Kodaikanal Tour Packages
Kodaikanal, the princess of hill stations, sits on a plateau in the Palani Hills around a star-shaped lake. Pine forests, cliff-edge walks and a cool climate make it a favourite honeymoon and summer destination from the southern cities.
Kodaikanal at a glance
- LocationTamil Nadu, India
- Time zoneIndian Standard Time (UTC+5:30)
- Driving sideLeft
- Calling code+91
- CurrencyIndian rupee (INR)
- LanguagesTamil
- Ideal stay2–3 days
- Getting thereMadurai Airport (IXM), about 120 km
Best time to visit: October to June
Top Kodaikanal travel packages
A few of our Kodaikanal itineraries in different travel styles. Every one is private and can be changed to suit you.
Hill-station holidaysOoty · KodaikanalOoty & Kodaikanal Hill Holiday6 Days | 5 Nights
Honeymoon packagesKodaikanalKodaikanal Honeymoon Getaway4 Days | 3 Nights
Cultural holidaysChennai · Mahabalipuram · Puducherry ·…Tamil Nadu Grand Tour11 Days | 10 Nights
Family holidaysMadurai · KodaikanalMadurai & Kodaikanal Family Trip5 Days | 4 NightsEssential tips for travelling to Kodaikanal
UPI and cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels; keep some cash for small shops, rural areas, hill towns and tips.
Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Drink bottled or filtered water; it is cheap and easy to find.
112 (all emergencies)
Languages spoken: Tamil.
Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Thoothukudi have airports. Trains link every major town, and a car with driver is the easiest way to string temples together.
Most large temples ask men to remove shirts in the inner sanctum and everyone to remove footwear; carry socks for hot stone floors.
Temple inner shrines usually close for a few hours in the early afternoon, so plan visits for the morning or evening.
Do Coaker's Walk early in the morning, before the mist closes in on the valley.
General guidance. Local rules and services change; we confirm details for your dates.
Where is Kodaikanal?
Who should visit Kodaikanal?
Plan your Kodaikanal trip
Everything you need to know about Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal, the princess of hill stations, sits on a plateau in the Palani Hills around a star-shaped lake. Pine forests, cliff-edge walks and a cool climate make it a favourite honeymoon and summer destination from the southern cities.
Highlights include Kodaikanal Lake, Coaker's Walk, Pillar Rocks and Pine Forest. Local food worth trying: Homemade chocolates, Hot corn and bonda by the lake and Plum cake. Plan 2–3 days here; it suits honeymooners, families, summer breaks. Our Kodaikanal itineraries run from 4 to 11 days and every one can be changed to suit you.
When to go
October to June. April–May is peak season; the post-monsoon months are green and quieter.
How to reach Kodaikanal
- By air: Madurai Airport (IXM), about 120 km
- By rail: Kodaikanal Road station, about 80 km
- By road: About 3.5 hours from Madurai through the ghat road
View all Kodaikanal packages
Private, customisable itineraries with prices quoted for your dates, hotel category and group size.
6D / 5NOoty · KodaikanalOoty & Kodaikanal Hill Holiday
Two of the south's classic hill stations in one trip: three nights in the Nilgiris and two around Kodaikanal's star-shaped lake and cliff walks.
View itinerary →
4D / 3NKodaikanalKodaikanal Honeymoon Getaway
Three slow nights in the Palani Hills: misty Coaker's Walk mornings, boating on the lake and pine-forest drives, with time simply to rest.
View itinerary →11D / 10NChennai · Mahabalipuram · Puducherry · ThanjavurTamil Nadu Grand Tour
Ten days across the state, from the coast and Pallava monuments through the Chola heartland and Madurai to the Palani and Nilgiri hills.
View itinerary →
5D / 4NMadurai · KodaikanalMadurai & Kodaikanal Family Trip
A temple city and a hill station: Meenakshi Amman and Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, then three relaxed days in Kodaikanal's cool air.
View itinerary →
5D / 4NKodaikanal · ValparaiWestern Ghats Trek: Kodaikanal & Valparai
Forest trails and viewpoints around Kodaikanal with a local guide, then tea estates, waterfalls and lion-tailed macaques around Valparai; forest permits arranged where needed.
View itinerary →5 itineraries
More places in Tamil Nadu
Top things to see in Kodaikanal
KodaikanalPaved cliff path with valley views
KodaikanalThree tall granite pillars rising from the valley
Tamil NaduGardens beside the lake
Tamil NaduDeep chasms made famous by a Tamil film
Nature and landscapes of Kodaikanal
KodaikanalStar-shaped lake with boating and a cycling path
KodaikanalPaved cliff path with valley views
KodaikanalThree tall granite pillars rising from the valley
KodaikanalTall pines planted in the colonial era
Tamil NaduGardens beside the lake
Tamil NaduDeep chasms made famous by a Tamil film
Cultural experiences in Kodaikanal
Experiences
- Shopping for homemade chocolates and eucalyptus oil
On the menuFood to try
- Homemade chocolates
- Hot corn and bonda by the lake
- Plum cake
Outdoor activities in Kodaikanal
Many activities are seasonal. Best time for Kodaikanal: October to June. We check operating seasons for your dates.
Kodaikanal travel tips
Visa and entry
Indian citizens do not need a visa; carry a government photo ID such as Aadhaar or a passport for hotels and flights.
Health and safety
Travel insurance is a good idea, especially for adventure activities. Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
Currency and tipping
The currency is the Indian rupee (INR). Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Best time to visit
October to June. April–May is peak season; the post-monsoon months are green and quieter.
Getting around
Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Thoothukudi have airports. Trains link every major town, and a car with driver is the easiest way to string temples together.
Local etiquette
- Dress modestly at temples, churches and mosques, and remove footwear where asked.
- Ask before photographing people, and follow photography rules at religious sites and museums.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket or sweater for cool evenings, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and swimwear, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees for religious sites, a compact umbrella or rain jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
Phone and internet
Mobile data is good in towns and cities. Coverage can be patchy in remote, hill and forest areas, so download offline maps before you set off.
Budget
We don't publish fixed prices because the season, hotel category, flights and group size change the cost. Your written quote lists exactly what is included, so you can compare like for like.
Kodaikanal FAQs
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Is tap water safe to drink in Tamil Nadu?
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Destinations near Kodaikanal
KeralaMunnar
Munnar is Kerala's best-known hill station, at around 1,600 metres in the Western Ghats, where tea estates cover the slopes in neat green rows.
KeralaThekkady
Thekkady is the town beside Periyar Tiger Reserve, where a lake created by a nineteenth-century dam attracts elephants, gaur and deer to its shores.
KeralaVagamon
Vagamon is a quiet hill area of rolling meadows, pine forest and tea estates at the edge of Kottayam and Idukki districts.
KeralaSabarimala
Sabarimala is the forest hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa in the Western Ghats of Pathanamthitta district, inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
KeralaMalayattoor
Malayattoor is a hill shrine of St Thomas the Apostle above the Periyar river, one of the most important Christian pilgrimages in India.
KeralaKumarakom
Kumarakom is a cluster of islands on the eastern shore of Vembanad Lake, quieter than Alleppey and lined with lakeside resorts.
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