Kodaikanal - The
Princess of Hills
Kodaikanal is South India's best known hill station and is
situated amidst the sylvan settings of the Palani Hills in the
Western Ghats. A charming hill station that retains much of
its pristine beauty, Kodaikanal, with its magnificent
landscapes, provide the ideal settings for the trigger-happy
photographer. The main attraction here is the star shaped
lake. Boating in the lake is a popular pastime and the 5 km
path around it, is a favourite promenade. The popular summer season brings you the
various exhibitions and activities including the Horticultural Show and the Regatta.
It
also has a fine golf course.
The woods outside Kodaikanal is abundant in bird life. The pride of
Kodaikanal is the
Kurinji flower, which blooms once in 12 years. It is famous for its fruits, which are known
for their freshness.
The nearest airport is Madurai (120 kms) and the nearest railway station is at Kodai Road,
80 kms away. Kodaikanal is only approachable by road and is connected to major towns
in the area. The season is from April to June & from December to Mid-January.
Places of interest include Kodaikanal Lake, Byrant Park, Solar Physical Observatory,
Coaker's Walk, Kurinji Falls, Silver Cascade, Andavar Temple, Pillar Rocks, Shenbaganur
Museum, Perumal Peak, Bear Shola Falls and Fairy Falls.
The Shenbaganur Museum houses one of the best orchid collections in India and is
maintained by the Sacred Heart College, a theological seminary, about a hundred years old.
Coaker's Walk is on the steep southern face of the Kodai ridge and its
telescope observatory offers a fine view of the plains.
Bear Shola Falls, where bears once came to drink water, is a pretty wooded picnic spot.
