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Places to see in Kodaikanal

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How to reach      Places to see     Picnic spots      Trekking routes      Chennai - Kodaikanal  Road drive map
 
Tamil Nadu
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Capital city - Chennai
Ideal time to Visit - October to March.
A large part of the state being on the coastal edge of the country, the weather is tropical and sultry for most part of the year. The summer months of April, May, June are hottest where temperature ranges to 40 degrees.

December and January are the peak months for Chennai. The temp ranges from 20-22 degrees. To avoid peak rush October is better. The weather in these months is pleasant and easy to bear the humidity.
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Travelogues from Tamil Nadu
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Silver Cascade
Silver Cascade waterfall is located on the Ghat Road about 8-km away from Kodaikanal as one approach from Kodai Road, Dindigul or Madurai. The overflow of Kodai Lake takes a 180 ft leap over a steep cliff, to crash as a pool.

Kodaikanal Lake
This is a magnificent man-made lake spreading over 60 acres in the form of a star, surrounded by fine-tarred road of 3.5km. The maximum depth is now about 9m, the average being 3m. In 1863, Vera Levinge, a former district Collector of Madurai who had settled here after his retirement, had converted the marshy land with several streams into a lake by constructing a strong bund at his own cost.



Tourist Attractions

Bike Ride: Bicycles can be hired around the lake, with the minimum charges for a normal cycle being Rs.10/- for an hour. [ Do go for the ride sometime towards the evening after 5pm, its very enjoyable and you do not feel the tiredness at all]
Pony Rides: This is a regular event with rates varying from Rs.50/- to 75/- for half an hour. And also for those who prefer only a snap can always get one for a minimum cost of Rs.10/-

Boat Rides: Kodaikanal Boat Club, T.T.D.C boats and Carlton boats are available on hire for hours. The annual boat pageant is held in May, every year as a part of Summer Festival. [ Try out the Carlton boats, the TTDC boats are not well maintained]

Byrant Park: This is situated on the eastern side of the lake, named after the British forest officer who had planned its layout. It comprises of a glass house exhibiting plant varieties of flowers, cactus, etc., a big lotus pond, well laid out gardens with beautiful pine, eucalyptus trees, colorful flowering shrubs and hybrids grown. Its famous for the summer festival, horticultural show held in May.

Chettiar Park: This park is located on the way to Kurinji Andavar Temple, which is very well maintained by the township, clean, calm, flooded with seasonal flowers and best-known attraction is the rare Kurinji plant that flowers once in 12 years, next due in 2006. The park is very quiet and peaceful; those who love tranquil time passing can prefer this place. No entry fee is collected and is open between 8.30am to 5.00pm

Kurinji Andavar Temple: The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Murugan. In Tamil literature "Kurinji" means "Hilly Region" and "Andavar" means God. From this temple, one can get a view of the northern plains and Palani Hills.

Green Valley View: It offers some unforgettable spectacles of the hill resort. Driving along the cool green darkness with the trees making a canopy overhead, one reaches this viewpoint. The sheer drop of 1,000 feet overlooks the Vaigai Dam. When clouds are banked like snow, and violet smog envelopes the distant hills, the mist rises from the valley, imparting a fabulous beauty to the scene. The pathway leading to the viewpoint is full of shops loaded with home made chocolates, fancy ornaments, evergreen flowers.

Golf Club: This is spread over 114-acre, another colonial legacy undulating green velvet carpet. The Golf ground is just opposite to the green valley view entrance, and one can have a glance of the lush green area with permission restricted to only members. It is fenced off, but if you are there early you can chance upon wild bison’s or gaurs grazing. This golf club came in to existence on June 17, 1895. It has 18 holes; total length of the course is 6426 yards, Major events are in April, May & January and interesting competitions throughout the year. Golf lessons are also offered here.

Pillar Rock: 3 granite boulders measuring a height of 400ft stand shoulder to shoulder vertically to each other. The ground drops steep below them creating a remarkable impact and affording a breathtaking view of the valley below. The chamber between the two pillars is called Devil's Kitchen. In the shadows of these pillars are shady woods; full of caves a delight for the adventure seeker. Thick woods line the road leading to these rocks which is located at 7km from Kodai. When the mists wrap up the pillars, they seem to be a mystery and one wonders whether they are real, or whether they were a figment of one's imagination. And when the sun melts the mists away and the rocks rise, solemn and magnificent, speckled in sun and shadow: the effect is otherworldly and breathtaking.

Coaker’s Walk: It is a narrow 1Km fenced pedestrian path, providing a wide-angle spectacular view of the plains and the distant hills. Constructed by Lt. Coaker of the Royal Engineers in 1872, runs along the edge of steep slopes on the southern side. The walk winding around Mount Nebo starts near Van Allen Hospital and joins the main road above St. Peter's Church. It has a telescope house and an observatory, to enable the visitors to have a panoramic view of the valley and the nearby towns. On a cloudless, clear day one can have interesting sights, such as Dolphin's nose in the south, valley of the pambar river in South East, Pillar Rocks, birds eye view of Periyakulam and even the city of Madurai.

Shenbaganur Museum: One of the best orchidoriums in the country with more than 300 species of orchids and wide-ranging collection of birds are found here. The Museum is devoted to the archeological remains and flora and fauna of the hills. The museum is maintained by the Sacred Heart College, a Theological Seminary founded in 1895. The stuffed-birds and the butterfly collection are remarkable. The archeological collection is meticulously documented. One can see the implements and the burial urns of the Paliyans here.