An
Overview :
Located at a distance of 120 km from Madurai of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal is a
charming hill stations of South India, which attracts tourists on a large
scale. Its enchanting waterfalls, beautiful lakes and picturesque hill
plantations mesmerize every visitor. The hill station of Kodaikanal also offers some of
the best trekking trails for adventure enthusiasts with scenic forest
surroundings. The Kodai Lake is also a perfect place to take pleasurable
boat ride. The hills town is now known for various schools of International
standards.
Climate of Kodaikanal :
Kodaikanal experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year, but the
ideal time to visit the hill station is from April to June and September to
October. Its summer temperatures ranges between 19.8 and 11.3 degrees C
while during winter it varies between 17.3 and 8.3 degrees C. The city
receives heavy rainfall during October and December with an average annual
rainfall of 165 cms.
Tourist Attractions of Kodaikanal :
Besides the natural beauty of the hill station, there are several tourist
points, considered as major source of attractions of tourists.
» Kodai Club - Built during the colonial period,
the Kodai Club serves to safeguard the colonial legacies within its
interiors. There is a library featuring books by different known English
authors and a bar with stuffed heads of lions, tigers and bison, clinging on
its walls.
» Kodai Lake - This is an artificial lake offering
boating and fishing facilities for its visitors.
» Trekking Routes - Kodaikanal offers some
breathtaking trekking routes in the Palani hills. Small treks are also
available to the popular tourist points and the nearby villages.
»
Summer Festival - The Summer Festival, with its cultural programmes,
adventure sports, boat races on the lake and various other events attracts
tourists.
» Bryant's Park - It is named after the forest
officer who had planned its layout. This beautiful park houses various plant
species including a large number of pine, eucalyptus trees and some exotic
varieties of orchids. The nearby lotus pond is also a popular hangout spot.
Accommodation in Kodaikanal :
As one of the best hill station of South India, Kodaikanal has a range of
hotels of all categories to cater the needs of its visitors. All hotels
offer comfortable accommodation facilities to its tourists with all kinds of
facilities according to your needs. Most of the hotels and lodges are
located on the centre of the town or near prime tourist attractions. Some of
the major ones are : Carlton Hotel, Hotel Kodai International, Kodai Resort,
Kodai Lake View, Kodai Valley view etc.
Getting to Kodaikanal :
» By Air - The nearest airport is at Madurai and is
at a distance of 120km from Kodaikanal. It is linked to Chennai, Bangalore,
Trichy and Mumbai by regular flights.
» By Rail - The Kodai Road Railway Station to the
east and the Palani Railway Station to the north are the two important
railheads near the hill station.
» By Road - The city is connected to Chennai,
Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Madurai and Trichy by regular bus
services. Besides state run buses, there are private operators which provide
various luxury and speed buses. Taxis are also available as local transport
and is the most comfortable way to travel.
