Lesser Known Places around Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal, also referred to as the Princess of Hills, is a marvel of nature. This place has innumerable waterfalls, lakes, parks and hills. Each one offering a splendid view and vibes that are perfect for unwinding from the busy lives that everyone tends to be engrossed in. See this 3 days Kodaikanal itinerary to get an idea of what places to explore in the town and around.  Given how popular some other hill stations of south India like Ooty, Munnar and Coorg have become. One can be forgiven to assume that Kodaikanal in that regard is an offbeat location. However, with the ever-increasing number of tourists and travellers to this place, its becoming popular. And why not. As, this place has the perfect mix of nature and infrastructure for a comfortable vacation in nature’s lap.

Moreover, the drive to Kodaikanal from nearby cities like Bangalore is a scenic journey in itself. Also, it has similar weather conditions all through the year. Making it a year round destination. But the best part is that apart from the regular places to visit here there remain a handful of places that are off the beaten path. So, here is a list of 5 offbeat places that must make your list of places to visit in Kodaikanal. Although we are sure you must have visited many other locations in Kodaikanal itself. But many of you might not have explored these offbeat yet beautiful places around Kodaikanal.

Dolmen Circle

As popular as Kodaikanal is for its natural and scenic beauty. At the same time, it also has a deeply rooted history. And the testament to how far back its history goes is the Dolmen or Kistaven at the Dolmen Circle. This is the first place on our list of beautiful and offbeat places around Kodaikanal. And an intriguing place for history lovers. According to Anthropologists, it dates to 5000BC !! And is believed to be the burial and dwelling ground for the Stone Age man. If you have visited the more popular Edakkal Caves in Wayanad, you will know what we are talking about here. The Dolmen’s structure includes, one horizonal slab of stone supported by two vertical slabs of stones. And the history associated with the Dolmens definitely calls for a visit to this place. Since it’s not often and everywhere that you get to see things related to stone age !!

Kodaikanal Solar Observatory

Kodaikanal’s Solar Observatory has made contributions to science through its observations of solar activity. This has made it gain popularity in the Astrophysics circles. Observatory also boasts of a library with invaluable data and readings on the related topics. A glimpse of the magnificence of the work from the observatory can be seen at the Solar Observatory Museum. Especially for the families travelling to Kodaikanal, a visit to this place is a good way to help the kids appreciate science. And that is why we put it on our list of places around Kodaikanal that one must visit.

Berijam Lake

One thing that is a constant in every Kodaikanal itinerary, is the visit to a lake. As, all the lakes in Kodaikanal offer splendid views. And if it were up to me, I would visit them all. However, a well preserved one is Berijam lake. Actually it has a limited number of vehicles allowed per day. And that too with prior permission from the Forest Department! It is a reservoir with endless greenery around it. Given its preserved environment, Berijam lake offers a good scope for bird watching amongst the peaceful vibes of the place. Also, the scenic backdrop of this place is ideal for photography. And other fun activities offered at the lake include fishing and safari. So, apart from the Kodai Lake which is right in the heart of Kodaikanal, we highly recommend adding Berijam Lake to your list of places around Kodaikanal.

Shembaganur Museum

Shembaganur Museum is a museum of Natural History at Sacred Heart College. It is a 123-year-old museum with a beautiful collection of both flora and fauna. Also, it is one of the best orchidariums in the country, hosting about 300 species of flowers and plants. It also has an incredible collection of taxidermy of more than 500 species of insects, birds, animals. Other wildlife creatures on display are snakes, moths, mammals and butterflies. To add to its illustrious collection, are the artefacts from the time of Paliyar tribes. This is just the place for the young inquisitive minds. And highly recommended whether visiting solo or with family.

Kukkal

Kukkal (or “Kookal’) Village, at about 30km from Kodaikanal is the farthest place on this list. In fact it is also one of the lesser explored places around Kodaikanal. Actually, Kukkal is a terrace farming village with absolutely peaceful vibes. And is the perfect place to unwind and have a peaceful vacation. Here you can enjoy both the beautiful Kukkal Lake as well as the Kukkal caves. At one point in time the Kukkal cave was the settlement of the Paliyar Tribe. If you are planning to stay the night at this place, there are quite a few stays perfectly quipped to cater you. Head here for a relaxed couple of days with friends and family.

These are the top 5 locations that are not the most popular but definitely worth including in your itineraries when you visit the Princess of Hills, Kodaikanal. If you are not convinced yet about a trip to this paradise, read places to visit in Kodaikanal and you will have enough reasons to convince yourself. If you are interested in more interesting travel content, feel free to visit Xplore The Earth. Also, see here – the best places to stay in Kodaikanal.

Author Bio

This is a guest post by Saransh. A footballer and number cruncher. Saransh, loves to explore new places and talk about them. An adrenaline junkie who is almost always ready for an adventure. Above all, he likes to travel at a slow pace and enjoy the moment.

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