Today I am going to tell you about the famous hill station, Kodaikanal located in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. Kodaikanal is otherwise called as the Princess of hill stations. It's Tamil word gives various meanings like The end of forest, The Forest of Creepers, The Forest of Summer and The Gift of the Forest.
Earlier the Palaiyar tribes lived here, later the English people who ruled India lived here during the hot summer seasons. Kodaikanal is situated at a height of 2133 metres from sea level. Now let us know about the various tourist places of Kodaikanal.
Kodaikanal Lake:
It is one of the major tourist spots in Kodaikanal. It was constructed in 1863 by the former Collector of Madurai district. The area of the lake is about 60 acres. Near the lake bicycles and horses can be hired and you can go around the lake. Rowboats and other boats can also be hired at the lake which is provided by the tourism department.
Silver falls:
It is situated at a height of 5900 feet from the sea level. It looks like ornamental silver and hence it has the name Silver falls. It is also called as Silver Cascade. The waters from the Kodaikanal Lake comes out through this falls. The height of the falls is about 55 metres.
Bryant's Park:
It has an area of 20.5 acres. This park was built by Mr.H.D.Bryant in 1908 who worked as a forest officer in Madurai. It has approximately 325 trees, 740 roses. There is an Eucalyptus and Bodhi tree which are more than 150 years old. During the month of may Horticulture shows will be conducted every year.
Coaker's Walk:
It was constructed by Mr.Coaker in 1872. It is an 1 km pedestrian pathway starting near Van Allen hospital and ending near St.Peter's Church. If there is good climate, you can view the Periyakulam city, Pamba river and Dolphin nose from here. You can also witness brocken spectre from here rarely. There is also an observatory in the middle of the pathway.
Dolphin nose:
It is located near the Pambar bridge. From here you can view a huge rock which appears like a Dolphin's nose. The rock is situated at a height of 6600 metres. Near this place there is a small falls called Pambar falls which is often called as liril falls after the liril soap advertisement took place here.
Suicide Point:
The Green valley view is called as the Suicide Point. It is located near the Golf course and it is 1500 metres deep. There are large number of shops in the pathway which leads to the suicide point. If the climate is good, you can have the view of Vaigai dam from here.
Guna caves:
These caves became popular after the shooting for the Tamil film Guna took place here. Before that it was called as Devil's Kitchen. Tourists are not permitted now but one can see the caves from afar. The caves are closed due to some deaths which happened inside the caves.
Pine forests:
These were planted by Mr.Bryant for commercial purpose and to bring back greenness. He planted the pine trees in 1906. Now it is a famous tourist place for taking photographs.
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory:
It was constructed in 1898 by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. It is located at a height of 2343 metres from the sea level. Evershed, the former director of this observatory founded Evershed effect from this observatory. From here you can have the view of sothupparai dam, Vaigai dam and Periyakulam city. During the peak season the observatory is open only on Fridays till noon and during non- peak season it is open from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Pillar rocks:
The three rocks which are 122 metres high which appears like pillars are situated here. Near to this place there is an small park.
Kurinji Andavar Temple:
It is the famous temple in Kodaikanal. The main deity of this temple is Murugan. The temple is famous for Kurinji flower which blossoms once in twelve years. The temple was built by Mrs.Leelavathi(Lady Ramanathan) who came here from Europe. Now the temple is under the control of Shree Palani Dandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani.
Shenbaganur Museum:
This Museum was opened in 1895 which has more than 500 species of animals, plants and insects. It also includes 300 species of Orchids. The museum is affiliated to the Loyola College located in Chennai. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. On other days the museum is open from 10:00 am to 11:30 am and from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Falls:
Other than the Silver falls, Kodaikanal has also some other falls like Thaliyar Falls, Bear Shola Falls and Pambar Falls.
The Thaliyar Falls or Rat tail falls is located in Ghat road and it is one of the highest falls of India. You can have the view of this Falls from Ghat road but you cannot reach this falls as there is no way. Bear Shola Falls is located in the reserve forest where the bears used to drink water. Pambar Falls is also known as Grand Cascade where the liril soap advertisement took place.
Important information for tourists:
Peak season: April - June
Festivals: Summer Festival is conducted here every year during the month of May.
Earlier the Palaiyar tribes lived here, later the English people who ruled India lived here during the hot summer seasons. Kodaikanal is situated at a height of 2133 metres from sea level. Now let us know about the various tourist places of Kodaikanal.
Kodaikanal Lake:
It is one of the major tourist spots in Kodaikanal. It was constructed in 1863 by the former Collector of Madurai district. The area of the lake is about 60 acres. Near the lake bicycles and horses can be hired and you can go around the lake. Rowboats and other boats can also be hired at the lake which is provided by the tourism department.
Silver falls:
It is situated at a height of 5900 feet from the sea level. It looks like ornamental silver and hence it has the name Silver falls. It is also called as Silver Cascade. The waters from the Kodaikanal Lake comes out through this falls. The height of the falls is about 55 metres.
Bryant's Park:
It has an area of 20.5 acres. This park was built by Mr.H.D.Bryant in 1908 who worked as a forest officer in Madurai. It has approximately 325 trees, 740 roses. There is an Eucalyptus and Bodhi tree which are more than 150 years old. During the month of may Horticulture shows will be conducted every year.
Coaker's Walk:
It was constructed by Mr.Coaker in 1872. It is an 1 km pedestrian pathway starting near Van Allen hospital and ending near St.Peter's Church. If there is good climate, you can view the Periyakulam city, Pamba river and Dolphin nose from here. You can also witness brocken spectre from here rarely. There is also an observatory in the middle of the pathway.
Dolphin nose:
It is located near the Pambar bridge. From here you can view a huge rock which appears like a Dolphin's nose. The rock is situated at a height of 6600 metres. Near this place there is a small falls called Pambar falls which is often called as liril falls after the liril soap advertisement took place here.
Suicide Point:
The Green valley view is called as the Suicide Point. It is located near the Golf course and it is 1500 metres deep. There are large number of shops in the pathway which leads to the suicide point. If the climate is good, you can have the view of Vaigai dam from here.
Guna caves:
These caves became popular after the shooting for the Tamil film Guna took place here. Before that it was called as Devil's Kitchen. Tourists are not permitted now but one can see the caves from afar. The caves are closed due to some deaths which happened inside the caves.
Pine forests:
These were planted by Mr.Bryant for commercial purpose and to bring back greenness. He planted the pine trees in 1906. Now it is a famous tourist place for taking photographs.
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory:
It was constructed in 1898 by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. It is located at a height of 2343 metres from the sea level. Evershed, the former director of this observatory founded Evershed effect from this observatory. From here you can have the view of sothupparai dam, Vaigai dam and Periyakulam city. During the peak season the observatory is open only on Fridays till noon and during non- peak season it is open from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Pillar rocks:
The three rocks which are 122 metres high which appears like pillars are situated here. Near to this place there is an small park.
Kurinji Andavar Temple:
It is the famous temple in Kodaikanal. The main deity of this temple is Murugan. The temple is famous for Kurinji flower which blossoms once in twelve years. The temple was built by Mrs.Leelavathi(Lady Ramanathan) who came here from Europe. Now the temple is under the control of Shree Palani Dandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani.
Shenbaganur Museum:
This Museum was opened in 1895 which has more than 500 species of animals, plants and insects. It also includes 300 species of Orchids. The museum is affiliated to the Loyola College located in Chennai. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. On other days the museum is open from 10:00 am to 11:30 am and from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Falls:
Other than the Silver falls, Kodaikanal has also some other falls like Thaliyar Falls, Bear Shola Falls and Pambar Falls.
The Thaliyar Falls or Rat tail falls is located in Ghat road and it is one of the highest falls of India. You can have the view of this Falls from Ghat road but you cannot reach this falls as there is no way. Bear Shola Falls is located in the reserve forest where the bears used to drink water. Pambar Falls is also known as Grand Cascade where the liril soap advertisement took place.
| Kodaikanal lake | 3 Km |
| Silver Falls | 8 Km from Ghat road (On the way to Kodaikanal when reaching from Dindigul) |
| Bryant's Park | 0.5 Km |
| Coaker's walk | 0.5 Km |
| Dolphin nose | 8 Km |
| Suicide point | 5.5 Km |
| Solar Observatory | 6 Km |
| Pillar rocks | 8 Km |
| Kurinji Andavar Temple | 4 Km |
| Shenbaganur Museum | 6 Km |
Important information for tourists:
- Don't take bath in the falls.
- Have sweater with you since the climate is very cold.
- Few tourist spots mentioned above have entrance fee at a nominal rate.
- Make the city green and clean.
- Other than these tourist spots there are also some tourist spots like Berijam lake, Berijam valley etc which can be accessed only if you get permission from the forest office in Kodaikanal.
Peak season: April - June
Festivals: Summer Festival is conducted here every year during the month of May.
How to reach?
- Kodaikanal can be reached by bus from Kodai road, Dindigul, Coimbatore, Madurai etc.
- Nearest railway station - Kodai road, at a distance of 80 kms. Station code is KQN
- Nearest Airport -Madurai, at a distance of 121 Kms.
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