Travel To Kodaikanal !!!

The Himalayas are not the only mountain range to explore in India. The Western Ghats along the west coast of southern India have plenty of explore.

Kodaikanal in particular is a prime hill station to visit. It sits at an elevation of 2,133 meters in the Palani Hills. There are plenty of attractions and wildlife to see in the area. Of course, Kodaikanal is remote, so the nearest airport is about a three-hour drive away in Madurai. Flights from New Delhi to Madurai can take five to 11 hours.

The hill station was established in 1845 by American missionaries and British bureaucrats to escape the high temperatures of summer months, according to the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corp. Kodaikanal also is known as “The Princess of Hill Stations.”

Kodaikanal Lake

The lake is the center of activity in Kodaikanal. Visitors can walk or cycle around the lake and even go out on the water in a row boat. The lake was created in 1963, when Sir Vere Henry Levinge built a dam, according to Kodaikanal International School. Popular times to visit the lake are at sunrise and sunset.

Kodaikanal also known as “The Gift of the Forest” has a peak tourist season from April to May, but the weather also is excellent from September to October when the area is less crowded. The trails around the lake are the flattest in the area, so this is the best place to cycle. For more challenging trekking and horseback riding, head to the hills.

Palani Hills

In the hills, visitors can find a variety of wildlife in the Palani Hills including elephants, deer, wild boars, leopards, hyenas, jackals, and all kinds of squirrels, according to the Palani Hills Conservation Council.

Attractions in the area include Bear Shola Falls, Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Pillar Rocks, Silver Cascade, Dolphin’s Nose and Kurinji Adavar temple.

The temple

Kurinji Adavar temple is a relatively small structure about 3 kilometers from Kodaikanal Lake. The temple offers views of Palani and the Vaigai dam. The temple shares the name of a flower. The Kurinji only blooms once every 12 years, writes Ishwar Achanta in The Hindu.

There are several places of worship in the area including mosques, temples and churches.

The observatory

The Kodaikanal Observatory was established in 1899, according to the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. It is about 3 kilometers from the Kodaikanal Lake. There is a museum in observatory’s campus. The observatory is open to the public for a couple of hours a day from April to June and on Fridays the rest of the year.

The observatory has a 20 cm refractor used for studying comets and occultation such as a lunar eclipse. The International Occultation Timing Association explains the occultation phenomena can be observed whenever the moon drifts in front of a distant star.

Waterfalls

There’s something magical about waterfalls. The Bear Shola Falls are especially beautiful, and visitors can walk on them. The falls are about 2 kilometers from Kodaikanal Lake. In the olden days, bears were known to drink from the falls.

It is best to visit the falls before the summer because they are notorious for drying up from the heat.

Silver Cascade is another waterfall, about 8 kilometers from the lake, and the falls have water year-round.

Dolphin’s Nose and Pillar Rocks

To get a scenic view, it is best to climb. Dolphin’s Nose does not disappoint at an elevation of more than 2,000 kilometers. It’s a flat rock shaped like a dolphin’s nose sticking out of the side of the mountain. It’s best to visit the location on a clear day to enjoy the view, according to Holiday Plans. The site is about a 23-minute drive from Kodaikanal Lake.

About a six-minute drive from Dolphin’s Nose is Pillar Rocks. As one might imagine, the main attractions are giant rocks shaped as pillars. On a clear day, the view of the rocks is spectacular along with the valley below. The trek from the entrance of the site to the viewing point can take a few hours. There are caves in the area, as reported by trekkr.in, but entry may be limited.

There are plenty of other things to do around Kodaikanal. It’s a great place to explore.

Where to stay

If traveling all the way to this remote for a vocation, it makes sense to stay in one of the nicest Kodaikanal resorts available. Sterling Holidays has a renovated establishment called Kodai-By The Lake. Of course, the resort has a wonderful view of the water. It also has well-appointed guest rooms and a multicultural restaurant. There also are spaces for events such as weddings and conferences. Check with the travel desk for information about sightseeing and local transportation.

Enjoy your visit to Kodaikanal and share your experiences with us !!!!

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