Tamil Nadu · Hill station · Lake
Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is a hill station in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu, built around a star-shaped lake. It is about 330 km from Mysuru, about 8 to 9 hours by road. Most visitors plan 2 days. Kodaikanal is cool all year.
Why travellers go
Walks, viewpoints and the cool lake setting make it a favourite for couples and families.
- Suggested time
- 2 days
- State
- Tamil Nadu
- Good for
- Hill station, Lake
Best-known sights in Kodaikanal
- Kodai Lake: A star-shaped artificial lake made in 1863, about 5 km around, with boating, cycling and horse rides.
- Coaker's Walk: A 1 km walkway built in 1872 along the southern slopes, with views of the valley and plains. Open 7 am to 7 pm.
- Bryant Park: A landscaped park on the east side of Kodai Lake, named after the British officer who laid it out. The annual flower show is held here in May.
- Pillar Rocks: Two rock pillars about 122 m high, about 7 km from Kodai Lake.
- Guna Caves: Deep caves among the Pillar Rocks boulders, once called Devil's Kitchen and renamed after the Tamil film Gunaa was shot there.
- Silver Cascade Falls: A waterfall about 30 m high, fed by the overflow of Kodai Lake, about 8 km from town on the ghat road.
- Berijam Lake: An artificial lake in a forest area about 22 km from Kodaikanal. Needs a forest-office permit taken on the morning of the visit; it is a plastic-free zone and vehicle numbers are limited in peak season.
- Dolphin's Nose: A rock viewpoint over the valley, reached by a 3 km trek on a narrow, unguarded path.
- Kurinji Andavar Temple: A Murugan temple built in 1924, named after the Kurinji flower that blooms once in 12 years.
- Shenbaganur Museum: A natural history museum near Kodaikanal. Open 9 am to 6 pm daily.
How many days do you need in Kodaikanal?
Plans for one, two or three days. A starting point only, not a Travel Trendzz package.
One day
- Kodai Lake
- Bryant Park
- Coaker's Walk
- Pillar Rocks
- Guna Caves
Two days
- Day 1: Kodai Lake (boating or cycling), Bryant Park, Coaker's Walk, Silver Cascade Falls
- Day 2: Pillar Rocks, Guna Caves, Pine forest, Berijam Lake (forest permit)
Three days
- Day 1: Kodai Lake (boating or cycling), Bryant Park, Coaker's Walk, Silver Cascade Falls
- Day 2: Pillar Rocks, Guna Caves, Pine forest, Berijam Lake (forest permit)
- Day 3: Kurinji Andavar Temple, Shenbaganur Museum, Dolphin's Nose
How to reach Kodaikanal from Mysuru and Bengaluru
From Mysuru
- By road
- About 330 km, about 8 to 9 hours. Most travellers break the journey or combine it with Ooty. The last climb is a ghat road: from Batlagundu on SH 156 (about 52 km of hill road) or from Palani. If you route through Ooty, the Bandipur forest road is closed to traffic at night, from about 9 pm to 6 am. Reports say tourist vehicles need an e-pass for Kodaikanal; check epass.tnega.org.
- By train
- No direct train to Kodaikanal. The nearest stations are Kodaikanal Road, about 80 km below the hill town, and Palani. Check IRCTC for current trains from Mysuru and the stops they make.
- By bus
- TNSTC buses run to Kodaikanal from Madurai, Dindigul and Palani. Check current services before you travel.
- By air
- Madurai International Airport, about 115 km. Coimbatore International Airport is about 170 km away.
From Bengaluru
- By road
- About 410 to 480 km depending on the route, through the Tamil Nadu plains to Batlagundu or Palani and then the ghat road. Reports say tourist vehicles need an e-pass for Kodaikanal. Check driving time on a live map.
- By train
- No direct train to Kodaikanal. Take a train towards Dindigul, Palani or Kodaikanal Road and continue by road. Check IRCTC for current trains and stops.
- By bus
- KSRTC and SETC have listed Bengaluru-Kodaikanal services; check current schedules on the KSRTC and TNSTC/SETC booking sites.
- By air
- Madurai International Airport, about 115 km, has regular flights from Bengaluru.
Road times are approximate; check current timings for trains and buses before you travel.
Going by taxi from Mysuru? See the Mysore to Kodaikanal taxi page.
Best time to visit Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is cool all year. January to May is the driest stretch, with the May flower show at Bryant Park; October and November are the wettest months, and nights are coldest from December to February.
| Month | Weather and what to know |
|---|---|
| Jan | Cold nights, mostly dry, about 9-19°C Carry warm clothes. |
| Feb | Cool and mostly dry, about 9-19°C |
| Mar | Pleasant and mostly dry, about 11-21°C |
| Apr | Mild with some showers, about 12-21°C Tamil Nadu Tourism lists April to June as the best time; summer crowds and e-pass checks. |
| May | Mild with showers, about 13-21°C Flower show at Bryant Park; peak season. |
| Jun | Cool with light rain, about 12-19°C |
| Jul | Cool and misty, about 12-18°C |
| Aug | Cool with rain, about 12-18°C |
| Sep | Cool and wetter, about 12-19°C |
| Oct | Cool and rainy, about 11-18°C Wettest month (northeast monsoon); views can be lost in cloud. |
| Nov | Cool and rainy, about 10-17°C Heavy northeast monsoon rain. |
| Dec | Cold nights with some rain, about 9-17°C Carry warm clothes. |
Tips for visiting Kodaikanal
- Reports say tourist vehicles need an e-pass to enter Kodaikanal; check the current rules. Apply at epass.tnega.org before you leave.
- Plastic bags and many single-use plastic items are banned. Carry cloth bags and a reusable water bottle.
- For Berijam Lake, get the forest-office permit on the morning of your visit; daily vehicle numbers are limited in peak season.
- Visit Coaker's Walk before about 2 pm for valley views; it is open 7 am to 7 pm.
- Nights are cold for much of the year, about 9°C in December to February. Pack a jacket and expect heavy rain in October and November.
Photos
Travel Trendzz packages that include Kodaikanal
Prices are given on request; the team sends a quote for your dates and group.
Choosing between Kodaikanal and Ooty? See Ooty vs Kodaikanal.
Questions about Kodaikanal
What is the best time to visit Kodaikanal?
Kodaikanal is cool all year. January to May is the driest stretch, and Tamil Nadu Tourism names April to June as the best time, with the May flower show at Bryant Park. October and November are the wettest months. December to February has cold nights, so carry warm clothes.
How many days are enough for Kodaikanal?
Two days suit most visitors. Day one covers Kodai Lake, Bryant Park, Coaker's Walk and Silver Cascade Falls. Day two covers Pillar Rocks, Guna Caves, the pine forest and Berijam Lake with a forest permit. A third day adds Kurinji Andavar Temple, Shenbaganur Museum and Dolphin's Nose.
How far is Kodaikanal from Mysuru and Bengaluru?
Kodaikanal is about 330 km from Mysuru, about 8 to 9 hours by road, so many travellers break the journey or combine it with Ooty. From Bengaluru it is about 410 to 480 km. There is no direct train; the nearest stations are Kodaikanal Road and Palani.
Is Kodaikanal good for families and couples?
Yes. Families enjoy boating, cycling and horse rides at Kodai Lake, Bryant Park and short viewpoint walks. Couples come for the cool weather, Coaker's Walk and quiet spots such as Berijam Lake. The Dolphin's Nose trail is narrow and unguarded, so it is less suited to small children.
Does Travel Trendzz have a package for Kodaikanal?
Yes. Coorg, Ooty & Kodaikanal Grand Tour (6 Nights / 7 Days), Ooty & Kodaikanal Hill Holiday (4 Nights / 5 Days), Coimbatore, Ooty & Kodaikanal Explorer (5 Nights / 6 Days) are published Travel Trendzz packages.
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Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources in November 2026. Rules such as entry passes, timings and road closures change, so check before you travel.
- en.wikipedia.org › Kodaikanal
- tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in › kodaikanal
- en.wikivoyage.org › Kodaikanal
- en.wikipedia.org › Mysuru–Tuticorin Express
- livelaw.in › supreme court declines to interfere with madras hc order lim
- onmanorama.com › wayanad bandipur mega tunnel road
- dtnext.in › kodai vizha 61st flower show begins at bryant park kodaikana
- onmanorama.com › ban of plastic products nilgiris tourists directive.amp
Plan your Kodaikanal trip
Tell the trip planner your dates, group and budget. Nothing is booked until you confirm with the team.
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