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Kodaikanal guide >>> Kodaikanal travel
guide and tourist information on Kodaikanal, how to get to Kodaikanal,
also details on sightseeing in Kodaikanal, best time to visit Kodaikanal
and accommodation in Kodaikanal
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Summer is the time when you
simply need to escape the steaming plains of Tamil Nadu and plot a course
towards greener pastures. Head for Kodaikanal, 2,133mt, Tamilnadu's
evergreen hill station in the Palani Hills of the Western Ghats. Kodaikanal
(also called Kodai or Kody) is blessed with balmy weather throughout
the year, barring a few wet months in winter. Green hill slopes with
many a waterfall; thick forests with eucalyptus trying to reach for
the skies, fruit orchards and a beautiful lake paint the Kodaikanal
picture. The Kody Lake is at the heart of town, a glimmering,
star-shaped lake that is Kodaikanal's prettiest sight.
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You can drink in Kodaikanal's
beauty for hours at the lakeside - this is a lovely place to linger
awhile, stroll around or go boating. Pedal boats and rowboats are available
to splash across the lake. Fishing is allowed with permits.Kodaikanal's
soothing scenery invites you for long walks - along the lakeside or
into the surrounding forests and hills. Coaker's Walk and
Priest's Walk are among the more popular of these walking
trails. Coaker's Walk winds right around Kodaikanal, with some breathtaking
sights of the countryside. Pillar Rocks and the temple town of Madurai,
are visible on a clear day.
Bryant Gardens and Chettiar Park are flooded with seasonal flowers. Chettiar Park's best-known attraction is the rare Kurinji plant that flowers once in 12 years - and is next due to bloom in the year 2006. The Flora and Fauna Museum on the way to Silver Cascades has a pretty collection of orchids. There are a number of picnic spots like Fairy Falls and Glen Falls. Perumal Peak is an exciting trek for the more energetic. A number of other organized treks are possible from Kodaikanal, with permission from the Forest Department. Try the 8 km trek to Dolphin's Nose-Vallagavi-Kumbakkarai or the tough 13 km trek to Kukkal-Kudiraiyar Dam through deciduous forests and waterfalls. A 16 km trek to Vilpatti - Ganesapuram - Puliamarathope - Palani takes you through coffee plantations. Walk, trek, boat, daydream - whatever your do, Kodaikanal gives you a piece of the action. Enjoy it! Getting to Kodaikanal Kodaikanal is 520 km from Chennai and 120 km from Madurai, which has the closest airport. Kodai Road and Palani are the nearest railheads, from where Kodaikanal is 3 hours by road. The drive from Chennai or Bangalore takes 12 hours and from Madurai takes 4 hours. State Transport and private buses are available; taxis and vehicles can be hired. Best time to visit Kodaikanal Summer- April to June- is peak season in Kodaikanal, when the weather is great and there are Summer Festivals to liven the tempo. The crowds thin between July and October but the weather remains pleasant. Temperatures range from 10º to 20ºC, with wet winters. Accommodation in Kodaikanal Kodaikanal has a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury hotels near the lake, to middle budget and economy motels that are concentrated around the centre of town. Dormitories are available for those on a shoestring budget. Tariffs start at Rs 200 for economy and Rs 2,000 and above for luxury rooms. |
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