Kodaikanal
is in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, and sits at 2,133 m above
sea level.It is just 75 miles away from Madurai. Peak seasons see growing numbers of tourists visiting
Kodai, though foreign tourists still visit in fairly low numbers.
Visitors enjoy Kodai's spectacular mountain views, its forested
vegetation of Eucalyptus and pine trees, its waterfalls, cool
temperatures and many trekking possibilities.
History:
Kodaikanal
is
the
only
Hill
Station
in
India
developed
by
the
Americans.During
1821,
Lieutenant
B.
S.
Ward,
a
British
surveyor
was,
the
first
European
to
visit
Kodaikanal,
who
was
on
the
lookout
for
a
healthy
place
to
live,
for
the
foreign
missionaries
working
in
Madurai
and
the
surrounding
areas
to
escape
from
the
summer
heat
and
epidemics.
Kodaikanal
has
a
history
as
old
as
time.
Imprinted
in
the
dolmens
are
the
prehistoric
stories
of
this
ancient
land.
There
are
references
to
Kodaikanal
in
the
Tamil
Sangam
literature
of
the
early
Christian
era.
In
the
historic
times,
the
primitive
tribes
of
Paliyans
and
Pulyans
resided
near
the
Palani
Hills
and
their
descendants
still
live
in
scattered
villages.
Attractions
in kodaikanal:
The
Kodai lake:
This
lake
was
created
in
1863
by
Sir
Vere
Hendry
Levinge,
who
was
the
collector
of
Madurai,
retired
and
settled
in
kodai.The
60-acre
lake
is
near
the
town's
center
and
offers
visitors
an
abundance
of
activity
choices,
including
boating
and
fishing
— though
fishing
requires
a
permit
from
the
local
Inspector
of
Fisheries.
If
you
don't
feel
like
braving
the
waters,
you
can
participate
in
activities
along
the
lake's
shores,
which
include
bicycle
rentals
and
horseback
rides.
Located
on Kodai Lake's eastern shore, Bryant Park is both beautiful and
practical. Named after a forest officer who designed the area, Bryant
Park not only showcases exotic and rare flora indigenous to the area
but also serves as a botanical marketplace for the townspeople and
residents of the neighboring areas. In addition to flowers and
plants, Bryant Park seconds as a market, allowing shoppers to pick up
their produce needs while the flowers' vibrant colors dazzle their
senses.
Coaker's Walk:
It
is
a
narrow
pedestrian
path,
constructed
by
Lt.
Coaker
in
1872,
a
one
kilometer
mountain
road
which
runs
along
the
edge
of
steep
slopes
on
the
southern
side
of
Kodai
road
which
is
1/2km
away
from
Kodai.
The
walk
winding
around
mt.
Nebo
starts
near
van
Allen
hospital
and
joins
the
main
road
above
St.
Peter's
Church
provides
a
wide-angle
spectacular
view
of
the
plains.
Kurinji
Andavar
Temple:
Located
less
than
two
miles
from
Kodai
Lake,
Kurinjin
Andavar
Temple
was
built
in
1936
by
a
European
woman
who
converted
to
Hinduism
after
coming
to
India.
This
shrine
is
dedicated
to
the
Tamil
Nadu
patron
deity
Lord
Muruga,
who
is
also
known
as
the
god
of
war.
The
temple
is
also
a
celebration
of
the
native
Kurinjin
flower,
which
blooms
only
once
every
12
years
in
the
town's
surrounding
hills.
Green
Valley
View:
Previously
known
as
"Suicide
Point,"
Kodaikanal's
Green
Valley
View
caters
to
all
types
of
visitors.
The
Green
Valley
View
is
ideally
situated
above
a
5,000-foot
drop
and
gives
you
a
wondrously
complete
view
of
the
area's
peaks
and
valleys.
Located
near
the
golf
course,
the
view's
optimal
viewing
time
falls
between
10
a.m.
and
3
p.m.
Dolphin Nose:
To reach Dolphins nose at a distance of 8 kms from the bus stand, one has to follow the route specified here.There is an old road after crossing Pambar Bridge near levinge stream. A rough curve rounds the hillside which leads to a point where a flat rock projects over an awful chesm of 6600 feet deep. This is Dolphins nose.
Silver
cascade:
The
overflow
of
Kodai
lake
comedown
here
as
180
feet
high
falls.8
Kms
from
the
lake.Physical Observatory:
This oldest world famous institution was built in 1898. It is nearly 6 kms from the bus stand and situated at the highest point in Kodai hills at 7700 ft. It has a well equipped productive laboratory doing quality research work. Its director Evershed discovered the phenomenon of radial motion in Sunspots - known as Evershed effect.
Telescope Houses:
Two
telescope houses are availabe, one is near the Kurinji Andavar Temple
and the other is at Coaker's Walk.
Thalaiyar
Falls:
This
is
also
called
as
Rat
tail
falls.The
widest
falls,
ranging
from
13th
kilometer
on
the
ghat
road
to
kodai.It
is
one
of
the
highest
falls
in
India,
with
their
975ft
sheer
drop.
Bear
Shola Falls:
An
ideal
picnic
spot
1.6
km
from
bus
stand
and
within
2
Kms
off
the
lake,
where
once
bears
came
to
drink
water.
Hence
the
name
of
the
falls
became
Bear
Shola
falls.
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