KODAIKANAL

Kodaikanal is one of the most popular hill resorts in India. This charming hill station stands amidst the sylvan beauty on a plateau on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills. Nearest airport is Madurai 135 kms. Nearest railway station is Kodai Road about 80 kms away. Kodaikanal is connected by Road with all important towns. The 2 to 3 hours drive to Kodai via the steep and winding Ghat roads from Batlagundu or Palani is a memorable experience. Travelers may stop at turnouts on the road and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Palani hills. There is a 28 km shortcut from Periyakulam to Kodaikanal via Kumbakarai.
Kodai is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m high and covers an area of 21.45-sq-km. The word Kodaikanal is formed from the two Tamil words Kodai and Kanal. Kanal Kanal means dream (or to be specific an illusion). By pronouncing with long Tamil o as Kodai, means Summer. Thus, Kodai Kanal means it is as good as getting water in desert for summer heat .

History - There is proof of settlement of prehistoric tribes at Kodaikanal by visible artifacts such as dolmens homes of great stone slabs. After the primitive tribes of Paliyans and Pulyans in 14th century, villagers of Palani foot hills fled into Kodai hills, to escape from the oppressive rule in the plains and also from the invasion of Tippu Sultan.
The first European to visit Kodaikanal was Lt. B.S. Ward a surveyor in the year 1821. There were many American missions in South Tamil Nadu. The foreigners could not bear the oppressive heat in Tamilnadu and they faced sickness from epidemic diseases and consequential deaths. They wanted neat and healthy natural surroundings near Madurai to rest and improve their health and Kodaikanal became the natural choice. Thus, Kodaikanal was established in 1845.
Climate - Never too hot or cold, though night temperatures drop to freezing in January, and thin ice is seen on the lake edges. In summer (March to May) the temperature range is 20°C to 11°C, and in winter (Dec-Feb) 17.3°C to 8.3°C. An average of 165 cms of rain falls every year, mostly during the north-east monsoon occurs from June to September.

Landscape - The Palani Hils are an offshoot of the Western Ghats, the oldest mountain rage in the world where underlying rocks are billions of years old. They are 87 kilometers long 24 kilometers wide and occupy an area of about 2000 square kilometers. The highest point is Vadaravu Hill, which rises to 2533 meters. The Palnis comprise two distinct geographical zones, the Upper Palnis and the Lower Palanis. The Lower are at an elevation of 1000-1500 meters. This is coffee, banana and orange country, not to mention avocado, pineapple and cardamom. The Upper Palnis at 1520-2250 meters border the state of Kerala. Here we have terraced potato and garlic farms and pear, plum and peach orchards. Mighty rocks and cascading streams rise up from the valleys. There are many high waterfalls and ubiquitous gardens and flower beds in bloom in this area.
With its rocks, woods, lovely lake, glittering streams, mist enveloped locales, wooden slopes and bracing air, Kodaikanal is an ideal hill resort for the tourists.

Flora - Meadows and grasslands cover the hillsides around Kodai. Gigantic Eucalyptus trees and shola forests flourish in the valleys. The unique flowering plant 'Kurunji' (Strobilanthus Kunthanus) is nature's gift to Kodaikanal and flowers only every 12 years with purple blooms.
The hill-plantain fruits and plums are known for their freshness and taste.

In the valleys there are dense patches of broad-leaved, evergreen rain forests called shoals. Unlike rain forests on the plains, the trees here do not reach majestic heights because of the high altitude and constant, heavy wind. These moss and lichen laden forests are prime watersheds. They absorb water during the monsoon and release it judiciously all year round.

Around - The hill town is renowned for its educational institutions of international repute.
Kodaikanal is known for its beautiful and ancient churches. The sculptural elegance of the churches in Kodaikanal add to the natural beauty of the surroundings and provide not just inner but aesthetic pleasure as well. Its rich Christian culture and tradition, still stands apart. We also see many English style stone and wood cottages tucked deep within vast flower filled graders.
Some of the places of interest in and around Kodaikanal are the Mother Salette Church, Kodaikanal Lake, Bryant Park, Coaker’s Walk, Priest’s Walk, Christ the King Church, Bear Shola Falls, Green Valley View (Formerly called Suicide Point), Shembaganur Museum of Natural History, Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Pillar Rocks, Guna caves, Silver Cascade, Dolphin's Nose, Kurinji Andavar Murugan temple, Dolmen Circle, Mannavanur Sheep Station.