- Altitude
- About 2,133 m
- Distance from Madurai
- About 3 hours by road
- Distance from Coimbatore
- About 175 km
- Nearest railway station
- Kodaikanal Road (about 75 km)
- Nearest airport
- Madurai
What to see
- Kodai Lake: a man-made lake at the centre of town, ringed by a walking and cycling path, with boating.
- Coaker's Walk: a paved path along the edge of a slope with views down to the plains on clear days.
- Pillar Rocks: three tall granite columns rising from the valley.
- Guna Caves: deep rock clefts made famous by the Tamil film Guna; viewing is from a fenced area.
- Silver Cascade: a roadside waterfall on the ghat road up from Madurai.
- Green Valley View, Moir Point and Upper Lake View: viewpoints over the hills.
- Berijam Lake: a forest lake reached with a permit from the forest department.
Planning your time
Two to three days lets you cover the town sights, the viewpoints and a trip towards Berijam without rushing. Mornings are usually the clearest; afternoons can bring mist that hides the views. Carry a light jacket in any season, and something warmer between November and February.
How to reach
Most visitors drive up from Madurai, about three hours away by the ghat road that climbs from Batlagundu. Another road climbs from Palani and suits travellers coming from Coimbatore, about 175 km away. The nearest railway station is Kodaikanal Road, around 75 km from the town, on the line from Chennai and Madurai. Madurai is the closest airport; Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore are the other options.
Tips for your visit
Weekends and school holidays, especially April to June, bring heavy traffic on the ghat roads and around the lake, so start early. Some viewpoints charge a small entry fee. We can plan a Kodaikanal trip on its own or combined with Ooty, Munnar or Madurai.
Places to see in Kodaikanal
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalBerijam LakeBerijam Lake is a protected forest reservoir about 22 km from Kodaikanal, open only to permitted vehicles in daytime, with birds and quiet walks.
Best: October to MayRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalBryant ParkBryant Park, Kodaikanal: a botanical garden by the lake with a glasshouse, hybrid flowers and the May flower show, plus tips on combining nearby sights.
Best: April to JuneRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalCoaker's WalkCoaker's Walk, Kodaikanal: a 1 km cliff-side path from 1872 with views over the Pambar valley. Best hours, fees, what you can see and tips.
Best: Before about 2:30 pmRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalGreen Valley ViewGreen Valley View in Kodaikanal: a cliff-edge viewpoint over deep valleys towards Vaigai Dam, with timing tips and how to get there.
Best: 10 am to 3 pmRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalGuna Cave (Devil's Kitchen)Guna Cave, or Devil's Kitchen, in Kodaikanal: deep rock fissures made famous by the film Guna, what you can see today and nearby sights.
Tamil NaduRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalGuna CavesGuna Caves in Kodaikanal, the Devil's Kitchen from the film Guna: what you can see from the viewing area, safety rules and nearby sights.
Tamil NaduRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalKodaikanal LakeKodaikanal Lake: boating, cycling and horse rides around the star-shaped lake, best season and tips for a relaxed day in Kodaikanal.
Best: October to JuneRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalKurunji Andavar TempleKurunji Andavar Temple in Kodaikanal: a hillside Murugan shrine named after the kurinji flower, with valley views, timings and access.
Tamil NaduRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalPillar RocksPillar Rocks, Kodaikanal: three granite columns about 400 ft high, often wrapped in mist, with a garden, Devil's Kitchen and hot snacks nearby.
Best: Mornings; September to MayRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalSilent Valley View PointSilent Valley View Point, Kodaikanal: a quiet cliff-edge view over forested gorges, best at sunrise. Timings, free entry and nearby sights.
Best: October to FebruaryRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalSilver Cascade FallsSilver Cascade Falls on the ghat road to Kodaikanal: a roadside waterfall about 180 feet high, with fruit stalls and a good stop on the drive up.
Tamil NaduRead guide →
SightKodaikanalKodaikanalThalaiyar Falls (Rat Tail Falls)Thalaiyar Falls, or Rat Tail Falls, drops about 975 ft down the Palani Hills and is best seen from Dum Dum Rock on the Kodaikanal ghat road.
Tamil NaduRead guide →Also nearby
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