The hill station of Kodaikanal is located on the southern crest of the Palani Hills in the Western Ghats and at an altitude of 2100m. It is surrounded by wooded slopes, waterfalls and precipitous rocky outcrops. The journey up and down is quite breathtaking. It is the only hill station in India set up by the Americans, though they were soon joined by the British. American missionaries established a school for European children here in the mid-1840's, the legacy of which is the Kodaikanal International School, one of the most prestigious private schools in the country.

Kodaikanal has a bracing climate where temperature does not vary much from summer to winter. Fruits like plums and plantains grow abundantly on the wooded slopes apart from a wide variety of flowers, among which is the famous Kurinji flower which blooms once in twelve years. Its gentle slopping woods are abundant in bird life. A Summer Festival is celebrated in May every year, the highlights of which are the Boat race and flower show

Accessibility

By Air: Madurai is the nearest airport, which is about 120 kms away. The nearest international gateway is Chennai.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kodaikanal Road on the Chennai-Madurai broad gauge line.

By Road: Kodaikanal is well connected to all the major towns and cities of south India like Madurai, Coimbatore, Kochi, Ooty, Thekkady, Trichy etc.

Hotels in Kodaikanal

Deluxe Hotels: The Carlton