Coaker's Walk, Kodaikanal

Built

1872

Length

About 1 km

Entry fee

Nominal

Best time of day

Before about 2:30 pm

Ideal time needed

30 minutes to 1 hour

Distance from Kodaikanal Lake

About 0.5 km

What you can see

Below the walk lies the Pambar river valley, patched with farms, plantations and villages. On a clear day the view stretches to Dolphin's Nose, the town of Periyakulam and, far off, the plains around Madurai. A telescope house along the path lets you look more closely. When the sun is behind you and cloud fills the valley, you may catch a Brocken spectre, your own shadow cast on the mist and ringed by a rainbow halo.

The walk

The path starts near Van Allen Hospital and runs past St Peter's Church. It is about six feet wide, with railings on both sides and only gentle slopes, so it suits children and older visitors. Most people take thirty minutes to an hour, stopping often for photographs.

Best time to visit

Morning is best. Mist often closes in during the afternoon, so plan to arrive before about 2:30 pm if you want open views. Summer (March to June) and winter (October to February) usually offer clearer skies, while the monsoon brings rich greenery but more cloud.

Tickets and facilities

There is a small entry fee, which keeps this one of Kodaikanal's cheapest sights. Lockers are available near the entrance, and bicycles can be rented by the hour in the area. Snack stalls line the approach road.

How to reach

Coaker's Walk is about half a kilometre from Kodaikanal Lake, an easy stroll from most hotels in town. Madurai is the nearest airport and Kodai Road the nearest railway station, both linked to Kodaikanal by bus and taxi. We include it in every Kodaikanal sightseeing plan.

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