6 Must-See Kodaikanal Tourist Places

I talked about how amazing my stay at the GRT Hotels in Kodaikanal was in my previous post. Everything was excellently arranged there, and they indeed had provided all the support and hospitality that they could. It was only about time that I also wrote about my overall experience of Kodaikanal Tourist Places. That this is one of the most fantastic towns, especially during the rainy season, goes without saying. I was there in Kodaikanal for about 3 days, but I sought ways & means of going through quite a few tourist spots, apart from visiting some of the offbeat (read backpacking-type) adventures as well.

Kodaikanal Tourist Places

Kodaikanal is a very popular hill station in India, especially in the southern part of India. It was established around 150 years ago, as it gave much respite from the scorching heat in the downtown areas, closer to mean sea levels like Chennai, Madurai, etc. Located just about 3 hours by road from Madurai, which in turn takes about an overnight journey by train from all major cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, etc., it makes it very viable to travel to. It is situated at roughly 2,000 metres above sea level; the place has just the right temperature in every season.

So, these are my:

6 Must-See Kodaikanal Tourist Places

a) Kodaikanal Lake

Kodaikanal Lake

One of the most visited “Kodaikanal Tourist Places, no doubt. This is a man-made (artificial) lake situated at only about 2 km from the Kodaikanal Bus Stand and hence probably one of the most visited spots. Developed by the British around the 1860s, the lake is now 150+ years old, and I felt it is in good shape, not in the best of shapes due to rampant construction around the banks of the lake. It’s like everybody wanting their piece of meat. Boating is a very common activity tourists do here. During summers, there are also flower shows organized here. There is another popular tourist attraction named Silver Canyon, which is essentially an outflow of this lake that results in a waterfall of about 200 feet.

b) Bear Shola Falls

Bear Shola Falls

Bear Shola Falls is a seasonal adventure spot-cascade that is at it’s fullest grandeur in the rainy season. It’s a waterfall that apparently got it’s name from the fact that the bears in the nearby forests used to be frequently seen drinking water here. “Shola” in the local language refers to a forest that surrounds the cascade, typically in the Nilgiri Mountains in southern India. Hence this terminology. Great spot for some family outings as well as adventure treks as well as for photography. Surprisingly, more people visit here from October to May than in the rainy season. Situated around 3 km from the main bus stand, this again features in the itineraries of most people, as it’s one of the popular Kodaikanal tourist places.

c) Poombarai Village—Finest Among The Kodaikanal Tourist Places

Poombarai

Poombarai Village, located amidst the Palani Hills, is around 18 km from Kodaikanal town. It’s a typical filmy village down the hills, with a super great view from the top of the mountains. Even then, the village is at 1,900 metres above sea level. It is enroute to another popular Kodaikanal tourist place—Mannavanur Lake. With the weather partly cloudy and partly sunny, the shadows of the clouds were awesome to see, as if they were touching the surface. Awesome to watch. There is a 3000-year-old temple also in this village; most of the cab operators will halt at, take blessings, and then proceed to take you around.

d) Berizam Forest & Lake Visit

Berijam Lake

Berizam Forest Reserve is about 22 km from Kodaikanal town, located at the end of Pillar Rocks Road. Berizam Lake is in the interior of the Forest Reserve. I, along with some of my blogger friends, visited Berizam Lake from Mannavanur Lake, through the internal forest road, not open to the public. Special approval was taken to travel by that route. Otherwise, there is another road to reach Berizam Lake for the general public between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm (forest entry is not allowed without prior permission). The water levels had obviously gone down due to less-than-normal rains this year. Overall, a good place to spend some time amidst nature. Trekkers will love this place. You can also spot wild animals like bison, elephants, deer, etc. There are limited rest houses for overnight accommodation.

GRT Hotels Too Can Arrange This Visit For You & Your Family, If You Stay With Them Of Course!

e) Pine Forest

Photo of 6 Must-See Kodaikanal Tourist Places by Fly With Shaunak

Pine trees are one of the prime features amongst the Kodaikanal tourist places. Just 7-8 km outside from the main bus stand, you are bound to find tall, huge pine trees, offering a very pleasant & serene rroundings. Thankfully, they have also been preserved very well by the district authorities and the local population. Photography is the most preferred activity among people from all walks of life, be it common tourists, trekkers, adventure lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, solo travellers, etc. There is no entry fee, and people generally visit between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm.

f) Pillar Rocks

Pillar Rocks Road

A very popular cliffside spot amongst all the Kodaikanal Tourist Places, the Pillar Rocks offer excellent views down the cliff of the mountains and huge pillar-shaped rock formations. These rocks are in sets of 3 each, i.e., 3 granite boulders standing shoulder-to-shoulder vertically. Weekends are usually crowded here, especially from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm. There are quite a few souvenir shops located a little away from this place, meaning you can do shopping here too. It is located about 8 km from the main bus stand.

These are some of the places I covered while on my first trip to Kodaikanal. 3 days is not a sufficient time as such to do our own “slow travel” and to experience all of Kodaikanal Tourist Places, but I guess I will take everything that comes my way in terms of exploring places.

What do you feel about my article? Do let me know through your comments.

Original article on www.flywithshaunak.com.au