Kodaikanal Things to Do

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Sucide Point/Green Valley View

This place we can have best view of Kodaikanal Valley, scenic beauty for this place is just awesome.Its also known as "Suicide Point" as depth of valley from this place is around 5000 ft and it will make sure if any one tries to jump from here will not survive to tell the story about his jump. Its easy to locate and its just next to Kodaikanal Golf Club.

Again to have look of valley it depends upon mother nature. Most of the time this place covered with thick fog.Passage to this point in too much crowded with stall on both the side of the walk.The small semi circular view point is protected by a wall and high fence, but it is usually torn down by unscrupulous Tourists who want to have a "better" view into the Valley. Going beyond the fence is very dangerous and not advisable.
Another problem would be plenty of Monkeys, so beware of your eatables. The pathway leading to the viewpoint is full of shops loaded with home made chocolates, fancy ornaments.

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Pillar Rock Kodaikanal

Three granite boulders each vertically measuring a height of 400 feet stand shoulder to shoulder. It is located 8 Kms from the lake and one the best panoramic view of valley can be enjoyed from this place. The chamber between the two pillars is called Devil's kitchen. I dont know why they call it Devil's Kitchen.

And again Fog plays its roll here.When we reached there we were just disappointed as nothing was visible. Then we just took few snaps in that fog and waited there in a hope that it will clear. Once you go there you will find one guy sitting with few snaps of pillar's rock and other tourist destination, he got 10 pictures and its just 10Rs. of 0.25 cents. At one point we thought of buying it and I thought of I will scan those pictures for updating on VT. Finally our patience paid off and I got these stunning pictures. I just loved these pictures.

At the entrance to this place you will find lot of shops as like other places in Kadaikanal. And on some internet pages so many good things were written about garden at this place. There is nothing called garden here and this place is managed by Indian government and as always its very ill maintained.

This place is on the way from Green Valley point. The route follows

Green Valley view--Pillar Rocks--Guna Caves

Solar Physical Observatory.

Oh my Godddddddddddd I missed this place I was not able to go inside. This place was on top of my list before going to Kodaikanal but the opening hours was nowhere written on internet pages.

So its open only on Fridays that also only in morning for 10-12, so guys keep this in mind, I am writting this here to bring into attention.

Anyways better luck next time. This place is near to upper lake view point so plan in such a way that once you go for this place you cover upper lake view also.

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Stunning Sunrise

And here come the difficult part of my Trip to Kodaikanal taking photographs during sunrise/sunset. Taking pictures during sunset was not that difficult but for sunrise, taking pictures was not that difficult, getting up early to do so was the most difficult part. All these pictures I took during early morning. Cooled was too much at that time of the day and above that wind was blowing fast that made things worst during taking thiese pictures.

I took this pictures sitting at Hotels lawn, I think Villa Retreat and Hotel Kodai Resort in Kodaikanal are the only two hotel where you can take some good pictures with out covering city buildings and ofcourse Hotel Carlton is best near Lake but same time its very expensive. Anyways enjoy some of my pictures.

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Tibetan welfare Association

There are few shops around Kodaikanal lake which sale winter clothing and owned by Tibetan nationals who immigrated from Tibet not just to earn money but to breadth air in freedom. Once we started our uphill journey to kodaikanal city I saw at some places hills were written with SAVE TIBET slogans. I was little amazed at first instance and to my surprise I found shops around lake owned by Tibetan people.

During my stay in Gujarat state of India, I saw these people selling winter clothing during winter in various cities of Gujarat. But to see them here in Kodaikanal it was really surprising. And all these shop people settled in tamilnadu since last 10-15 years. They were all able to speak good Tamil language and talking to them brought some hardship they were facing in their country to live free life and struggle for freedom. And all these facts about Tibet is not hidden from world. I hope some day they will get what they want.

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Activities around Kodaikanal Lake



1) WALKING-- Approximately around 5 kms of pavement is available for walking. During morning and evening we can see local and tourist walking around lake on this path. And I think this is best way to enjoy scenery around lake and have some physical activity. It will take time to go around this lake but the path is really good. Carry bottle of water along with you and enjoy lake and shops around this lake.

2) CYCLING-- We can hire cycle for some time for very nominal fee. This is also the best way to move around lake. I did not took bicycle instead I walked around lake and took some good pictures.

3) HORSE RIDING-- Near lake we can find place/stand for Horse riding. Riding horse is not that expensive but Horse keeper will not take us around lake instead he will take us just for 1 kms and come back to stand. Which I think for the money they are charging is less but if you just want to have fun then its alright.

4) SHOPPING--Around lake you will find lot of shops for Eating, Home made chocolates which is very famous in Kodaikanal ( you can have taste of it, its not expensive but not that good ), Local Masala Chai of Kodaikanal. I just loved that Kodaikanal Chai. I hope you will enjoy too. There are few shops that sell winter clothing and this winter cloths sold by Tibetan people is really good quality.

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Kodaikanal lake


This lake is major attraction of Kodaikanal city and known as "Kodai lake" too. This place is just next to Brayant park and crowded by tourist all the time. To my amazement this lake is man made in the mountain slops. It is the creation of Sir Vere Hendry Levinge in 1863. Who was the Collector of Madurai (1819 -1885). It is spread over an area of 60 acres and surrounded by a circular road of 5 km length.
This lake has several Boat Club and boats can be hired to spend some time here. Cost of Hiring depends upon type of boat. There are boats for two/four people with paddle if you want to indulge in physical activity and for other ( Little lazy ) we can hire boat with person to show us around with little extra cost. I am not including prize here at it varies from time to time. We hired boat for two person with paddle and it was for 1 hour at a cost of 100/- Rs. or 2.5 US$ approximately.
Sir Vere Hendry Levinge brought the first boat from Tuticorin the place where I live right now.. In 1890, a boat club was formed and the members sailed in the boat. To save the environment of Lake motor boats are not used/allowed here. which I think very good idea.In 1910 a new boat house was constructed. From May 1929 few tourist were only permitted to avail boat ride, as temporary members. Then the boat service was extended to the public and tourist in 1932. There are lot of activities around this lake which I will include in my next review with few more pictures.

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KURINJI ANDAVAR TEMPLE

This temple is near to chettiar park and 3 kms from lake and little difficult to locate. This telmple is of Lord Murugan. This temple's name is associated with Kurinji flower and Kurinji means 'hill region' and Andavar means 'God' and thats whe Lord Murugan is referred as 'God of hill'. This temple was built in 1936 by an European Lady, who on coming to India, got faith on Hindu religion and started following it. She changed her name as Leelavathi married Mr. Ramanathan. She is also known as Lady Ramanathan.it is the largest temple in Kodaikanal.

This Kurinji Flower blossoms every 12 years, last time it was in 2006 and next period is 2018

Out side of the temple there are few shops with good collection of gift items but expensive.

Out side of temple on left side we can have look of Palani Temple and on the right side we can see Kodaikanal city. Palani temple is only visible if the weather is great.