroup.com/elephant-valley/
- Ampthill Farmstay – Address: 39th km, Kodai-Munnar road, Poondi village, Kodaikanal; Contact: +91 94433 42251; Email: bcheriankodai@yahoo.com; Website: https://ampthill.co.in/
Buy Some Homemade Chocolates Before You Leave
Do you have a sweet tooth? Then Kodaikanal is a perfect place for you. The homemade chocolates of Kodai are of export qualities and have many varieties to choose from. You will find many homemade chocolate shops inside the town where you can buy dark chocolate and other flavours like fruit n nut, roasted almond and choco truffle. So, do not forget to take a bite of these melting melodies and also buy some for your near and dear ones while going back to home.
- Kodai Chocolate Factory – Address: APN Complex, Laws Ghat Road, Kodaikanal – 624101; Contact: +91 99 44 999 875 / +91 98 94 120 477; Email: thameemkodai@gmail.com; Website: www.kodaichocolatefactory.com
So, what are you waiting for? Plan your next trip to the quaint little hill station of Kodai. And let me know how many best things you have experienced on your trip.
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