Kodaikanal Lake
The heart of this hill station is the shimmering presence of its lake. It is also has an essence of history, as it was created by the then Collector, Sir Vere Livinge, who formed it by damming the valley where three streams flowed. It spreads over an area of 60 acres and is skirted by a three-mile tarred road, where you can enjoy a wonderful walk There are boating facilities at the Boat Club here, as well as a public ferry.
The Kodai Club
The club is reminiscent of colonial India, and it still bears the old flavors of the Raj, with its period fireplace where a live fire crackles cheerfully in winter, complete with a piano and a library with some all time English classics. The walls carry some priceless old pictures, including prints by Leigh Hunt, while the bar is typical with stuffed heads of game like deer and bison, while the restaurant has old English chinaware, with smiling garrulous stewards serving you some steaming traditional English fare. It is like stepping back into time.
Kodaikanal School
This co-educational international boarding school has made Kodai famous for its educational standards, and offers a pre university curriculum in twelve grades, preparing students for entrance to Indian and woldwide universities, through the International Baccalaureate, an external exam based in Geneva. It has over thirty nationalities of students and staff. The campus is worth a visit, with solid old stone buildings set amidst old trees and verdant lawns.
The Lutheran Church and Christ the King Church
These gothic style churches are located close by to the school. The former has beautiful stained glass windows with modern paintings and batiks portraying the life of Jesus. The Christ the King Church is even more famous, with its solid granite walls and some more exquisite stained glass windows.
Bryant’s Park
This is park is unusual in its layout, with a rich vegetation of pines and eucalyptus trees, and is named after the forest officer who designed it, in the early years of the century. Most notable is the ancient eucalyptus tree dating back to 1846, which is 250 feet high and 10 feet wide. You are sure to admire the colorful variety of annuals and perennials, and enjoy the many varieties of orchids in the especial temperature controlled Orchid House. The lotus pond is another highlight in this exotic landscape.
Coaker’s Walk
You will get some spectacular views of the plains, with rising mists surrounding the far off hills, and lies about a kilometer from the lake.
Green Valley View
The drive to this view point is a treat, as the trees are so dense in this area, that their leaves weave a leafy canopy overhead, all along, until you reach a path laced with gnarled cypress roots, that leads up to a drop of 1,000 feet. You overlook the Vaigai Dam, and watch the mists floating up the valley, a truly mesmerizing view. The exclusive Kodai Golf Club is close by here, with 114 acres of velvet green Golf Links that are a delight for any golf lover.
Pillar Rocks
True to their name, these are three vertical rock formations in the shape of pillars standing shoulder to shoulder, and measure 112 meters. There is a sheer drop in the ground below them, with a fantastic view of the valley, where you can watch the sunset.
The Shenbaganur Museum
Located about five kilometers from the lake, this museum has some interesting relics of the ancient Paliyans who originally inhabited this region. It is maintained by the Sacred Heart College, a Theological Seminary founded in 1895. It also has a remarkable collection of butterflies and stuffed birds, and you can spend an easy afternoon browsing here.
The Observatory
One of the world's oldest solar observatories is situated in Kodaikanal, dating back to 1899.
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