Kodaikanal is quieter than Ooty, with lovely walks like Coaker’s Walk and pine forests, and a cool climate when the plains swelter.
Highlights
- Kodai Lake
- Coaker’s Walk
- Pine forest and Guna caves viewpoint
- Pillar Rocks
- Bryant Park
What to eat
- Homemade chocolate
- Eucalyptus-scented everything
Where to stay
Near the lake.
Getting there
About 3-4 hours by road from Madurai.
Tips
- Fog can roll in quickly: carry a layer.
- Combine with Madurai.
Best time to visit
Sep-Oct, Mar-Jun. See what else is good in March and our best time to visit India guide.
Temples and shrines near Kodaikanal
- Meenakshi Amman, Madurai Goddess Meenakshi and Sundareswarar (Shiva)
- Palani Murugan (Dhandayuthapani) Murugan; one of the Arupadai Veedu, his six abodes
- Thiruparankundram Murugan; the first of the six abodes
Places to see in and around Kodaikanal
18 places within 40 km. Tap I’ve been to add them to your India passport.
- Thalaiyar Falls Waterfall, 12 km
- Pampadum Shola National Park National park, 27 km
- Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple Temple, 22 km
- Kodaikanal Lake Lake, 1 km
- Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife sanctuary, 35 km
- Kumbakkarai Falls Waterfall, 8 km
- Berijam Lake Lake, 12 km
- Kurinjimala Sanctuary Wildlife sanctuary, 24 km
- Amaravathi Dam Landmark, 32 km
- Thuvanam Waterfalls Waterfall, 33 km
- Vaigai Dam Landmark, 23 km
- Sothuparai Dam Landmark, 12 km
- Kuzhanthai Velappar temple Temple, 9 km
- Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife sanctuary, 37 km
- Manjampatti Valley Valley, 27 km
- Kunnuvarankottai Kasi Visalakshi-Viswanathar Temple Temple, 30 km
- Velappar Temple, 9 km
- Silver Cascade Falls Waterfall, 2 km
Food to try in and around Kodaikanal
Named after Kodaikanal: Kodaikanal Malai Poondu (Garlic). The rest are Tamil Nadu favourites.
- Kodaikanal Malai Poondu (Garlic) GI: spice or chilli
- Idli
- Dosa
- Pongal
- Sambar
- Rasam
- Filter coffee
- Kootu
- Thayir sadam
- Rava idli
- Vada
- Palani Panchamirtham GI: sweet
The full food passport, state by state.
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