Berijam Lake

Berijam Lake is a forest reservoir excursion beyond Kodaikanal’s town attractions, with controlled access and a quieter nature-focused setting.

Berijam Lake, Kodaikanal
Practical guide

Plan Berijam Lake

Who's going?Tailor Berijam Lake to your trip
Typedam
Nearest baseKodaikanal
DistrictDindigul
Best timeOn a confirmed access day with suitable…
Time neededReserve a half-day planning block,…
Places to visit21Listed businesses31
The story

Berijam Lake is a forest reservoir excursion beyond Kodaikanal’s town attractions, with controlled access and a quieter nature-focused setting. Access is the first planning step. Do not book a taxi on the assumption that an ordinary sightseeing drive guarantees entry to the lake.

The story of Berijam Lake

The sanctuary describes Berijam as a reservoir in protected forest and an important water source. The surrounding landscape is the reason to visit, not a town-style boating promenade.

Ask the forest visitor service about the current permit or organised-vehicle arrangement before fixing the day. Older accounts of private-vehicle entry should not be treated as a current entitlement.

Keep the outing flexible if weather or forest management closes access. Bring what you need for the permitted excursion, take all litter out and observe wildlife from a distance without feeding or pursuing it.

For the visit itself, reserve a half-day planning block, subject to the offered route and departure arrangement. The best time is on a confirmed access day with suitable weather, following the forest service’s schedule. Confirm forest access and transport arrangements first. Follow the assigned route and return instructions. Do not enter closed forest roads or approach wildlife.

What to expect

Highlights

  • Forest reservoir landscape
  • Nature observation
  • A separate excursion from the town lake
Getting there

How to visit

  • Confirm forest access and transport arrangements first.
  • Follow the assigned route and return instructions.
Timing

Best time

On a confirmed access day with suitable weather, following the forest service’s schedule.

Weather in Berijam LakeSeasonal guide

Live forecast loads in your browser.

Today at Berijam Lake
Sunrise6:09 am
Sunset6:03 pm
Golden hour best light5:03 pm–6:03 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:03 pm–6:28 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 261°
Moon tonight🌒 Waxing crescent · 24%
Retreating monsoon. October and November still see spells of rain from the retreating monsoon, though it is usually lighter than mid-year. Conditions are generally good but worth checking.

Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.

Safety

Good to know

  • Do not enter closed forest roads or approach wildlife.
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop

Stays, food & things to do near Berijam Lake

Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Berijam Lake — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.

20 places to stay near Berijam Lake

Top pick
Hotel
The Carlton
11.3 km · ~19 min by cab

Five-star hotel on Lake Road, above Kodaikanal Lake. Its own site publishes the address, two telephone numbers and its four dining rooms.

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Top pick
Resort
Kodai Resort Hotel

Fifty cottages by Coaker's Walk, each with its own deck. Rates, restaurants and three phone numbers all come off the hotel's own site.

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Top pick
Hotel
Hotel Hilltop Towers
11.5 km · ~19 min by cab

Hotel on Club Road in the middle of town, walking distance from the lake and Bryant Park. Address, three phone numbers and room rates from its own site.

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Hotel
The Carlton, Kodaikanal
11.3 km · ~19 min by cab

A lakeside hotel on Lake Road, in business since 1974, describing itself as a colonial heritage property with 91-plus rooms including two suites and three lakeside cottages.

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Hotel
Kodai International
12.6 km · ~21 min by cab

Hotel. Office Unit of ESTEJI Hotels Private Ltd, 17/328, Lawsghat Road, Kodaikanal 624101.

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Hotel
Villa Retreat

A small hotel at Coaker’s Walk in the town centre, which traces itself back to the shacks built by the missionary Noyes.

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Resort
The Tamara Kodai
10.2 km · ~17 min by cab

An all-suite resort at La Providence on St Mary’s Road, about a kilometre and a half from the town centre. Its own site publishes the driving distances guests ask about.

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Hotel
The Hamuse
11.7 km · ~20 min by cab

A hotel at Furz Bank on Anna Salai, opposite the Astoria, a few minutes on foot from the bus stand. Rooms, dining and event space, booked direct by email.

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Hotel
Hotel Raindrops

Boat House Road, at the Seven Road junction on the lake side of town. The hotel has its own restaurant, and a cab desk for the sightseeing circuit.

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Homestay
Mistycove

A Lake Road homestay of five cottages, set across about three acres of garden. Bookings are taken direct by phone, WhatsApp or email rather than through an agent.

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Hotel
Hotel Orange Inn

Observatory Road, on the western side of town. Its own site claims the only full view of Kodaikanal Lake, and lists family rooms and suites.

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Hostel
Zostel Kodaikanal
12.7 km · ~21 min by cab

The Kodaikanal branch of the Zostel backpacker chain — dorm and private rooms, booked through the chain’s own site.

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Hotel
Hotel Jai

The Hilltop Group's second hotel, on Lloyds Road. Six grades of room, rates and three phone numbers from its own site.

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Hotel
Hotel Kodai International
12.6 km · ~21 min by cab

Hotel on Lawsghat Road with a restaurant, bar and banquet halls. Address, four landlines and two mobiles from its own site.

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Hotel
Le Poshe by Sparsa
12.5 km · ~21 min by cab

Hotel on Sivanandi Road, near the Kurinji Andavar temple side of town. Address, two landlines and two mobiles from its own site.

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Hotel
JC Residency

Hotel on Convent Road at Naidupuram, with banquet halls. Address, five phone numbers and two emails from its own site.

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Hotel
Hotel Apple Valley
12.1 km · ~20 min by cab

Hotel on Anna Salai in the middle of town. Address, landline and email from its own site.

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Homestay
Kodai Serenity Residency

Small hillside property at Vilpatti, outside the town. Full address, phone and email from its own site.

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Hotel
Hotel Grand Palace
11.6 km · ~19 min by cab

Family hotel where nine rooms in ten interconnect. Two landlines, two mobiles and two emails from its own site, which prints no street address.

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Hotel
Hotel Gurupriya
12.7 km · ~21 min by cab

A budget hotel on Laws Ghat Road in Kodaikanal, beside the Zion Matriculation School. It answers on two Kodaikanal landlines, 04542-241136 and 04542-241046, as well as its mobile numbers.

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Book with the place itself. India’s cyber-crime coordination centre warned in April 2025 that convincing copies of hotel and pilgrimage booking sites are being pushed through sponsored search and social ads, taking payment for rooms the property never hears about. Every listing here links to the business’s own contact details and its own Google or Bing profile — we take no commission and sit in nobody’s payment path. If a booking page reached you through an ad, check the address bar against the property’s own site before you pay. Fraud can be reported on cybercrime.gov.in or on 1930.

Ranked guides

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damKodaikanal Lake

Star-shaped artificial lake built in 1863 by Vere Henry Levinge, the recreational centre of Kodaikanal, popular for boating and cycling around its bund.

viewpointCoaker's Walk

A 1 km paved cliff-edge promenade laid out by Lt. Coaker in 1872, offering panoramic views over the valley and plains below Kodaikanal.

parkBryant Park

A 20-acre botanical garden beside Kodaikanal Lake laid out in 1908, home to hundreds of species of trees, shrubs and cacti and an annual flower show.

viewpointPillar Rocks

7.9 km · ~20 min by auto

Three giant granite boulders rising about 122 m vertically, a landmark viewpoint roughly 7 km from Kodaikanal Lake.

waterfallBear Shola Falls

A seasonal cascade set in forest about 3 km from Kodaikanal Lake, named for bears that once came here to drink; flow depends on the monsoon.

waterfallSilver Cascade Falls

A roughly 30 m (100 ft) waterfall formed by the overflow of Kodaikanal Lake, on the ghat road about 8 km from town.

viewpointDolphin's Nose

10.1 km · ~17 min by cab

A flat rock projecting over a steep gorge near Vattakanal, reached by a downhill trek, giving sweeping views over the deep valley below Kodaikanal.

caveGuna Caves

7.5 km · ~19 min by auto

Deep, dangerous rock crevices among the Pillar Rocks, originally known as Devil's Kitchen and renamed after the 1991 Tamil film Guna was shot here.

viewpointGreen Valley View (Suicide Point)

9.8 km · ~16 min by cab

A viewpoint near the golf course overlooking a deep drop into the valley and Vaigai dam plains, formerly called Suicide Point.

templeKurinji Andavar Temple

A Murugan temple built in 1936, associated with the Kurinji flower that blooms once every twelve years, offering hill views about 3 km from Kodaikanal Lake.

damMannavanur Lake

5.8 km · ~15 min by auto

A tranquil high-altitude lake near Mannavanur village about 35 km from Kodaikanal, set amid grassland and a sheep and rabbit farm.

heritageKodaikanal Solar Observatory

8.9 km · ~15 min by cab

A solar and astronomical observatory established in 1899 by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, holding one of the world's longest continuous records of solar images.

waterfallThalaiyar Falls

Also called Rat Tail Falls, at about 297 m it is one of the tallest waterfalls in Tamil Nadu, plunging down the Palani hills and visible from the Kodaikanal ghat road.

parkPine Forest

8.3 km · ~14 min by cab

A dense man-made plantation of tall pine trees started in 1906, a popular scenic and photography spot on the way to Pillar Rocks.

viewpointMoir Point

6.1 km · ~15 min by auto

A forest viewpoint on the road to Berijam Lake, named after the engineer who planned the Kodai-Munnar forest road, marking the entry to the reserved forest.

templeKuzhandai Velappar Temple, Poombarai

An ancient Murugan temple at Poombarai village near Kodaikanal, believed to predate the Palani temple, set among terraced hill farms.

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A small dam and reservoir near Kodaikanal, also known as Shola Dam, a quiet picnic and film-shooting spot away from the crowded lake.

waterfallFairy Falls, Kodaikanal

8.6 km · ~14 min by cab

An offbeat waterfall reached by a scenic forest trek from the Vattakanal area of Kodaikanal. The stream cascades over granite through dense woodland, forming small natural pools. It is favoured by trekkers seeking quieter spots away from the main tourist circuit.

viewpointSilent Valley View, Kodaikanal

3.0 km · ~8 min by auto

A quiet, often overlooked viewpoint near Kodaikanal that lives up to its name. Early mornings offer views over cloud-filled valleys and dew-covered landscapes of the Palani Hills. It is a peaceful alternative to the busier Coaker's Walk and Green Valley viewpoints.

K
Kodaikanal Golf Club
Place
heritageKodaikanal Golf Club

8.6 km · ~14 min by cab

A historic golf course established in the colonial era on the rolling grasslands of Kodaikanal. Set amid pine and shola forest, it is one of the older hill-station golf clubs in South India. Its scenic fairways are counted among Kodaikanal's notable attractions.

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Before you go

Berijam Lake — at a glance

Getting around Berijam Lake

If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.

If you need help at Berijam Lake
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).

Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.

Nearby

What’s near Berijam Lake

viewpointSilent Valley View, Kodaikanal

A quiet, often overlooked viewpoint near Kodaikanal that lives up to its name. Early mornings offer views over cloud-filled valleys and dew-covered landscapes of the Palani Hills. It is a peaceful alternative to the busier Coaker's Walk and Green Valley viewpoints.

3.0 km · ~8 min by auto · straight line
damMannavanur Lake

A tranquil high-altitude lake near Mannavanur village about 35 km from Kodaikanal, set amid grassland and a sheep and rabbit farm.

5.8 km · ~15 min by auto · straight line
viewpointMoir Point

A forest viewpoint on the road to Berijam Lake, named after the engineer who planned the Kodai-Munnar forest road, marking the entry to the reserved forest.

6.1 km · ~15 min by auto · straight line
caveGuna Caves

Deep, dangerous rock crevices among the Pillar Rocks, originally known as Devil's Kitchen and renamed after the 1991 Tamil film Guna was shot here.

7.5 km · ~19 min by auto · straight line
heritagePoombarai Village

A scenic terraced-farming village about 20 km from Kodaikanal, set at roughly 1,920 metres in the Palani Hills. It is renowned for its layered step-farming fields and for its garlic and vegetable cultivation. The village is home to the ancient Kuzhanthai Velappar temple and offers sweeping valley views.

7.8 km · ~19 min by auto · straight line
viewpointPillar Rocks

Three giant granite boulders rising about 122 m vertically, a landmark viewpoint roughly 7 km from Kodaikanal Lake.

7.9 km · ~20 min by auto · straight line
parkPine Forest

A dense man-made plantation of tall pine trees started in 1906, a popular scenic and photography spot on the way to Pillar Rocks.

8.3 km · ~14 min by cab · straight line
K
Kodaikanal Golf Club
Place
heritageKodaikanal Golf Club

A historic golf course established in the colonial era on the rolling grasslands of Kodaikanal. Set amid pine and shola forest, it is one of the older hill-station golf clubs in South India. Its scenic fairways are counted among Kodaikanal's notable attractions.

8.6 km · ~14 min by cab · straight line
waterfallFairy Falls, Kodaikanal

An offbeat waterfall reached by a scenic forest trek from the Vattakanal area of Kodaikanal. The stream cascades over granite through dense woodland, forming small natural pools. It is favoured by trekkers seeking quieter spots away from the main tourist circuit.

8.6 km · ~14 min by cab · straight line
heritageKodaikanal Solar Observatory

A solar and astronomical observatory established in 1899 by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, holding one of the world's longest continuous records of solar images.

8.9 km · ~15 min by cab · straight line
viewpointGreen Valley View (Suicide Point)

A viewpoint near the golf course overlooking a deep drop into the valley and Vaigai dam plains, formerly called Suicide Point.

9.8 km · ~16 min by cab · straight line
viewpointDolphin's Nose

A flat rock projecting over a steep gorge near Vattakanal, reached by a downhill trek, giving sweeping views over the deep valley below Kodaikanal.

10.1 km · ~17 min by cab · straight line

All 21 places to visit in Kodaikanal →

On the map

Where Berijam Lake is

Good to know

Berijam Lake — frequently asked

Can a taxi booking guarantee entry?

No. Forest access permission and the current visitor transport arrangement are separate from hiring a taxi.

Is this another name for Kodaikanal Lake?

No. Berijam is a separate reservoir excursion in the forest.

When is the best time to visit Berijam Lake?

On a confirmed access day with suitable weather, following the forest service’s schedule.

How do I reach Berijam Lake?

Confirm forest access and transport arrangements first. Follow the assigned route and return instructions.

How much time do I need for Berijam Lake?

Reserve a half-day planning block, subject to the offered route and departure arrangement.

What else is near Berijam Lake?

Nearby you can pair Silent Valley View, Kodaikanal (3.0 km), Mannavanur Lake (5.8 km), Moir Point (6.1 km), Guna Caves (7.5 km).

What should I know before visiting Berijam Lake?

Do not enter closed forest roads or approach wildlife.

Read before you go

Berijam Lake guides, stories & itineraries

We have not published a story about Berijam Lake itself yet. These cover Kodaikanal and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.

Around Kodaikanal

These guides explore Kodaikanal and the surrounding area. Choose a visit that fits your interests, allowing separately for travel between stops.

Tamil Nadu-wide guides & itineraries

Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Tamil Nadu.

See all 26 Dindigul guides & stories →

Image credits

Photographs: Lokesh Ramachandra (CC BY-SA 4.0), Rainer Halama (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.