Kodaikanal, in the Palani Hills, is one of South India's most celebrated hill stations, its star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake, pine forests and numerous viewpoints offering cool relief from the Tamil Nadu plains below. Coaker's Walk, a scenic pathway along a ridge offering panoramic views, and Pillar Rocks, three distinctive granite formations, are among the town's most popular natural attractions.
Kodaikanal's relatively later development compared to Ooty has helped it retain a somewhat quieter, less commercially saturated character, though its popularity has grown considerably in recent decades, and the town's homemade chocolate and eucalyptus oil have become popular local specialities for visitors to bring home.
Established as a hill station in the 1840s, initially by American missionaries seeking relief from the plains' heat, Kodaikanal developed more gradually than some of South India's other colonial-era hill retreats, helping preserve a somewhat more relaxed atmosphere.
April to June, and September to October, avoiding the coldest winter months and heaviest monsoon.
About 120km from Madurai, roughly 3-3.5 hours by road.
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