Incredible India
7 Things to Do in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu's Misty Hill Station in the Palani Hills
Built as a retreat from the plains' heat by American missionaries in the 1840s, Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu's Palani Hills is centred on a star-shaped lake and a cooler, forested landscape unlike much of the state around it.
Sep 23, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Kodaikanal was established in the 1840s by American missionaries seeking relief from the heat of the Madurai plains, and its hill-station character, a lake at the centre, forested slopes, colonial-era stone churches, has stayed largely intact since. Sitting at over 2,100 metres in the Palani Hills, it remains one of Tamil Nadu's principal escapes from the lowland heat. Here are seven things to do, each with a direct map link.
1. Kodaikanal Lake
The star-shaped, man-made lake at the town's centre, created in 1863, is Kodaikanal's obvious starting point, with a paved path around its roughly five-kilometre perimeter and boating available through the Tamil Nadu tourism boathouse.
2. Coaker's Walk
A narrow paved path along a ridge on the town's southern edge, Coaker's Walk gives clear views over the Pambar valley and, on a clear day, out toward the plains below, and is a standard short walk for both sunrise and sunset.
3. Bryant Park
A botanical garden laid out in 1908 by Glasgow-trained forest officer H.D. Bryant, the park holds a wide range of native and introduced flowering species and hosts Kodaikanal's annual summer flower show.
4. Pillar Rocks
Three vertical rock formations rising close together above the surrounding forest, roughly seven kilometres from the town centre, Pillar Rocks is reached by road and is one of the more dramatic viewpoints in the Palani Hills.
5. Silver Cascade Falls
A roadside waterfall on the ghat road up to Kodaikanal, fed by the overflow from Kodaikanal Lake, Silver Cascade drops around 180 feet and is one of the most accessible waterfalls in the area, visible directly from the roadside.
6. Kurinji Andavar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Murugan, this hilltop temple takes its name from the Neelakurinji flower, which blooms across the surrounding hills only once every twelve years, and offers a wide viewpoint over the surrounding valleys even outside bloom years.
7. Dolphin's Nose
A rocky outcrop near the village of Vattakanal, a short walk from the road, Dolphin's Nose juts out over a sheer drop with views across the Vellagavi valley, and is a quieter alternative to the town's more visited viewpoints.
Traveller tips
- Madurai Airport, around 120 kilometres away, is the nearest air link; the ghat road up from the plains takes roughly three hours by car.
- April to June and September to October are the most comfortable months; the monsoon brings heavy mist and rain that can obscure viewpoints.
- Kodaikanal's elevation makes evenings cold year-round; warm layers are worth packing even in the Tamil Nadu summer.
- Boating on Kodaikanal Lake and entry to Bryant Park both run through official Tamil Nadu tourism counters, with tickets sold on site.
Where this is
Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu