Kodaikanal - Princess of Hill Stations

Kodaikanal, the princess of hill station, is mainly known for being honeymoon destinations among other places in India. This is the most suitable and beautiful destination in the south of India because of its scenic beauty which leaves the visitors awestruck with memorable experiences.The meaning of tourist places in Kodaikanal is the gift of the forest and it contains some dense forest with enormous varieties of trees, enchanting waterfalls and huge rocks.

Situated in the hills of Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, the Kodaikanal contains a huge history as a retreat and popular tourist destination. There are many locals name that are given to this beautiful town, but the most popular is “place to see in summer”.The queen of mountain destinations is also known as the “gift of God” because of its gifted lakes and hills.The beautiful place of Kodaikanal welcomes you with a fall in the temperature accompanied by scenic beauty. Kodaikanal attracts a huge number of tourists and travellers along with adventurers both national and international every year.

 

Places to visit in Kodaikanal

The Switzerland of the east is home to varieties of adventures and exciting things to do and places to visit. Kodaikanal, the town of romance, gives you a new feeling every time you go sightseeing to different places with its pure and untouched nature’s beauty and makes you feel a step closer to the glory of Mother Nature. Some of the must - visit places in Kodaikanal are Kodaikanal Lake, Bryant Park, Silver Cascade Rocks, Pillar Rocks, Bear Shola Falls, Coaker's Walk, Guna Cave, Moir Point, Dolphin's Nose, Thalaiyar Falls, Kurinji Andavar Temple, Greenvalley View, etc.

 

History of Kodaikanal

The earliest residents of Kodaikanal were the Palaiyar tribal people. The earliest specific references to Kodaikanal and the Palani Hills are found in Tamil Sangam literature of the early Common era. Modern Kodaikanal was established by American Christian missionaries and British bureaucrats in 1845, as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the plains. In the 20th century a few elite Indians came to realise the value of this enchanting hill station and started relocating here. Tourism has been impacted by industrial pollution issues including the closure of a mercury factory owned by Unilever's Indian subsidiary Hindustan Unilever after evidence of widespread mercury pollution. To date no proper clean-up operation has been mounted.

 

Kodaikanal Cuisine

Known as the Princess of Indian Hill Stations, Kodaikanal offers the best of breath-taking views, climatic conditions, lush green vegetation, warm hospitality, and of course, the verdant surroundings of the majestic Nilgiris. Any nature lover traveling down south will want a glimpse of this beautiful destination which epitomizes peace and tranquility. And guess what, the food you get here is equally enticing. Kodaikanal may not have mega shopping malls with expansive food courts, but it does have tiny local chocolate and confectionary shops, tea stalls, cafés, and great restaurants. If you are a foodie, read on. We give you a list of restaurants in Kodaikanal where you can eat, eat, and repeat even while enjoying the natural beauty of the region. Kodaikanal was once famous for the chocolate bricks made at home. Apart from these, Kodaikanal caters the Tamil cuisine, you can find ample rice dishes and rasam. 

 

Activities and Festivals at Kodaikanal

From trekking and camping to witnessing mesmerising water falls and sightseeing, Kodaikanal is famous for all of it. The celebrations in the small town of Kodaikanal are as vibrant as the natural beauty that this places has in store for its visitors. The enchanting town is truly blessed with different cultures because of the large numbers of tourists who come from different parts of the country.

Pongal: Topping the charts is the very famous Pongal festival. Like rest of the state of Tamil Nadu, Pongal in Kodaikanal is also celebrated with equal extravagance and grandeur in the month of harvest, i.e. January.
Natyanjali Festival: Celebrated in the month of February or March, this festival is dedicated to the Lord of dance, Natraj who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

Chithirai Festival: This is one those festivals which bring in the people together as a community. The celebrations are held in the month of April and are backed by procession of Lord Kallazhagar or Lord Vishnu.

 

How to travel to Kodaikanal

Mode of Transportation	Nearest Location	Distance from Kodaikanal	Additional Information
By Air	Madurai	120 kilometres	Easily accessible by bus from the airport to Kodaikanal. Other nearby airports include Trichy (150 km) and Coimbatore (175 km).
By Bus	Chennai, Coimbatore, Pondicherry, Madurai, and more	-	Regular bus services available from various cities to Kodaikanal.
By Train	Kodai Road	100 kilometres	Many tourists opt for this route, followed by a taxi ride to Kodaikanal. Taxi rates from Kodai Road are not negotiable.
Road/Self Drive	Chennai (439 km), Bangalore (305 km), Madurai (3.5 hours)	-	Easily accessible by road from major cities. Limited gas stations along the way, so ensure the fuel tank is full.

 

Climate in Kodaikanal

Season	Duration	Temperature Range	Rainfall	Additional Information
Winters	December - February	Minimum below 10°C, Maximum 15-17°C	-	-
Summers	March - May	Minimum around 12°C, Maximum low 20s°C	Moderate to heavy rain	-
Monsoons	June - September (Southwest Monsoon), October - early December (Northeast Monsoon)	Maximum 15-20°C	Heavy rainfall, majority during Northeast Monsoon	City experiences two monsoon seasons: Southwest Monsoon and Northeast Monsoon. Majority of rainfall occurs during Northeast Monsoon.

 

Why should one visit Kodaikanal?

There is no denying the fact that Kodaikanal is one of the most breathtaking hill stations the state of Tamil Nadu has to offer. Nestled amidst towering granite cliffs, verdant valleys, tranquil lakes and cascading waterfalls, it is a true feast for the senses. Perched at an altitude of a little over 2,000 metres, this splendid place has been a popular summer getaway in the region, owing to its salubrious weather and eye-pleasing environs.

Another aspect which has helped Kodaikanal remain as one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in South India for decades is that it has a plethora of attractions to explore. It is sure to keep you engaged whether you are headed here for a few days or a week.

The king of romantic places, Kodaikanal is one of the best places to visit in the south region. We all know Tamil Nadu is the king of South India and hence the town of Kodaikanal adds a little more litter into its glory. The town is not only just meant for newly married couples but also you can visit the tourist places in Kodaikanal town with your family and enjoy the various sports and adventure provided by this mesmerizing and beautiful town.