Kodaikanal Tour Packages from Coimbatore

How to reach Kodaikanal from Coimbatore

Kodaikanal is about 160 km from Coimbatore, a drive of around 4 hours, or 4 to 5 hours with stops. The road goes through Pollachi and Udumalpet to Palani, then climbs the Palani to Kodaikanal ghat road. Weekends in season are slower. Our driver collects you in Coimbatore and stays with the vehicle on the hill roads.

If you are comparing options, the Dindigul district page lists Madurai as the nearest airport and Kodai Road as the nearest railway station. Neither connects to Coimbatore as simply as a direct drive, which is why most families book a vehicle for the whole trip. Searches for cbe to kodaikanal are mostly about this road. If you only need a car with driver, we also run cabs and Tempo Travellers; call +91 86101 62373.

Kodaikanal tour packages from Coimbatore: days and prices

Our Kodaikanal tour packages start with a 2 day trip at ₹5,500 per person. Most families take 4 days with Palani or Ooty. In short, this kodaikanal tour package range runs from a weekend to a 12 day Tamil Nadu circuit. One price covers the AC vehicle, driver, fuel, toll, parking and the hotel (3-star or similar). Meals, entry tickets and personal expenses are extra.

A kodaikanal trip package from us is a fixed plan, not a build-your-own tour. If you are planning a trip to kodaikanal with parents or children, the 4 day plans leave time to rest between stops. Our kodaikanal holiday packages and kodaikanal package choices all start and end in Coimbatore. The same applies to our Kodaikanal trip packages, any Kodaikanal tourist package and each Kodaikanal travel package on the list. Where a package shows a range on its page, it comes from group size, hotel category and dates. For a short break, the 2 day Kodaikanal tour package covers the lake, Coaker's Walk and the 12-Mile Road stops. For a pilgrim and hill-station mix, the Palani Kodaikanal plan starts at the Murugan temple. For a longer visit, the 4 day Kodaikanal plan leaves room for the viewpoints.

Best places to visit in Kodaikanal

This kodaikanal tourist places list is the short version: Kodaikanal Lake, Bryant Park, Coaker's Walk, Silver Cascade, Pillar Rocks, Guna Caves and the Pine Forest. A 2 day trip covers all of them. With only one day, choose the lake, Coaker's Walk, Bryant Park and Pillar Rocks: these are the Kodaikanal best places for a short visit.

These are also the kodaikanal visiting places and kodaikanal sightseeing stops that our plans are built on. The places to visit kodaikanal offers outside town are on the 12-Mile Road, so we group them on one day.

Here is each place to visit in Kodaikanal in more detail, for anyone searching tourist places in kodaikanal before deciding on days.

• Kodaikanal Lake. An artificial, roughly star-shaped lake. Boats and pedalos can be hired at the Kodaikanal Boat Club, which dates from 1890.
• Bryant Park. A landscaped park on the east side of the lake, named after the British officer who founded it. The annual flower show is held here in May.
• Coaker's Walk. A paved walk about 1 km long along the edge of the slope, with valley views.
• Silver Cascade. A waterfall formed by the overflow of the lake, on the ghat road before town.
• Pillar Rocks. Three granite formations about 122 m high, 7 km from the lake. The forest department's 12-Mile Road page describes a public garden at the viewpoint.
• Guna Caves. Once called Devil's Kitchen. The deep ravines are closed to the public for safety, and visitors view them from designated areas after a forest walk.
• Pine Forest and Green Valley View. Tall pines and a valley viewpoint on the same road. The online ticket for 12-Mile Road covers Pillar Rocks, Guna Caves, Pine Forest and Moir Point for the date you pick.
• Dolphin Nose. A viewpoint reached by a trek of about 3 km on an unguarded narrow path. It is not part of our standard plans. Ask us if you want it added.

Other stops people ask for include Bear Shola Falls (about 3 km from town), Berijam Lake (22 km), the Shenbaganur museum (5 km from the lake) and the Kurinji Andavar Temple, dedicated to Murugan. The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory is open to the public from April 1 to June 15, 10 to 12 and 2 to 4, and on Fridays 10 to 12 for the rest of the year, according to the district page.

Kodaikanal or Ooty: which is better from Coimbatore?

Ooty is closer, at about 85 km, and larger, with the Botanical Garden and the toy train. Kodaikanal is farther, at about 160 km, quieter and cooler, with a lake, viewpoints and forest roads. Most families choose Ooty for a short trip and Kodaikanal when they have 3 or more days.

There is no direct road between the two. Ooty to Kodaikanal is about 250 km by road, going back down through the Coimbatore side and Palani, so it takes around 6 hours. Kodaikanal to Ooty is the same road in reverse, and Kodaikanal to Coimbatore is the same 160 km back. Because of that, our 4 day Ooty Kodaikanal plan and 5 day plan include a full travel day between the two hill stations. See also our Ooty page.

Best time and what to expect in Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal sits at about 2,133 m and stays cool all year. The south-west monsoon, June to September, brings heavy rain on the Western Ghats, so views can be lost to cloud. March to May and October to December are easier for a first visit. The flower show is in May.

The Kurinji flower blooms once in 12 years, so it is not a reason to time a trip unless you check with us first. Because forest department stops can close in rain or for safety, we confirm what is open for your dates. For longer trips, add Palani, Madurai or Munnar, or see the Tamil Nadu page.