Coaker's Walk faces the valley, is comparatively cheap and extremely quiet.

Greenlands is very much in demand for its cheap and clean dorm. Green Acres (Tel: 242384; Tariff: Rs 600-2,000) has a spacious garden. Hill Country Holiday Resorts (Tel: 240953; Tariff: Rs 1,3003,100) boasts a home theatre and games. Hotel Garden Manor (Tel:240461; Tariff: Rs: 1,000-2,900) arranges sightseeing. A good budget option is Roseflower Resort (Tel:24099S; Tariff: Rs 350-700). Lakeside attractions Kodai Lake has been a centre of activity from the time it was dammed in 1867. The flat road that runs around the lake is an ideal cycling track. Boats, available in pedal, row and shikara shapes can be hired from the Kodaikanal Boat and Rowing Club (Tel: 241315), as well as from the Tourist Department. Pony rides vary from Rs 50 for a half round of the lake to Rs 100 for a full round. Boating fee Shikaras Rs 10/ 1/2 hr, other boats Rs 100 Timings 9 am to 5.30 pm

GETTING

Kodai has a wide range of accommodation options catering to diverse tastes. Prices rise during the high season (May-June), when you must book in advance. Equipped with the best view in town, the stone-house Greenlands Youth Hostel (Tel: 04542-240899; Tariff: Rs 350-660) off

Rail Nearest railhead: Kodaikanal Road (80 km/ 2 hrs) Best option TO TuticorinExpress (dep: Bangalore City 9.45 pm; arr: Kodaikanal Road 6.56 am). Taxito Kodai costs Rs 800 Best option FROM Bangalore Express (dep: Kodaikanal Road 8.35 pm; arr: Bangalore City 6.10 am) Road Dindigul,the access point for Kodaikanal, is on NH7. Catch the Kodai Road all the way via Sembatti, Vattalakundu and Pannikadu Bus A nightly deluxe bus from Majestic takes 12 hrs to Kodai

THEilE

KODAlKANAL
State TamilNadu Distance 485 km S of Bangalore JOURNEY TIME By rail 91/2 hrs + road 2 hrs By road 11 hrs Location On the southern ridge of the Palani Hillsin the Western Ghats, 6,854 ft above sea level, bordering Keralaon the west Route NH7to Dindigulvia Hosur, Dharmapuri and Salem; district hillroad to Kodaikanal via Sembatti, Vattalakundu and Pannikadu (see route guide on page 330)

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If it wasn't for the oppressive heat of Madurai, Kodaikanal might have remained an undiscovered gem. Set up as a sanatorium in 1845 by the American Madura Mission, Kodai holds the unique distinction of being the only hill station in India to be established by the Americans. Most of the tourist entertainment in the town is centred around the starfishshaped lake, which forms Kodai's nucleus. Honeymooners take the customary boatride, kids scream for horse-rides around the lake, older siblings bicycle the 5-km perimeter and parents negotiate with taxi drivers for a day-trip of Kodai's 16-Sights-

When to go Anytime, except the late monsoon Tourist offices TamilNadu Tourism Rest House Complex Near Bus Stand, Kodaikanal Tel:04542-241675, 241338-40 Tourist InformationCentre Government of TamilNadu Bangalore City RailwayStation Tel:080-2286181 Website: tamilnadutourism.org STD code 04542