Last October, we were planning for a road trip to Kodaikanal from Bangalore. And this time we were going to travel with some of my old friends from Ahmedabad (Hardik & Sneha), they landed a day before, and we discussed a lot over Coorg and Ooty. But finally, we picked Kodaikanal due to its cold weather, and I haven’t explored it yet. Hearing this plan, another friend of mine (Madhan, aka Maddy) from Chennai said he would join me. Planning a trip to Kodaikanal from Chennai is not a bad idea. It’s barely 500 Km via road.
Little about Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is the crown of the Palani Hills in the western ghat section and is surrounded and protected by dense forests at 7200 feet above the sea level. It is a small city in the hills of the Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, India.
Kodaikanal’s name in the Tamil language means “The Gift of the Forest”. It is also referred to as the “Queen of Hill stations” and has a long history as a retreat and popular tourist destination. It’s a town where all the places of interest are within a radius of 15 km approximately, making it easy to navigate.
Our Stay in Kodaikanal
We all wanted to stay together and had fun, so for accommodation this time, I used Airbnb and booked a cozy 3BHK home for 3 nights to the telescope house in Kodaikanal.
Day 1
Journey to Kodaikanal
As usual, we plan to leave early on Friday morning. Hardik & Sneha has booked a Bajaj Avenger for this trip from the wicked ride (Bike rental company). We heard that it’s raining and pretty cold weather in Kodaikanal during October. I cross-checked the weather for the next 5 days in Kodaikanal to plan accordingly and not overpack things.
“Most important thing while you plan a road trip is packing things very smartly, don’t overpack things but don’t forget about taking the necessary items.”
What to pack for a trip to Kodaikanal?
- Depending on the weather, you should pack for the trip, but it’s best to wear layered clothing that you can remove or put on in response to the weather. Be sure to carry a jacket for cold nights & carry an umbrella or a waterproof jacket for unannounced rain.
- Pack some extra pairs of socks and shoes, as it’s a hilly area and not advisable to wear slippers while riding.
- Also, take a mobile cover to save it from the rain.
- Don’t forget to carry some creams with you. This will help you to stay moisturized and avoid dry lips and skin.
As per the plan, we wanted to start our road trip to Kodaikanal from Bangalore at around 2:30 am, but we were 1 hour late due to late last night’s sleep. It is always a good idea to leave early to avoid city traffic near Electronic city. For now, the sky looked clean, and we were all geared up. For my friends, it will be a new experience. We kick-started our journey and followed the route map. Bangalore’s distance to Kodaikanal is 465 km (tell you guys a secret, my friends did not know about the total distance).
(Bangalore – Hosur – Dharmapuri – Salem – Dindigul – Batladundu – Kodaikanal)
Our first pit stop was Hotel Anapurna after Krishnagiri for our tea and breakfast. It’s a pocket-friendly place with good hygienic tasty food. We had excellent coffee and Dosa. Also, there is a small park beside this hotel.
Our next tea break was in Dindigul. We had some tea & stretched our back. I made some phone calls to confirm my accommodation. Also called Madhan but came to know he got stuck due to some family emergency. Till here, the roads are national highways with majorly buses, trucks, and local cars.
From Dindigul to Kodaikanal, it’s only 90 Km, and we were on time. It’s a forest area from here, and after 30 Km from here, it’s an uphill journey (inclination of 60 degrees). Also, all this 90 Km is a 2 lane state highway. Before starting the ghat section, there is a police check post where they do check for your details, drink, and drive as the ghat roads are pretty narrow and steep with many 21 hairpins and blind turns.
“It’s advisable to climb any ghat section before the sundown to avoid any kind of surprises. So plan your trip accordingly.”
Moving forward, the trees on both sides created a canopy to ride through the ghat section. The road is in excellent condition. The ghat section welcomes us with pleasant weather.
Maruthanathi Dam in Dindigul
All the tiredness of the journey just vanished after we saw the spectacular view of Maruthanathi Dam. It’s only 10 Km from Batladundu in Dindigul. Since we visited just after the monsoon season, Maruthanathi Dam was full of water. We clicked some nice pictures from the Maruthanathi Dam viewpoint, and rested there for a few mins, soaked all the pure oxygen, and started for Kodaikanal.
Our next stop was Silver cascade waterfalls
Silver Cascade is a tiny waterfall near Kodaikanal. The location was fully crowded and had a good amount of traffic due to people flocking around and cars stopping just to take a picture without parking the vehicles on the side. As this place is on the way to Kodaikanal people, try to cover it before reaching Kodaikanal. There are good street foods around like bhaji and other stuff. We enjoyed hot bhajis and some tea, much needed in this weather. It’s already started drizzling by now, so the rain jacket is out now.
The next stop to our accommodation. There are lots of resorts, hotels, and homestays in Kodaikanal. So if you don’t book and just come to Kodaikanal, you won’t be disappointed but no assurance on the stay quality. I would recommend booking your stay from any of the travel portals.
We reached Deepak’s place around 3:30 pm. We took the keys from the caretaker lady and entered the house. It was nice and clean. All the rooms had pillows, bed sheets, blankets, towels, heaters. The best part about the house was all the 3 rooms are different levels. There are a working fireplace and swing in the living area. The kitchen had all the amenities, and even utensils were available to cook food. We asked the caretaker to arrange some firewoods, which costs an additional INR 500.
All in all, it’s a great place to stay if someone is seeking for quiet and isolated accommodation and traveling with friends.
While Sneha and my wife went to freshen-up, Hardik and I went out to buy some food, snacks for the evening, and the next day’s breakfast (Food can be arranged by the caretaker if informed well in advance). We didn’t go out for sightseeing that particular day. I just went to the Kodaikanal market, which is near to Kodaikanal Lake, hardly 1 Km from our stay. In the evening, we chit-chat in our living room and lit up the fireplace. It was nice and cozy, but it was still raining outside. We order our dinner well in advance as it’s a tiny town; people close the restaurant well in advance.
Day 2
We had a nice sleep, and the next morning we woke up with a surprise that it was still raining. We had our breakfast, which we prepared, and by now, the sun has appeared, and it is past 10 now. So for the day, we planned to visit 4 of the places, at least.
Guna Caves
The Devil’s Kitchen in Kodaikanal
Guna Caves are also known as The Devil’s Kitchen. As per Hindu mythology, it is believed that Pandavas used to cook their meals in these caves. Later on, the name changed as the film Guna was shot here. We cannot visit the caves anymore since they have been jailed for people’s safety. But we felt worth visiting this place.
And the raindrops started again, and we all got thoroughly soaked. So we head to a nearby snack place to have some of the hot mushroom pakoras, fresh masala chai, and other mushroom snacks.
Timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm
As the rain was not stopping, we had no other options, and we headed back to the accommodation. On the way back, we packed some Kodaikanal Biryani from Hotel Imran. It’s a small place but prepares excellent Biryani wrapped in Banana leaf.
In the evening, we shared some fun stories and had a lot of fun sitting in the fireplace’s living room. We also planned all the places to see the next day.
For dinner, we asked the caretaker to prepare chicken for us well in advance. And the nice lady also prepared fish along with the chicken for us. It was delicious. We bought some chapati from outside for dinner. We slept early so that we could get up early and go out.
Day 3
We woke up early and had our breakfast ready. But it started raining again. We don’t have any other option, rather than waiting. So we started roaming in the garden.
“Kodaikanal witnesses its rainfall any time of the day, so be prepared.”
The rain has stopped now. Without wasting any more time, we took our bag and rain jacket left.
As per the above map, which we prepared last night, our first stop was the Echo point covering the Dolphin Nose in Kodaikanal. We were excited. I carried an extra battery pack for my camera, though my Procus Action Camera was giving little issue.
Dolphin Nose View Point in Kodaikanal
This viewpoint is among one of the best places to visit in Kodaikanal. Dolphin Nose viewpoint is a flat rock, which is approx. 6600 ft. above the sea level that resembles the shape of a Dolphin’s nose.
This place has very steep flat rocks and tends to be slippery in some areas. We walked for 20 to 30 mins to reach the viewpoint. Due to the fog, we weren’t able to spot any mountain. And the cool breeze made the place very serene. There are juice shops along the trail to offer resting places.
Echo point in Kodaikanal
As the name resembles, this place is famous for the natural echo process where we can hear back the voice when we shout. This place is always a paradise for travellers. The echo rock point is just 1 km after the Dolphin Nose viewpoint. This path is narrower than earlier trails and surrounded by more trees. But the place has a breathtaking view around.
Vattakanal Falls Kodaikanal
The distance between Kodaikanal town to Vattakanal falls in only 3 km. This place is one of the main attraction points in Kodaikanal, also be careful with the rock as they are very slippery. It’s a calm and quiet place to relax. We saw people taking a bath in the waterfall as there is no restriction yet. If you have any doubt, don’t hesitate to ask any local about this place.
“There’s no better place to find yourself than sitting by a waterfall and listening to its music“
Roland R Kemler.
Liril Falls Kodaikanal
This waterfall is only 4 km from Kodaikanal town. It’s surrounded by lush greenery, and this place is famous for camping. Originally this place is known as Pambar falls as the water comes down from the Pambar river and drops to 40 feet approx. On uneven steps. This place got its name Liril falls because a lot of advertisement for famous Liril soap was shot here. This place was not far from Vattakanal falls.
Wax Museum in Kodaikanal
Wax museum is 4 km from the Kodaikanal main town. The place doesn’t have many statues, and it is maintained very badly. It didn’t take much time to explore the whole place as we were also in a hurry to go to Pillar rocks.
Pillar Rocks at Kodaikanal
This is one of the best places to visit in Kodaikanal. It’s about 7 km west of Kodaikanal town, known for the three strange rock formations that look like a tall pillar. These three massive rock pillars stand shoulder to shoulder, become visible in the absence of Fog and clouds 400 ft high in the sky, and we could even see the Devil’s Kitchen from a distance. It’s located in between two of the pillars. As Pillar Rocks one of the popular attraction points, there are many monkeys to be careful.
Upper Lake View Kodaikanal
Next was the visit to the Upper lake view, which is located 3 km away from the Kodaikanal town on the Solar Observatory Road and upper lake road. The star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake with a sharp contrast of blue water surrounded by the green valley can be seen from here. There are lots of purple flowers in this location, and the view looks absolutely magnificent. Now we move toward our next stop, Kodaikanal Solar Observatory.
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory was established in 1899 as Solar Physics Observatory and owned by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. The observatory is located 4 km from the Kodaikanal town. I heard that this is a great place full of fascinating stuff about space science unfortunately, the observatory was closed being a Sunday when we went.
Kodaikanal Lake
It’s almost evening, so our next stop is Kodaikanal lake, which is also known as Kodai Lake. Kodaikanal Lake is an artificial lake built by Britishers in 1863. This lake is planned at the height of 2285m above sea level and has a depth of 3.0m approx. It’s located near the bus stand, and it doesn’t take any effort to reach here. Activities like boating, horse riding, cycling, etc., which add more enjoyment and significance. There are many souvenir stalls nearby. There are no entry fees.
Kodaikanal Local Market
Kodaikanal local market is near the lake, and you get fresh fruits, spices, and vegetables. We wanted to visit the local market to buy some homemade local chocolates, aromatic oils, natural spices, and not forget avocado (also known as butter fruit). What you get here, you will not get anywhere else in the city!
And now it’s time for us to head back to our accommodation, as in the evening, the temperature decreases drastically, and local shops also close early, so we packed our dinner from the market itself. After reaching Airbnb accommodation, we lit up the fireplace. I was super tired from roaming all day, everybody wanted to sleep early.
Sharp at 7 AM, the alarms went off, we just ditched it to enjoy another hour’s sleep. We packed all our luggage and grabbed a bite (special mountain Maggie). By 9:00 am we were back on track. We bid goodbye to the beautiful Palani hills and slowly turned our wheels towards the 21 hairpin road that will lead us back to city life.
So how did you like our journey? Are you planning your trip to Kodaikanal anytime soon? Or do you want to share your Kodaikanal experience with me? Let us know your feedback by commenting below.
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Frequently asked questions
Both Ooty and Kodaikanal are famous hill stations. Ooty is at a higher altitude than Kodaikanal, and Ooty has more sightseeing places. But Kodaikanal has its own charm; it’s not very crowded and a pocket-friendly destination.
Kodaikanal is an all-season destination, but the ideal time is visiting during summer between March to June as the climate will be very pleasant. But if you like chilled winter with freshly brewed coffee, and cool do visit from October to January.
Do check out weather watch for updates on temperatures and rainfall to make for a good Kodaikanal trip any time of the year without a problem!
To explore all the best tourist places in Kodaikanal, I suggest a minimum of 2 night’s stay. But to relax and experience everything, 3 nights is ideal.
The following are some of the best places to visit in Kodaikanal.
– Guna Caves (The Devil’s Kitchen)
– Pillar Rocks
– Echo Point
– Dolphin Nose View Point
– Vattakanal Falls
– Liril Falls (Pambar Falls)
– Bear Shola Falls
– Upper Lake View Point
– Kodaikanal Lake
– Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
– Kodaikanal Local Market
– Kodaikanal Chocolate Factory
– Kodaikanal Cheese Factory
– And more…
Madurai Airport is the closest airport to Kodaikanal. From Madurai to Kodaikanal, it’s about 116 Km approx…
Kodaikanal is well connected to all the places. Either you rent a car or take any public transport (bus or train). If you are taking a train, you can get down at Kodai Road railway station and hire a cab. Overnight buses are also available to reach Kodaikanal.
As it’s a hill station, most of the time, the climate is cold, so plan clothes accordingly. Click here to know more.
Homemade chocolates from the Kodaikanal chocolate factory, natural oils, and spices from Kodaikanal local market. You also try delicious cheese from Kodaikanal Cheese Factory.
34 Comments
It’s an excellent travel blog written. I had visited this place thrice yet reading this gave me the pleasure of visiting the place virtually once again. Excellent details.
If at all some criticism is to be to make my comments balanced then, I think, some mention should be there for the eucalyptus trees and their smell in the air letting one to think that Amruthanjan factory must be nearby.
Thanks, Atanu Chakraborti for sharing your viewpoint. Actually, you were right I missed that point. There is a place towards Palani full of eucalyptus trees and it’s just amazing.
This was my first trip with you… Kodaikanal is a beautiful place, which covered with nature. It was a wonderful and memorable experience for me … looking forward to many more trips ..
Thanks, Sneha for tagging along in such short notice. I also look forward to more trips with you guys in future 🙂
Interesting
Thanks Dwkadete
Very good post about your road trip from Bengaluru to Kodaikanal. Highly informative for travellers who want to visit Kodaikanal. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Cedric. I am currently working on my latest blog post “Trip to Yercaud”. Hope that would also as interesting as this.
Detailed one, liked reading. Full of useful information and the prominent sightseeing spots. Good pictures.
Thanks Kuntala 🙂
Wonderful write up and pics.
Thanks, Seemoom 😉 Check out my other blog posts regarding travel to Bekal and Munnar.
बहुत ही सुंदर तरीके से आपने इस यात्रा व्यख्या की है,
और साथ ही साथ इस यात्रा का भाग बनकर मुझे काफी कुछ सिखने का अवसर मिला है, जो मेरे लिए महतवपूर्ण है।
और भविष्य में इसी तरह अनेक यात्राए करेंगे।
Thanks, Hardik surely will travel together for many more trips. Love the way you have written it 🙂
Its really very informative and detailed blog….reading this I can plan my trip easily for this place. Keep sharing more travel blogs like this to help ppl like us who are too lazy to do research work before travelling 😄
Thanks Divya. Surely I will share posts from my personal experience which can help others.
Kunal you are a born traveller. Your this type of madness amuse me. I am waiting for your next review. Keep going.
Thanks, Shibu. Without this madness I am nothing. will surely keep you updated about my next blogpost.
awesome and very excited place😎😎😎😎
Thanks for such lovely comment 🙂
Hi Kunal Sir
Very informative blog, I know that how well you plan travel and do the research about every small point which can be road or point of attraction near by the road, food, hotel and destination.
Coming back to this blog, your well planned and reasearched travel to Kodaikanal can be seen through your blog. I have not been there but while reading this my mind was already on the route.
Let’s plan a trip when we healed from this situation.
Till then keep writing, keep sharing…. waiting for the goa trip blog.
Thanks, Prabhu for the appreciation. Currently working on the Goa blog post only. Looking forward to travelling with you guys more 😉
Moumita very nice
Thanks, Mautuli. 🙂
Really awesome and inspiring blog. I feel like I am also traveling with you ☺️. I will also plan bike ride this way. Keep sharing your experience.
Thanks, Prasenjit for such a lovely comment. Good to see that this post is inspiring enough to plan you for a road trip 😉
Very nice and classic. Simple language and lots of helpful information. ❤💗
Thanks, Moumita. Good to see that you liked the simplicity.
A long lost place missed on my list …now with such a clear view u have described kodai….I am packing my bags for a road trip to kodai….
Good blog…maddy ..looking forward your next adventure…
Thanks Dr. Aadarsh for such a lovely comment. Go to see that my blog post inspired you to visit Kodaikanal. Looking forward to seeing you on the road.
Brings back great memories! Coincidentally was looking at pics from Kodai …
Well written and will be useful for first time visitors to this beautiful destination!
Wishing More wonderful travels your way Kunal !
Thanks, Anita ma’am. Good to see that this post revived your old memories:)
Really nice and informative blog. Great to read such blogs. The only suggestion I would like to make is, the images within the blog is not loading properly. If you can fix it, that would be really great, purely from a reader’s point of view.
Thanks Abhra for the suggestion I will surely look into it.