Kodaikanal is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India. With her
wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enhancing waterfalls and a beautiful
lake, Kodaikanal will mesmerize any visitor.
Set
2100 metres above sea level, Kodaikanal is a popular hill station
retreat in South India. The cool climes of Kodai offer holiday makers
respite from the steamy plains of Tamil Nadu and other neighbouring
states. Encompassed by verdant slopes that are punctuated by waterfalls
and cascades, Kodaikanal presents some awesome scenic views of the
plains below. The surrounding forests provide great trekking trails
for the outdoor enthusiast and if you are not too adventurous, the
Kodai Lake located at the heart of the town is the perfect place
to take a leisurely stroll or boat ride.
The name Kodaikanal means the gift of the forest. Situated
in the state of Tamil Nadu, among the Palani Hills, Kodaikanal is
one of the unexplored destinations of southern India. With its intoxicating
air, breathtaking scenery and serenity that you can hardly find
in any other hill station, Kodaikanal is an ideal summer resort
for the travel buffs of the southern plains.
The hill station was officially founded by American missionaries
in 1845. The local museums here will give you a good idea about
the place/’s past and its relevance in the present. The relics and
artefacts of the Paliyans who lived in these Palani hills are carefully
preserved in these museums. The abundant pear orchards in their
blooming season leave scant room for leaves on the trees, making
it a wonderful site to see.Once you are in Kodaikanal, the list
of places to visit is endless. You must try to visit as many of
them as possible. The places to visit in Kodaikanal take care of
your likes and tastes. Starting from picturesque natural sites like
the Kodaikanal Star Shaped lake, the Coaker walk and Priest’s walk
to scientific and astrological wonder the Solar observatory, the
storehouse of botanical species Orchidorium breathtaking Perumal
Peak and Fairy Falls, the list goes on and on. Once you are through
with your sightseeing schedule, you can also browse through the
local market in the town to get a glimpse of the locally produced
goods and knick-knacks to buy. Kodaikanal has a number of excursion
spots to visit. Abundance of natural beauty and variety of flora
and fauna makes them more attractive and worth visiting. Madurai,
Ooty are some of the distant excursion spots to visit from Kodaikanal.
But Palani is a must visit site for it satisfies your religious
cord as well as the nature lover inside you. Easily accessible from
Kodaikanal, it is an important pilgrimage centre especially for
the Hindus as it houses one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya
in the temple here.