12 Tourist Places to Visit in Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal was established as a hill station in 1845 by American missionaries escaping the heat of the Madurai plains, and its name is usually taken to mean “gift of the forest” in Tamil. Sitting at around 2,100 metres in the Palani Hills of the Western Ghats, the “Princess of Hill Stations” is built around a star-shaped lake, ringed by pine forests, viewpoints, and waterfalls.

Cool and often misty, it draws travellers up the ghats from Tamil Nadu and Kerala for its walks, boating, and homemade chocolate. This guide covers the best places to visit in Kodaikanal, from the lake and town out to the day-trip villages, along with the things to do that fill a two- or three-day stay.

12 Best Places to Visit in Kodaikanal

Attraction	Type	Area	Entry Fee	Duration
Kodaikanal Lake	Lake	Kodai Lake & Town	Free; boat ₹200–500 (~$3–$6)	1–2 hrs
Coaker’s Walk	Viewpoint / Promenade	Kodai Lake & Town	₹10–20 (~$0.25)	45 min–1 hr
Pillar Rocks	Viewpoint / Rock	Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road	₹30 (~$0.40)	45 min–1 hr
Bryant Park	Garden	Kodai Lake & Town	₹30–50 (~$0.50)	1 hr
Green Valley View	Viewpoint	Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road	₹10 (~$0.15)	30 min
Silver Cascade Falls	Waterfall	Coimbatore/Madurai Ghat Road (Entry Side)	Free	20–30 min
Guna Caves (Devil’s Kitchen)	Cave / Rock	Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road	₹15 (~$0.20)	30–45 min
Dolphin’s Nose	Viewpoint	Vattakanal & Dolphin’s Nose	Free	2–3 hrs (trek)
Pine Forest	Forest	Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road	Free	30–45 min
Berijam Lake	Lake	Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road	Permit ~₹200 (~$2.40)	Half day
Bear Shola Falls	Waterfall	Kodai Lake & Town	Free	30–45 min
Mannavanur	Village / Lake	Outside Kodaikanal (Day Trip)	Nominal	Half day

Kodaikanal Lake

The star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake is the centre of the town and the first stop among the places to visit in Kodaikanal. It was created in 1863 by Sir Vere Henry Levinge, then the Collector of Madurai, who dammed the valley streams to form a 60-acre lake at around 2,285 metres. Ringed by the wooded Palani Hills and a walking-and-cycling path, it has been the hub of Kodai life since the town’s early days, with a boat club dating to 1890 on its shore.

Most of the town’s activity radiates from here — boating, cycling, and horse-rides along the bank, and snack stalls around the edge. It is at its best in the early morning, when mist sits on the water before the day-trippers arrive; the boating itself is covered in the Things to Do section below.

• Area: Kodai Lake & Town
• Entry Fee: Free to walk; boating ₹200–500 (~$3–$6)
• Opening Timings: Open all day; boating roughly 9 am–5:30 pm
• How to Get There: Central Kodaikanal; walkable from most of the town
• Duration: 1–2 hours

Coaker’s Walk

Coaker’s Walk is a paved, one-kilometre promenade running along the edge of the steep southern slopes, about half a kilometre from the lake. Built in 1872 and named after Lieutenant Coaker, who mapped the town, it clings to the cliff edge with sweeping views over the valleys and, on a clear day, the plains far below. A telescope house partway along lets visitors pick out distant landmarks.

On the misty mornings Kodai is known for, a phenomenon locals call the “blanket of clouds” can fill the valley below the path. When I walked it at dawn, the cloud sat so thick in the valley that it felt like standing above the weather — the reason to come early rather than late.

• Area: Kodai Lake & Town
• Entry Fee: ₹10–20 (~$0.25)
• Opening Timings: 7 am–7 pm daily
• How to Get There: About 500 m from the lake; walkable from the town centre
• Duration: 45 minutes–1 hour

Pillar Rocks

About 8 km from town, Pillar Rocks is one of the most photographed places to visit in Kodaikanal — three giant vertical granite columns standing side by side, each rising roughly 400 feet. Set among pine and shola forest at the edge of the plateau, the formation is often wreathed in the mist that rolls across the Palani Hills, appearing and vanishing within minutes. A small terraced garden and viewing area sit opposite the rocks.

The view depends entirely on the weather: on a clear day the three pillars stand out sharply against the valley, while in heavy mist they disappear altogether. Mornings tend to be clearest, and it is usually combined with Guna Caves and Green Valley View on the same road.

• Area: Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road
• Entry Fee: ₹30 (~$0.40)
• Opening Timings: 9 am–5:30 pm daily
• How to Get There: About 8 km from town on Pillar Rocks Road; by taxi
• Duration: 45 minutes–1 hour

Bryant Park

Beside the lake, Bryant Park is Kodaikanal’s botanical garden, laid out in 1908 by the British officer H.D. Bryant. Across roughly 20 acres it holds hundreds of varieties of flowers, trees, and shrubs, along with a glasshouse and a rose garden, and an old eucalyptus tree said to date to 1857. It is the venue for the annual flower show during the summer festival in May.

The park is at its most colourful in the flower-show season, though it makes a pleasant, easy stroll year-round given its central location right by the lake. Allow about an hour, more during the summer displays.

• Area: Kodai Lake & Town
• Entry Fee: ₹30–50 (~$0.50)
• Opening Timings: 9 am–6 pm daily
• How to Get There: Next to Kodaikanal Lake; walkable from the town centre
• Duration: 1 hour

Green Valley View

Green Valley View, once known by the grimmer name of Suicide Point, is a cliff-edge viewpoint near the Kodaikanal Golf Club, a few kilometres from town. It looks out over a valley that drops away some 5,000 feet, with the Vaigai Dam visible far below on a clear day. The renamed viewpoint is now fenced and lined with small shops selling snacks and souvenirs.

Like the other viewpoints on this side, it is often wrapped in mist, which can either hide the view or lend it a dramatic edge. It sits on the same road as Pillar Rocks and Guna Caves, so most visitors take all three together.

• Area: Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road
• Entry Fee: ₹10 (~$0.15)
• Opening Timings: 8 am–6 pm daily
• How to Get There: About 5–6 km from town near the Golf Club; by taxi
• Duration: 30 minutes

Silver Cascade Falls

Silver Cascade Falls drops nearly 180 feet in a single fall beside the main ghat road, about 8 km from town on the way up from Madurai. Formed by the overflow of Kodaikanal Lake, it is visible straight from the road, which is why most travellers stop here on the drive in or out rather than as a dedicated trip. Troops of monkeys usually gather along the roadside here.

The falls run fullest during and just after the monsoon and thin out in the dry months. It is a quick photo stop rather than a lengthy visit; keep an eye on your bags and food around the monkeys.

• Area: Coimbatore/Madurai Ghat Road (Entry Side)
• Entry Fee: Free
• Opening Timings: Open all day
• How to Get There: About 8 km from town on the Kodai–Madurai ghat road; a roadside stop
• Duration: 20–30 minutes

Guna Caves (Devil’s Kitchen)

Set among the Pillar Rocks, Guna Caves is a set of deep, dark chambers formed between the giant boulders, long known as the Devil’s Kitchen before the 1991 Tamil film Guna was shot here and gave the caves their popular name. The chasms plunge steeply between the rocks, surrounded by dense pine and shola forest. For safety, the caves themselves are fenced off and viewed from platforms rather than entered.

The appeal now is the setting and the film association rather than going inside, and it takes only a short stop. It sits right by Pillar Rocks and the Pine Forest, so the three fold naturally into one visit.

• Area: Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road
• Entry Fee: ₹15 (~$0.20)
• Opening Timings: 9 am–5:30 pm daily
• How to Get There: About 8 km from town, next to Pillar Rocks; by taxi
• Duration: 30–45 minutes

Dolphin’s Nose

Dolphin’s Nose is a flat rock ledge that juts out over a sheer drop of several thousand feet, reached by a trek from the village of Vattakanal below town. Named for its shape, the rock projects into open air above a deep ravine, with uninterrupted views of the valley and the Pambar gorge. It is quieter than the roadside viewpoints, since getting there takes a walk of a couple of kilometres each way.

The trek down through Vattakanal and back is part of the draw, passing forest and small waterfalls. When I made the walk, the ledge itself — with nothing but air beyond its edge — was the most dramatic viewpoint I found in Kodai, and far less crowded than Pillar Rocks.

• Area: Vattakanal & Dolphin’s Nose
• Entry Fee: Free
• Opening Timings: Daylight hours; go in the morning
• How to Get There: About 8 km from town via Vattakanal; a trek of 1–2 km each way from the village
• Duration: 2–3 hours (with the trek)

Pine Forest

The Pine Forest is a stretch of tall, evenly spaced pine trees planted by the British in the early 1900s, on the road out towards Guna Caves and Pillar Rocks. The straight ranks of trees and the soft light filtering through them have made it one of the most photographed spots in Kodaikanal, and a regular filming location for Tamil and Hindi cinema. The forest floor is quiet and thickly carpeted with pine needles.

It is a short, easy stop for a walk among the trees rather than a lengthy visit, and pairs with the viewpoints further along the same road. Early morning, when the mist drifts between the trunks, is the most atmospheric time.

• Area: Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road
• Entry Fee: Free
• Opening Timings: Daylight hours
• How to Get There: About 6 km from town on the Pillar Rocks road; by taxi
• Duration: 30–45 minutes

Berijam Lake

Berijam Lake lies about 21 km from town at the far end of the Pillar Rocks road, a pristine lake set deep inside a reserved forest in the upper Palani Hills. Built on the site of the old Fort Hamilton, it supplies drinking water to the town of Periyakulam below and is ringed by thick pine and shola forest rich in wildlife. Because it falls within protected forest, boating is banned and access is controlled.

Entry needs a forest-department permit, issued in limited numbers each day, so it takes a little planning — the details of the jeep trip out are in the Things to Do section below. The reward is one of the quietest, most unspoilt corners of the whole region.

• Area: Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road
• Entry Fee: Forest permit around ₹200 (~$2.40)
• Opening Timings: Daytime, by permit; early-morning slots
• How to Get There: About 21 km from town on the Berijam road; permit and jeep required
• Duration: Half day

Bear Shola Falls

Bear Shola Falls is a seasonal waterfall about 2 km from the lake, set in a forested pocket at the edge of town. Its name comes from the bears that once came here to drink, and the shola forest around it still makes it a shaded, green picnic spot. A short walk leads up to the falls from the road.

The catch is that it only really flows during and just after the monsoon, slowing to a trickle in the dry season, so it is worth checking before making the trip. In full flow after rain, it is one of the prettier short walks near the centre.

• Area: Kodai Lake & Town
• Entry Fee: Free
• Opening Timings: Daylight hours
• How to Get There: About 2 km from the lake; a short walk or auto ride, then a path up
• Duration: 30–45 minutes

Mannavanur

Mannavanur, about 35 km from Kodaikanal, is a high village known for its sheep farm, its lake, and the wide grassy meadows that surround it. Set well beyond the usual sightseeing circuit, it sees far fewer visitors than the town’s viewpoints, and the government sheep-and-rabbit farm and the calm Mannavanur Lake are the main draws. The rolling, open landscape is a change from the enclosed forests closer to town.

The lake offers coracle rides, ziplining, and horse-riding, and the surroundings make it a popular spot for camping. When I drove out, the emptiness and the open pasture — so different from the crowded viewpoints — made the long drive worthwhile for a half-day escape.

• Area: Outside Kodaikanal (Day Trip)
• Entry Fee: Nominal; activities charged separately
• Opening Timings: Daylight hours
• How to Get There: About 35 km from town on a winding hill road; by taxi
• Duration: Half day

Things to Do in Kodaikanal

Activity	Experiences	Area	Price Range	Duration
Go Boating & Cycling at Kodai Lake	Kid-Friendly, Solo / Social	Kodai Lake & Town	₹200–₹500 (~$3–$6)	1 hr
Trek the Vattakanal & Vellagavi Trails	Adventure / Outdoor, Sunset / Sunrise	Vattakanal & Dolphin’s Nose	Free–₹1,000 (~$0–$12)	2–4 hrs
Shop the Market for Chocolate & Local Crafts	Food, Shopping	Kodai Lake & Town	₹100–₹500 (~$1.20–$6)	1–2 hrs
Take a Berijam Lake Forest Jeep Trip	Wildlife / Nature, Under-the-Radar	Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road	₹1,500–₹3,000 (~$18–$36)	Half day
Camp & Stargaze in the Palani Hills	Adventure / Outdoor, Wellness / Relaxation	Outside Kodaikanal (Day Trip)	₹1,000–₹2,500 (~$12–$30)	Overnight
Play a Round at Kodaikanal Golf Club	Splurge / Luxury, Solo / Social	Pillar Rocks & Berijam Road	₹500–₹800 (~$6–$10)	Half day

Go Boating & Cycling at Kodai Lake

Boating on Kodaikanal Lake is the classic thing to do in the town, and the boat club on its shore rents everything from pedal and rowing boats to the covered Kashmiri-style shikara boats. Once you are back on land, bicycles and horses can be hired to make the roughly five-kilometre loop around the water. Between them, they are the easiest way to take in the lake that the whole town is built around.

Mornings and evenings are the best times, when the light is soft and the mist sits on the water, and weekends can get busy at the boat club. Boats, cycles, and horses are all hired directly at the lakeside — no advance booking needed.

• Experiences: Kid-Friendly, Solo / Social
• Price Range: Boats ₹200–₹500 (~$3–$6); cycle or horse hire ₹100–₹400
• Duration: 1 hour
• Book via: Book directly at the Kodaikanal Boat Club

Trek the Vattakanal & Vellagavi Trails

Just below the town, Vattakanal — “Vatta” to regulars — is a laid-back village that has become the backpacker and trekking base of Kodaikanal, with cottages, Middle-Eastern cafés, and forest trails leading off in every direction. From here, walking routes run to Dolphin’s Nose, down to hidden waterfalls, and along the old footpath to the remote village of Vellagavi, a steep trek through shola forest to a hamlet with no road access.

The trails range from gentle strolls to full-day treks, and the village itself has a slow, alternative feel quite different from the main town. When I stayed a night in Vatta, the mix of easy forest walks and a café scene made it the part of Kodai I was most reluctant to leave. Guides can be arranged locally for the longer routes.

• Experiences: Adventure / Outdoor, Sunset / Sunrise
• Price Range: Free–₹1,000 (~$0–$12) with a guide
• Duration: 2–4 hours
• Book via: Book directly with a local guide in Vattakanal

Shop the Market for Chocolate & Local Crafts

Kodaikanal is famous across South India for its homemade chocolate, and the market near the bus stand is where to find it — dozens of small shops selling handmade chocolates in every flavour, a legacy of the town’s convent and mission history. The same lanes sell the hill station’s other specialities: locally made cheese, eucalyptus and aromatic oils, spices, tea, and warm woollens and shawls.

Prices leave room for gentle bargaining, and it is worth tasting before you buy at the chocolate shops, as quality varies. Beyond chocolate, the fresh hill cheese and the eucalyptus oil are the things most people carry home. Allow an hour or two to browse the stalls.

• Experiences: Food, Shopping
• Price Range: Chocolate and crafts ₹100–₹500 (~$1.20–$6)
• Duration: 1–2 hours
• Book via: No booking needed — explore on foot

Take a Berijam Lake Forest Jeep Trip

Reaching Berijam Lake is an outing in itself, and the usual way to do it is an early-morning jeep trip from town. Because the lake lies inside reserved forest, the forest department issues only a limited number of permits each day, so the jeeps set off early to secure one and to make the roughly two-hour drive out along the Pillar Rocks road. The route passes a string of viewpoints and dense shola forest on the way.

The forest here is genuinely wild — bison, deer, and the occasional elephant move through it — and the early start means the best chance of seeing them. When I went, the mist over the lake and the empty forest road felt a world away from the busy town viewpoints. Trips and permits are arranged through local jeep operators.

• Experiences: Wildlife / Nature, Under-the-Radar
• Price Range: ₹1,500–₹3,000 (~$18–$36) per jeep, including the permit
• Duration: Half day
• Book via: Book directly with a local jeep operator

Camp & Stargaze in the Palani Hills

For a night away from the town, camping in the surrounding Palani Hills is a growing draw, with sites around Vattakanal, Mannavanur, and the outlying villages. Operators set up tents on the grasslands and in the forest clearings, usually with a campfire and a barbecue, and the low light pollution up here makes for a genuinely dark, star-filled sky. Gaur sometimes wander through the camping meadows at night.

It suits travellers after a slower, outdoorsy side of Kodai, well away from the day-trip crowds. Nights get cold at this altitude, so warm layers matter. Camps are run by local operators, who provide the tents and gear.

• Experiences: Adventure / Outdoor, Wellness / Relaxation
• Price Range: ₹1,000–₹2,500 (~$12–$30) per person
• Duration: Overnight
• Book via: Book directly with a local camping operator

Play a Round at Kodaikanal Golf Club

For a more leisurely afternoon, the Kodaikanal Golf Club is one of the oldest in India, established in 1895 by a group of British golfers. Set among rolling hills and thick flora near Green Valley View, its course is framed by mountains and mist, and though it is a private members’ club, non-members can usually play a round for a green fee. It is an unusual survivor of the town’s colonial past.

Green fees are higher at weekends, and it is worth calling ahead to arrange a slot and clubs. Even for non-golfers, the setting and the old clubhouse are a glimpse of an earlier Kodaikanal.

• Experiences: Splurge / Luxury, Solo / Social
• Price Range: Green fee around ₹500–₹800 (~$6–$10) for non-members
• Duration: Half day
• Book via: Book directly with the Kodaikanal Golf Club

Kodaikanal rewards a slow pace more than a rushed checklist — a small, misty hill station where the lake, the viewpoints, and the pine forests are all within an easy loop, and the quieter corners lie a short trek or drive away. From a dawn walk along Coaker’s Walk to a jeep out to Berijam and a pocketful of homemade chocolate, the best places to visit in Kodaikanal reward an early start before the day’s mist and crowds roll in. Give it two or three days, base yourself near the lake or in Vattakanal, and let the Palani Hills set the tempo. For where to stay on a budget, our Best Hostels in Kodaikanal guide is a useful next read.

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