(also known as Kodai)
Kodaikanal, Information on Hotels, Resorts, Homestay, Cottages, Travel and
Tourism.
Kodaikanal is one of the very popular and most sought after Honeymoon and
holiday destination hill resorts in South India. This hill station stands 7200
feet above sea level and situated in upper palani hills of the westernghats
near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Kodaikanal is also popularly known as the princes
of Hill Stations.
The cool and misty weather, the
scenic beauty of the rolling hills and the wooded forest of Kodaikanal and its
surroundings will mesmerize any visitor throughout the year. Walk through the
wooded forests, row in the lake, bath in one of the splashing waterfalls, go
for horse riding and cycling around the lake or simply admire the views.
History of Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is the only Hill
Station in India developed by the Americans.
During 1821, Lieutenant B. S. Ward, a British surveyor was, the first European
to visit Kodaikanal, who was on the lookout for a healthy place to live, for
the foreign missionaries working in Madurai and the surrounding areas to escape
from the summer heat and epidemics.
The early visitors to Kodaikanal,
had to travel by horse, bullock cart or palanquin. The forest were infested by
robbers and wild animals, and yet it became very popular with the elite
families, because of the wonderful climate and clean air.
In 1834, the Collector of Madurai
climbed up from Devadanapatti and built a small bungalow at Kodaikanal. By the
second half of the 19th century, churches and other colonial structures started
popping up in and around Kodaikanal. Examples of some beautiful structures are
the Union Church built in 1895, and a large number of private bungalows.
In 1863, Sir Vere Hendry Levinge,
the Collector of Madurai, created the 60 acres Kodai Lake by damming three
streams flowing through. He stocked the lake with fish. He also brought the
first boat from Tuticorin. A boat club was formed in Kodaikanal in 1890. Since
May 1929, the club has permitted tourists to join the club as temporary members
and avail of boating facilities.
Missionaries established church
properties. Many of the ruling princes built summer holiday-homes. Clubs,
school and hotels came up. Civic amenities were introduced. Kodaikanal
developed slowly, but steadily. They also established the famous Kodaikanal
International School.
The extension of the railway line
from Chennai to Tirunelveli (598 kilometres) made Kodaikanal really popular. A
station was built at Ammainayakkanur - 80 kilometresfrom Kodaikanal. (This was
later renamed Kodai Road.) The first steam engine arrived in 1875 and made the
journey to Kodaikanal far easier. Though construction of the road was completed
in 1914, it was opened to the public only two years later - in 1916. And
suddenly, Kodaikanal was thrown open to the general public and tourists started
flocking the area in large numbers.