With its temperate,  climate and an average of 12 hours sun every day, Kodaikkanal  is one of the most popular hill resorts in India.   The splendor of the summer day is never so gorgeous as in Kodaikkanal.   It is a lovely hill resort on the Palani hills in the Dindigul district of TamilNadu.    With its rocks,  woods and woodland ways, lovely lake and bracing air,  Kodaikkanal is an ideal hill resort for the tourists. The Kodaikkanal Observatory, surmounting  the hill  is one of the most important and the only one of its kind institutions in India for the study of meteorology, solar physics and allied subjects.

                                                                                                                               Trekking at Kodaikkanal

                                                                                                                                 Trekking at Kodaikkanal

      Area

 21 . 45 Sq. Kms

  Population

32,931 ( 2001Censes)

  Altitude

2133 meters above sea  level

   Climate

   Summer

   Winter

Max
19.8 C
17.3 C

   Rainfall

165 Cm         (average)

Heavy rain  Season between October and  December.

   Clothing

Light  woolens  in  the  evening during Summer  and  heavy  woolens  during  winter.

   Language  Spoken

Tamil  and  English.

   S T D Code

 0091-04542

BEST   SEASON AND  FLOWER  SHOW

  Season

April  to  June  and  September  to  October.

But   visited  throughout   the  year.

  Summer  Festival

Summer  Festival  Celebrated  in  the month of May every  year.  Flower  show  also  held during the  Summer  Festival.

 1.        LAKE  

The  24  -  hectare  lake  skirted  by  a 5km  long  block for  road,  is  the  focal  point  of  Kodai. This lake was  created  in 1863  by  Sir  Vere  Henry  Levinge   (1819 - 1885) who  was   previously  the  Collector  of  Madurai,  who  retired  and  settled  in  Kodai.  He  constructed  the  bund  to  form  a  lake  and  stocked  the  lake  with  fish.  He  brought  the  first  boat  from  Tuticorin.  In  1890,  a  boat  club  was  formed  and  members  of  the  club  set sail.  In  1910  a  new  boat  house  was   constructed.  The boat  service  was  opened  to  the  public  and  tourists  as  well  in  1932.

2.     BRYANT  PARK

      This  park  is  situate d on the  eastern  side  of  the lake.   It  is  noted  for  its  flowers,  hybrids   and  grafts.    Cut flowers   are  exported  from here.  A  glass house  which shelters  fine  varieties   of  flowers  can be seen here.   The  Flower  Show is conducted  every year  during  May,  as  part  of  the Summer  Festival, should be  seen everyone.

3.        SOLAR  PHYSICAL  OBSERVATORY

It is  situated  32  Kms  from  the  lake.   This  Observatory  was  founded  in  1989.  Located  at  on  elevation  of  2343  metres, this  observatory   is  the highest  point  in  Kodai.   Visitors  can  observe  the  stars and  the  planets.   Check   out  visiting  hours  and  make a  prior  appointment.

 4.  COAKER'S   WALK

The  hill-edged  pathway  was  identified  by  Er. Cooker  in  1872.  About a Kilo metre  from  the  lake.  Coaker's walk runs  along a  steep  slope  on  the southern side  of  Kodai.   It  offers  some  of  the  best  views  of  the  plains.  Entry fee is Collected  here.

5.           THE  PILLAR  ROCKS

Three  boulders  stand  here,  shoulder to  shoulder,  vertically  measuring  122  meters ,  providing a  majestic  sight .     Pillar  Rocks  is  7.4 KMs  from the lake.  It  has  a  mini  garden  with  lovely  flowers.

6.  SILVER  CASCADE

It  is 8 KMs  Kodai  lake.   The   overflow  of  Kodai  lake  comes  down  here  as   a  180 feet  high  waterfall. Those  interested  can  have  a  bath   here.

  7. KURINJI  POO (FLOWER) DETAILS

It   is  flowering   once  in  12  years.   Last  flowered  year  - 1992.   During that  period the honey of this place  is  more  and  good  for  health.

  8.  KURINJI ANDAVAR TEMPLE

The temple, situated  3  Kms  from  the  lake, is  a  famous  shrine  dedicated  to  Lord  Murugan.  This  temple  is associated  with  the  Kurinji  flowers    which  blooms once  in  12  years.  Next Blooming year is 2006. Kurinji  also  means  hill  region  in Tamil  literature,  and  'Andavar'  means  God. Hence  Lord Muruga is  referred to as  the God of the Hill  here.
         From  this  temple  one  can have  a  pleasant    view   of  Palani  and Vaigai  dam.

9.         TELESCOPE  HOUSE

The  Telescope  house at  Coaker's  Walk  was  constructed  to enable  visitors  to  have  a   panoramic  view  of  the  valley   and  nearby  towns.   A   fee  is  collected  to use  the telescope .

  10.           GREEN  VALLEY  VIEW

It  is  about  5 .5 Kms  from  the  lake  and  very  near  the  Golf  Club.  This  point   commands  a  beautiful  view  of  the  entire  Vaigai  dam.  As  the  Valley  here  is  very   deep,  dense  and  dangerous.    This  place  was  once   known  as  "suicide  point".

11.           MOER  POINT

Moer  Point  provides  a  lovely  view  of  the  valley.  It is  just  3 KMs  from  the  Pillar Rock - Berijam  Lake  Road.

12.       SILENT  VALLEY  VIEW

Just a little  away from  the  Pillar  Rock  -   Berijam  Lake Road,  is  Silent Valley  View  which provides   a  breathtaking  view  of  Silent  Valley.  Children  are carefully.

13.  BERIJAM LAKE VIEW

This place provides  a  panoramic  landscape   view  of  Berijam  Lake  and   is  located  just  before  one  reaches  the lake .   This  viewpoint  is  19  KMs from  Kodaikkanal  Lake .

14.  FAIRY FALLS

A delightful picnic spot just 5 KMs away from the Kodaikkanal Lake. There is a wondrous waterfall here. 

15 .  CHETTIAR  PARK

Tucked  away  in the  northeastern  corner  of  the  town , on  the  way  to Kurinji  Andavar  Temple,  the  Chettiar  Park  is  a  charming  place  to stop  by .  

16.     SHENBAGANUR  MUSEUM

The  museum is  maintained  by the  Sacred  Heart  College - a  Theological   Seminary   founded  in  1895.  It  is  devoted  to  preserving  certain  archaeological remains  and  the  flora and  fauna  of  the  hills,  One  of  the  best  Orchidarinams  in the country,  over  300  species  of  exotic  orchids  are  housed  here.   It  is  about  5.6 KMs   from the  lake.  Father  Ugarthe,  a  Spaniard  contributed   his  many  private  collections  to  the  Museum.   Entrance  fee  is  Rs.1/- per  head  .   Visiting  hours - 10 am to  11.30  a.m  and  3 pm.  to  5  p.m.

                                                                EXCURSION LOCATIONS

240056 To   240071

AIR

Airport  Madurai  ( 135 KMs )  and  Coimbatore (170 KMs).

          RAILWAY  STATION

Kodai Road,  Station (80 KMs),  Palani Railway  Station  (64 KMs) and Dindigul Railway Junction (100  KMs).

          ROAD

Kodaikkanal   is   connected   by    Road    with    all      important      towns.       Regular bus      services       are     available       from     Kodaikkanal      to    Madurai (120 KMs), Palani (60 KMs),  Kodai Road (80 KMs), Theni (75 KMs),  Dindigul (100 KMs),  Thiruchirappalli (200 KMs),   Bangalore (475 KMs) and  Coimbatore (170 KMs).

          LOCAL  TRANSPORT

Taxis  and  vans  are  available.   Limited  City  Buses  are  available.

TOURISM  OFFICE  ADDRESS  
    
                                                  Govt. of  Tamil Nadu  Tourist  Office,

                                                  Township  Rest  house , 

                                                  Old   Bus  Stand, Building  Upstairs,

                                                  Anna  Salai,  Kodaikkanal.

                                                  Dindigul District, Tamilnadu, INDIA.

Phone     :    91-4542 -241675.