09/02/2016
1. Kodai Lake
Best experienced on foot, the scenic beauty of Kodai Lake will surely cast a magical spell on you. It’s quiet is best experienced away from the main area and you can also stop for steaming masala tea or homemade chocolates at one of the stalls near the lake.
Lake view (by File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske))
Kodai Lake view (by vaishalee)
2. Majestic Waterfalls
This sleepy hill station is home to some most stunning waterfalls across the country like Silver Cascade, Bear Shola Waterfalls and Thalaiyar Falls to name a few. Of all these, Silver Cascade is the most famous one and is formed by the backwaters of Kodai Lake.
3. Scenic Points
Want to enjoy unmatched views of the picturesque beauty of Kodaikanal and the adjoining Palani Hills? We recommend you to make a short trip to Dolphin’s Nose or Green Valley View to enjoy a visual retreat.
4. A Trip to Pillar Rocks
Located close to Green Valley View is one of Kodaikanal’s most popular attractions, Pillar Rocks. These 3 gigantic 400-foot-high vertical rock columns look like man-made pillars.
5. Serene Temples
Kodai is not only about mountain and valley views, there are beautiful temples too. For instance, there is the Kurinji Andavar Temple, a hilltop temple to Lord Murugan that offers serene views of the valley. The nearby Jain temple is smaller, but is equally beautiful.
6. Joey’s Forest Walk
Interested in trekking?Go for Joey’s Forest Walk organized by Joey and his son Jose. They offer a trek through the jungle from their house in the Uthamapalayam Forest Range, a 45-minute drive from Kodaikanal. The interesting trekking experience is surely one of the top 10 reasons to visit Kodaikanal.
Trekking route
7. Discover the Hill Station on Foot
The best place to begin is Coaker’s Walk, a promenade on the south-eastern cliff of the mountain. There are impressive views of the valley from here and on a misty day, the sweeping walk has a mystical aura.
Beautiful views
8. Shopping in Kodaikanal
Kodai is less of a bazaar than some hill stations but there are some quaint little shops that provide interesting shopping options in Kodaikanal. You can stock up on hand-made chocolates, lovely pottery items, spices like clove, cinnamon and pepper, colourful stoles and shawls and medicinal or aromatherapy oils.
9. Lovely Homestays and Cottages
Always wanted to have a homestay option on your vacation? Well a trip to Kodai can make that happen as there are a number of really nice homestays and cottages in Kodaikanal including Dalethorpe, Kodai Home Stay and Cinnabar to name a few.
10. Eating Out
Food in Kodai is cheap, easy and, sometimes, exotic. There are Tibetan restaurants on Hospital Road, the best of which is Tibetan Brothers. There are other nice local restaurants like Tava, The Eco-Nut and Potter’s Shed where you can find a variety of cuisines, ranging from local to international.