Fact File Area - 21.83 sq. km  Population - 27,423  Altitude - 2343 m above sea level  Languages - Tamil, English  Best Time to Visit - Throughout the year  STD Code - 04542

Introduction The name Kodaikanal means the gift of the forest. Situated in the state of Tamil Nadu, among the Palani Hills, Kodaikanal is one of the unexplored destinations of southern India. With its intoxicating air, breathtaking scenery and serenity that you can hardly find in any other hill station, Kodaikanal is an ideal summer resort for the travel buffs of the southern plains. The hill station was officially founded by American missionaries in 1845. The local museums here will give you a good idea about the place/’s past and its relevance in the present. The relics and artefacts of the Paliyans who lived in these Palani hills are carefully preserved in these museums. The abundant pear orchards in their blooming season leave scant room for leaves on the trees, making it a wonderful site to see.  Sightseeing Once you are in Kodaikanal, the list of places to visit is endless. You must try to visit as many of them as possible. The places to visit in Kodaikanal take care of your likes and tastes. Starting from picturesque natural sites like the Kodaikanal Star Shaped lake, the Coaker walk and Priest’s walk to scientific and astrological wonder the Solar observatory, the storehouse of botanical species Orchidorium breathtaking Perumal Peak and Fairy Falls, the list goes on and on. Once you are through with your sightseeing schedule, you can also browse through the local market in the town to get a glimpse of the locally produced goods and knick-knacks to buy.  Excursions Kodaikanal has a number of excursion spots to visit. Abundance of natural beauty and variety of flora and fauna makes them more attractive and worth visiting. Madurai, Ooty are some of the distant excursion spots to visit from Kodaikanal. But Palani is a must visit site for it satisfies your religious cord as well as the nature lover inside you. Easily accessible from Kodaikanal, it is an important pilgrimage centre especially for the Hindus as it houses one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya in the temple here.