Best Season

April - June and December. The temperature ranges between 12 and 20 degree Celsius in summer and between 8 and 18 degree Celsius in winter.

How to Reach

Air
The nearest airport are Madurai-120kms & Coimbatore - 190 kms.

Rail
Nearest Railway Stations are Madurai (MDU) – 120 kms and Kodaikanal Road (KQN) - 80km.

Southern Railways

Road
Regular bus services from Kodaikkanal to Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Palani. Theni, Dindigul, & Erode.

Parveen Travels
KPN Travels
Sharma Transports
Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation

History of Kodaikanal

In 1845, Kodaikanal was started as hill station in the Palani hills at 7375 ft. The Palani Hills were first surveyed by British Lieutenant Ward in 1821.The first people lived in the hills were dolmen-boulders, who have left here several visible artifacts. But dolmen sites have not been carbon dated. In the Palani hills Tribes are of two kinds, the Paliyans and Pulaiyans.Kukkal Caves, which in 20 kms. away from kodaikanal, show traces of Paliyan occupation. Paliyans are tribes. Next to Paliyans, Pulaiyans were settled as agriculturists at later stage. The survey report of 1821, reveals Pulaiyans were the aborigines of the Palani Hills and followed Tamil Culture.

British Lieutenant Ward had climbed up from the Kunnavan Village of Vellagavi to Kodaikanal first in 1821 to survey the area. In 1834, Madurai collector climbed up from Devadanappatti and built a small bungalow at the head of Adukkam pass near Shenbaganur Dr.Wight visited Kodaikanal in 1836 and recorded his observations which were very useful to botanists later. In 1844, Mr.Fane, an Englishmen built godowns in kodaikanal and familiarized with hill area. In 1845, the first two bungalows "Sunny-side" and "Shelton" were built by American Mission people with the help of Englishmen Mr.Fane. Then, six American families came up and stayed first at Kodaikanal. Following this, British houses also appeared. In 1864, Colonel Halmilton recorded his opinion in his report that Berijam lake area was the best site in the Palani Hills for a Military Cantonment or Sanitarium. The hill station Kodaikanal was created to serve the needs of the British and Europeans in India. In the 20th century the Indian Elite visited Kodaikanal and purchased property and utilized the facilities of British and Americans. Thus Kodaikanal has a complex and varied culture.

Access History

In 1875, Indian Railway extended its line from Madras to be Tirunelveli and a station was created at Ammainayakkanur (Kodai Road later) which facilitated the tourist to visit Kodaikanal. As a first phase of travel, tourist started from Ammainayakkanur Railway Station of Krishnamma Nayak Thope, a trek journey started to Kodaikanal (18 kms.distance only) with conveyances of horses, and Palanquins with sufficient coolies on hire. In 1854, a bridle path was formed from Krishnamma Nayak Thope for 10 miles at a cost of Rs.4500/-. In 1878, Rs.43000 was spent to extend the hill path, for ten more miles. Rs.3,20,000 was then spent to complete the path upto Kodaikanal.)

Foreign Visitors

The first long distance visitor Major Partridge of Bombay army who visited Kodaikanal in 1852, imported Australian Eucalyptus trees to kodaikanal. In 1853, a group of American and British constructed a Anglican Church of St.Peter. In 1860, Roman Catholics brought Frenchmen, Belgians and Europeans to the hill. In 1852, Father St.Cyr visited Kodaikanal and bought "Baynes Bungalow" in 1860 and constructed 'La Salette' catholic priest church.In 1860, Madras Governor Sir Charles Trevelyan visited Kodaikanal and stayed in 'Roseneath'. In 1871, New Governor, Lord Napier visited his bungalow was named as 'Napier Villa'

In 1879, seventy five Europeans came to Kodai for the season.In1883 Kodaikanal had 615 permanent residents.Kodai has more sunshine than any other Indian hill station.The town nestles around the man-made Kodai Lake which spreads out in a star Shape over sixty acres.Kodai has thickly wooded slopes, well laid out walking paths through picturesque prospects, tumultuous waterfalls and steep rock outcrops. Just a few minutes walk in any direction from the heart of Kodai town, brings the tourist to spectacular scenery.

Kodai is rich in flora and fauna. In 1861 Major Doughlas Hamilton recorded 114 species of birds in Kodai and even discovered two new ones-the Laughing Thrush and the Kodai White-bellied Shortwing. Kodai has a unique plant-the Kurunji, which blossoms once in 12 years, when the hill slopes are ablaze of purple.