Mannavanur 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.

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

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.

11.6 km · ~19 min by cab

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

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.

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

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

11.1 km · ~19 min by cab

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.

5.8 km · ~15 min by auto

An artificial reservoir about 22 km from Kodaikanal inside a reserved forest, requiring a forest-department permit to enter, known for its clear water and wildlife.

12.9 km · ~21 min by cab

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

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.

11.4 km · ~19 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.

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.

11.6 km · ~19 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.

9.7 km · ~16 min by cab

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.

11.3 km · ~19 min by cab

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

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

11.6 km · ~19 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.

8.1 km · ~14 min by cab

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.

12.1 km · ~20 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.