Kodaikanal Tourist Places:
"Princess of Hill stations", Kodaikanal is one of the popular tourist destinations provides you with exceptional natural settings and activity filled vacation. Be it honeymoon or a family vacation or an adventure tip with friends or a religious trip, Kodaikanal has something to offer each and every one and ensures an enjoyable time. You have varied kinds of option to keep yourself engaged in this hill station of Kodaikanal. Located in in southern crest of the Palani hills under the administrative control of Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal is at an altitude of 2100 metres and is about 120 km away from Madurai.
The hill station is well connected to the rest of the country. You have varied modes of transportation to choose from, from railways to air to roads based on your convenience and budget. This nature’s one of the best creations, is a perfect holidaying destination for all kinds of vacation such as honeymoon, family trip, adventure holidaying or a religious/spiritual tour. From rocks to water falls to trekking routes to temples to museums to caves to parks to lakes along with calm and serene atmosphere, you will have more than just one tourism places in Kodaikanal to keep yourself engaged. The hill station has mesmerising natural setting and a refreshing environment to spend few relaxed days of your lives. There are many interesting places that can you can visit while holidaying in Kodaikanal such as Berijam Lake, Coakers Walk, Bryant Park, Kurinjiandavar Temple, Green Valley View/Suicide Point, Pillar Rocks, Silent Valley View, Devil's Kitchen, Guna Caves, Pine Forest, Shanthi Valley and Silver Cascade. The accommodation facilities and suitable environment that is mostly moderate add on to the charm of the hill station.
Kodaikanal tourism places are of umpteen numbers and each one ensures few memorable moments to the least to all its tourists. Some of the special ones are:
Kodai Lake: It is Kodai Lake from which the name of Kodaikanal has been derived. Thus the lake has a very crucial role to play for the hill station. Apart from its contribution in the name of the places, it adds on to the natural beauty of the places as well. It is a manmade lake which was built by Sir Vere Henry Levinge, a former District Collector of Madurai in 1983 and is spread over 60 acres in a shape of star. Apart from admiring the sheer beauty of the lake, going for boating on the lake or pony rides around the lake make for an enjoyable time.
Berijam Lake: Another lake that is equally beautiful and refreshing is 3km long Berijan Lake. It is at a distance of 21 km from Kodaikanal. The place offers amazing picnic spot where you can just relax and spend some quality moments with your loves ones.
Kukal Cave: After a relaxed time the lakes and enjoying the natural setting, if you are looking some excitement, Kukal Cave offers you the same. Located 40 km away from Kodaikanal, it offers excellent opportunities for camping and trekking and thus being one of the popular spot in Kodaikanal tourism.
Water Falls: The natural setting of the hill station has almost everything. There are many beautiful water falls promising a wonderful time such as Silver cascade, Bear Shola Falls, Pambar Falls and Thalaiyar Falls. Silver Cascade is 8 kms away as one approach Kodai from Kodai Road, while Bear Shola falls is within just 2 Kms off the lake. Pambar Falls is 4kms away from Kodaikanal and you can find Thalaiyar Falls is 13 kms on the ghat road to kodai.
Shenbaganur Museum: Founded in 1895 and the museum offers you with many kinds of artefacts of ancient Paliyans tribes. You can also have a look at the amazing collection of more than 300 exotic orchid species along with more than 500 species of animals, birds and insects.
Telescope House: This presents tourists with an opportunity to have a mesmerising view of the valley and places nearby. It is an experience in itself to look at the scenic beauty of the place. The telescope house is situated in Coaker's Walk that was constructed by Lt. Coaker in 1872 and runs along slopes on the southern side of Kodai.
Pillar Rocks: They also make for an interesting Kodaikanal tourism places and presenting excellent setting for picnic. It is located 8 Kms away from the lake and constitute three granite boulders. Each granite boulders is of a height of 400 feet standing shoulder to shoulder with the camber between the two pillars being called as Devil's kitchen.
Dolphin's Nose: Located 8 km away from the lake, Dolphin’s Nose is a flat projecting rock that offers tourists with wonderful view of the chasm which is about 6,600 metres (21,700 ft) deep. You can reach the place by a steep rocky trail which begins soon after Pambar Bridge.
Vembadi Peak: Second highest peak with a height of 2466m, offer you with impressive view of Berijam lake, Vandaravu range, Mannovanur sheep farm, Poombarai valley, etc. the Peak can be reached by taking a right turn in Berijam road along with a steep climbing and it begins from Kodaikanal TV Tower.
Kurinji Andavar Murugan Temple: Along with beautiful natural set up, you have many religious places as well such as Mariamman Temple, Vinayagar Temple, Murugan Temple, two mosques at Ellis Villa and Munjikal, sacred Heart Church and many more. Kurinji Andavar Murugan Temple is quite popular amongst tourists for the Kurinji flower which blossoms in the area only once every 12 years. Located just 3 kms from the lake, the temple is dedicated to the Lord Muruga who is referred as 'God of hill'.