Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal, in Dindigul district, was established as a summer retreat in 1845, when British residents in India fled to the hills as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the plains. In Tamil, the name translates to “Gift of the forest”, referring to the thick fragrant Eucalyptus wooded hills surrounding the city.

Kodaikanal sits atop a plateau , just above the southern escarpment of the upper Palani Hills, between the Parappar and Gundar Valleys. These hills form the eastward spur of the Western Ghats and the irregular basin holds the beautiful and well known five fingered Kodaikanal Lake.

Meadows, grasslands and Shola forests cover the valleys. Mighty rocks and cascading streams, with many sparkling waterfalls are typical of these valleys. Cypress, pear trees, eucalyptus and acacia dominate the environment. Fruit and flowering trees abound in Kodaikanal and the forests and meadows are full of rhododendron, magnolia and bright yellow wildflowers everywhere. Large, multicolored dahlias draw visitors to Bryant Park, which is an easy hike up from Kodai lake – rewarding trekkers with the sight of lovely water lilies in the park’s pond.