“Discover the mesmerizing hill station of Kodaikanal, a gem nestled in South India’s Western Ghats. From tranquil lakes to aromatic forests, this guide reveals the best things to do in Kodaikanal, ensuring you experience its beauty to the fullest. If you are indeed planning a trip to this wonderfully popular hill station, we recommend that you book a reliable and safe cab with Savaari from Madurai to Kodaikanal.
Table of Contents
- Things to do in Kodaikanal
- How to Plan a trip to Kodaikanal
- About Kodaikanal
- Places to stay in Kodaikanal
Things or Activities to do in Kodaikanal
From boating to trekking, trail walking, hiking, or even walking through the town, you can explore all places in any way that suits you.
1. Trek through the Kodaikanal hills. The dense forests and steep hills are perfect for trekking and hiking. The Bear Shola Falls, Pillar Rocks, 80-mile Round, Dolphin’s Nose, and Devil’s Kitchen are some of the best trek routes in Kodai.
2. Visit Moir Point, one of the most significant and best viewing points in the town. The point runs through wooded areas and runs all the way up to Berijam Lake and offers breathtaking views of the valleys and surrounding forests.
3. Explore the eclectic art scene of Kodai. The galleries around the Lake exhibit some great works of local and international artists.
4. Have a day picnic and swim in the sparkling Fairy Falls. The natural streams form the source of the Pambar River and join the Vaigai River. The waterfall is also a great spot for hikers and nature photography.
5. Try your hands at local pottery art. Potter Shed on the Seven Roads Junctions offers trial sessions and workshops for tourists and travelers.
Places to visit in Kodaikanal
With endless natural wonders, Kodai sightseeing is as exotic as it can get. Some of Kodaikanal best places are mostly in its natural landscape. A comprehensive Kodaikanal tourism covers a tour of hills, forests, lakes, and waterfalls. Most of the Kodaikanal tourist places can be easily covered in a day. But there are more places to visit in Kodaikanal in two days.
You can hire a day or 2-day car rental in kodaikanal to cover all the major hotspots.
Kodaikanal tourist places list includes but is not limited to these sites –
Dolphin Nose Point
- How to Reach – The viewing point is located at 8 Km from the bus stand. You can take a local cab or a shared taxi to reach the Pambar Bridge, the starting point of the trek to Dolphin Nose.
- Timings – Sunrise to Sunset (6 AM to 6 PM)
- Entry Fee– Free
- Time Required – 2-3 Hours (for Treks, 1.5-2 Hours each way)
Bear Shola Falls
- How to Reach – The falls are located at 2 KM from Kodai Lake (centre of the town) and 3 KM from Kodai bus station.
- Timings – 10 AM to 6 PM
- Entry Fee – Free
- Time Required – 2-3 Hours
Devil’s Kitchen/ Guna Caves
- How to Reach – The naturally-formed caves are located at 8.5 Km from the bus station and the best way to reach is to hire a local cab and then trek through the forested caves.
- Timings – 9 AM to 5.30 PM
- Entry Fee – Rs 5 (for the camera – Rs 10)
- Time Required – 1-2 Hours
Kodaikanal Lake
- How to Reach – Kodai Lake is 3 Km from the bus station. You can hire a cab or a local auto to reach the lake.
- Timings – 6 AM to 5 PM
- Entry Fee – Free
- Time Required – 1-2 Hours
Coaker’s Walk
- How to Reach – The paved pathway on the hills is located 500m from Kodaikanal Lake and about 1 Km from the railway station. You can walk up to the Van Allen Hospital and start your tour.
- Timings – 7 AM to 7 PM
- Entry Fee – Rs 10. (Camera – Rs 30), Telescope House – Rs 20
- Time Required- 1-2 Hours
Green Valley View Point
- How to Reach – The viewing point is located at 5.5 Km from the bus stand. You can hire a local cab to reach
- Timings – 7 AM to 6 PM
- Entry Fee – Free
- Time Required – Less than 1 hour
Pine Forest
- How to Reach – The viewing point is located at 5.5 Km from the bus stand. You can hire a local cab to reach
- Timings – 10 AM to 6 PM
- Entry Fee – Free
- Time Required – 1-2 Hours
Dolmen Circle
- How to Reach – The ancient Celtic burial site is located 18 km from Berijam Lake and 8 km from Kodai Lake. You can take a cab from either of these places to reach the dolmens.
- Timings – 6 AM to 5 PM
- Entry Fee – Free
- Time Required – Less than 1 Hour
Solar Observatory
- How to Reach – The solar observatory is located at 4.9 Km from Kodai Lake and 6.9 Km from Green Valley View and can be reached by a local cab.
- Timings – 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (April 1 – June 15); Fridays only 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Rest of the Year)
- Entry Fee – Free
- Time Required – 2-3 Hours
Places to visit nearby
Apart from the scenic sites within the town, there are many other places near Kodaikanal. You can opt for tour packages and explore these. Book a Cab in Kodaikanal to explore all these areas with comfort and ease.
Berijam Lake
- How to Reach – The lake area is located at 22 KM from bus station. You can book a cab or rent a local car to reach the lake.
- Timings – 9 AM to 3 PM
- Entry Fee – Rs 100
- Time Required – 2-3 Hours
Palani
- How to Reach – Kodaikanal to Palani is about 66 KM and takes nearly 2 hours to reach. You can rent a car from the town or book a local outstation cab to travel.
- Timings – NA
- Entry Fee – NA
- Time Required – 1 day
Thalaiyar Falls
- How to Reach – This natural cascade is located in the Palani Hills is an inaccessible attraction to the general public as there are no roads to it and the only way of reaching the top is through hiking.
- Timings – 10 AM to 6 PM
- Entry Fee – Free
- Time Required – 1-2 hours
[Also Read: Coonoor – Darjeeling of Nilgiris: A Complete Travel Guide]
Places to eat
The flavors of Kodaikanal is a mix of local, national, and international, owing to its huge traveler community.
These are some of the best places to eat in Kodaikanal –
- Silver Oak Restaurant (At The Carlton), The Carlton Hotel, Lake Rd
- Cloud Street, 1st Floor, Opposite Govt. Tourist Office, P.T. Road, Sunday Market Road
- Nia’s Garden, Convent Rd, Brooklyn
- Ten Degrees, Poet Tyagaraja Rd
- Altaf’s Café, Dolphin Nose Road, Vattakanal
How to Plan a Trip to Kodaikanal
How to reach Kodaikanal
By Train
You can also travel to Kodaikanal by train from nearby metro cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, and Chennai. There are daily and weekly trains from Chennai to Kodaikanal and Hyderabad to Kodaikanal. The nearest railway station is Kodai Road. You can book a local cab or hire a car.
By Road
This hill station is well connected by roads to nearby major towns like Madurai, Trichy, Palani, Theni, Dindigul, Bangalore, Coimbatore, and Chennai. There are regular state-run and private buses from these places to Kodaikanal. You can also book Madurai to Kodaikanal cabs, Bangalore to Kodaikanal cabs, Chennai to Kodaikanal cabs and more!
By Flight
There is no direct flight service to this hill station. The nearest airport service is at Madurai International Airport (IXM), about 120 KM away. You can book a flight to Madurai from any major city or town in India. From there, you can book Madurai airport to Kodaikanal taxi to travel to this beautiful hill station.
Best time to visit Kodaikanal
Surrounded by hills and forests and abundant water bodies, Kodaikanal weather remains pleasant all year round. The summers are cool and breezy while winters are misty and chilly when temperature drops to 12 degrees Celsius (in December). December is the best month to visit Kodaikanal but you can also travel during spring to enjoy the outdoors.
About Kodaikanal
The serene hill station of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu is located in the Dindigul district. Nestled in the Palani hills, the destination is replete with natural bounties and its old-world charm from colonial history. Owing to its beauty, this place is also called the Princess of Hill Stations. In Tamil language, Kodaikanal means “The Gift of the Forest”.
The history dates back to the times of the early Palaiyar tribe who were the native residents here. In the 1800s, American Christian missionaries and British bureaucrats started turning this place into a retreat to escape the summer heat of the plains. In the 20th century, Kodai was commercialized fully and became a holiday destination for Indians, expats, and foreign travelers.
What is Kodaikanal famous for?
The hill town of Kodaikanal sits at 2000 meters above sea level, on the Western Ghats. The town’s highlight is the star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake, surrounded by lush forests of evergreen trees, rolling hills, valleys, granite cliffs, waterfalls, and grassy knolls. At the same time, the town still exudes the last traces of its colonial past, in its local culture. A sensory treat for all kinds of travelers, it is this endless beauty that Kodaikanal is famous for.
Places to stay in Kodaikanal
Like its landscape and culture, stays here are also a great experience, depending on where you live. Here are some of the best resorts in Kodaikanal
- Red Lynch
- SaffronStays Kurinji Estate
- The Tamara Kodai
- Hotel Raindrops
- The Fern Creek
Download our Savaari car Booking app for a smooth and pleasant journey.
Best Road-trips to Kodaikanal
| Route Name | Distance | Time |
| Chennai to Kodaikanal | 528 km | 9 hours and 28 minutes |
| Bangalore to Kodaikanal | 464 km | 8 hours and 36 minutes |
| Madurai to Kodaikanal | 116 km | 3 hours |
| Coimbatore to Kodaikanal | 172 km | 4 hours and 26 minutes |
| Kochi to Kodaikanal | 279 km | 7 hours and 45 minutes |
Tamil Nadu is filled with scenic places and you can access all these places like Kodaikanal from Chennai very easily. Access Savaari’s curated list of such places near Chennai.
Last Updated on February 1, 2024 by
