Monday, January 11, 2010

Kodaikanal - Places of Interest

Kodaikanal – Places of Interest
Kodaikanal is a city in the hills of the Dindigul district in the state of Tamilnadu, India. Its name in the Tamil language means "The Gift of the Forest". Kodaikanal is referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" and has a long history as a retreat and popular tourist destination.



Kodaikanal is one of the very popular and most sought after Honeymoon and holiday destination hill resorts in South India. 


This hill station stands 7200 feet above sea level and situated in upper Palani hills of the Western Ghats near Madurai in Tamil Nadu.



The cool and misty weather, the scenic beauty of the rolling hills and the wooded forest of Kodaikanal and its surroundings will mesmerize any visitor throughout the year. Walk through the wooded forests, row in the lake, and bath in one of the splashing waterfalls, go for horse riding and cycling around the lake or simply admire the views.



Kodaikanal has several scenic natural attractions which are enjoyed by its visitors and make it a popular romantic destination for newlyweds. They are described below;



View Points
Silent Valley View
For brief details, please refer below link;
Upper Lake View Point
For brief details, please refer below link;
Difference Rock
For brief details, please refer below link;
Dolphin’s Nose
For brief details, please refer below link;
Green Valley View
For brief details, please refer below link;
Moir Point
For brief details, please refer below link;
Echo Rock
For brief details, please refer below link;
Fire Tower
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Berijam Lake View Point
For brief details, please refer below link;
Caps Valley View (Thoppi Thooki Paarai)
For brief details, please refer below link;
Parks
Bryant Park
For brief details, please refer below link;
Chettiar Park
For brief details, please refer below link;
Lakes
Berijam Lake
For brief details, please refer below link;
Kodaikanal Lake (Kodai Lake)
For brief details, please refer below link;
Mannavanur Lake, Mannavanur
For brief details, please refer below link;
Entertainment
Ice Skating Café
For brief details, please refer below link;
Kodaikanal Golf Club
For brief details, please refer below link;
Heritage Trail
Dolmen Circle
For brief details, please refer below link;
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
For brief details, please refer below link;
Shembaganur Museum
For brief details, please refer below link;
Wax Museum
For brief details, please refer below link;
Natural Trail
500 Years Old Tree
For brief details, please refer below link;
Mathikettan Solai
For brief details, please refer below link;
Pine Forests
For brief details, please refer below link;
Guna Caves (Devil’s Kitchen)
For brief details, please refer below link;
Lion Cave
For brief details, please refer below link;
80 Mile Round
For brief details, please refer below link;
Coaker’s Walk
For brief details, please refer below link;
Perumal Malai Peak
For brief details, please refer below link;
Vembadi Peak
For brief details, please refer below link;
Vattakanal
For brief details, please refer below link;
Bison Wells
For brief details, please refer below link;
Kookal Caves
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temples
Kurinji Andavar Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Mariyamman Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Poomparai Mahalakshmi Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Poomparai Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Churches
Christ, the King Church
For brief details, please refer below link;
Lutheran Church
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St. Peters Church
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St. Xavier’s Church
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Swedish Church
For brief details, please refer below link;
Union Church
For brief details, please refer below link;
La Sallette Church, Kodaikanal
For brief details, please refer below link;
Waterfalls
Alanthoni Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Anju Veedu Waterfalls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Bamen Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Bear Shola Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Fairy Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Gaur Vellaiyan Falls
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Glen Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Gundar Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
For brief details, please refer below link;
Kukkal Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Kuthiraiyar Waterfalls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Neptune Falls and Pool
For brief details, please refer below link;
Palar Lower Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Pambar Falls (Liril or Vatakanal)
For brief details, please refer below link;
Polur Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Poomparai Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Poondi Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Silver Cascade Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Skamba Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Snake Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Thalaiyar Falls
For brief details, please refer below link;
Trekking Routes
Kodaikanal is a paradise for trekking lovers as it offers different trekking routes for the professional trekker to the novice trekker as well. Trekking routes with varying difficulty levels are there and a tourist can select the route according to the fitness, time factor and one's trekking ability. 
Kodaikanal – Batlagundu (55 Km): Law's Ghat Road.
Perumalmalai-Palamalai (8km) - Thalaiyar (90 mins) - Manjalar (150 mins.) – Devadanappatty (6km).
Shembaganur – Korappur – Adukkam (180 mins) – Selumbathope (120 mins) – Kumbakkarai – Periyakulam (10 Km)
Shembaganur – Vengayapparai (Coolie or telegraph path); A.G.Bourne's "Kodaikanal Ghat" (4 hours) – Kumbakkarai – Periyakulam (10Km)
Kodai – Dolphin’s Nose – Vellagavi – Vengayapparai (left of Vellagavi) (300 mins.) – Kumbakkarai – Periyakulam (10Km)
Kodai – Dolphin's Nose – Vellagavi – Kumbakkarai (right of Vellagavi) (300 mins.) – Kumbakkarai – Periyakulam (10 Km)
Kodai – Green Hut (12Km) (along the ridge for 30 mts) – down to Chinnur – Periyakulam (300 mins.)
Kodai – Thoppithookkipparai (near Berijam) (16Km) – Periyur (3 hours) - Sothuparai - Periyakulam (10 Km).
Kodai – Kathirikkai Odei (40Km) – Sinna Sothuparai – Athirikkarappankoil – Oral muthu – Valasal aaru – Bodinayakanur (6 hours).
Kodai – Berijam (23 Km) – Konalar (5 Km) – Sebastian Odei (3 Km) – Marion Shola (2Km) – Kathirikkai Odei (1 Km) – Kambippalam (3 Km) – Pulavachiar (5 Km) – Vandaravu (10 Km) – Top Station (10 Km) – Central Station (2 hours) – Kurangani (Bottom Station) 3 hours – Bodinayakanur (17 Km).
Kodai – Mannavanur (35 Km) – Keelanavayal (90 mins.) – Manjampatty (3 hours) – Thalinji (2 hours) – Champaked (90 mins.) – Chinnar (5 Km) - Udumalpet (32 Km) – Palani (37 Km).
Kodai – Paricombai (27 Km) – Kukkal (8 Km) – Kuthirayar – Pappanpatty –Kavalapatty (7 hours) – Palani (23 Km.)
Kodai – Puthur (43 Km) – Bonthampally (24 mins.) – Kavalppatty (9Km) – A.Kalaiamputhur (9Km) – Palani (5 Km.)
Kodai – Pallanghi (10 Km) – Thalamalai – Porandalar – Palani
Kodai – Vilpatty (8 Km) – Ganeshapuram – Puliamarathope (240 mins.) – Palani (13 Km)
Kodai – Perumalmalai (13 Km) – Pethupparai (6 Km) Ganeshapuram –Puliamarathope (240 mins.) – Palani (13 Km)
Kodai – Perumalmalai – Palani Ghat road (60 Km)
Kodai – Tandigudi (40 Km) – K.C.Patty (20 Km) – Asarippatty – Bethelpuram – Parappalar – Thalayoothu – Viruppachi  
Kodai – Tandigudi (40 Km) – K.C.Patty (20 Km) – Pachalur (10 Km) – Oddanchatram (31 Km)
Kodai – Tandigudi (40 Km) – Adalur (15 Km) – Panrimalai (4Km) – Alagumalai (5 Km) – Puducombai (14 Km) – Karisalpatty (7 Km) – Vattapparai (4Km) – Melpatty (2 Km) – Anandarayamkottai – Pithalapatty (2Km) – Dindigul (7Km.)
Kodai – Tandigudi (40 Km) – Thadiankudisai (10 Km) – Vatlagundu (33 Km)