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KODAIKANAL

Kodaikanal (also known as ''Kodai'') is a city and a Dindigul district Taluk division of Dindigul district in the States and territories of India state of Tamil Nadu, India.

Kodaikanal is sometimes referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" and is a popular tourist destination. Much of the local economy is Hospitality industry based on national and international tourism. Kodaikanal was established by American missionaries around 1845, as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the Deccan plateau plains.

Kodaikanal City 250,000,AMS.jpg|thumb|left|Kodaikanal topography Kodaikanal stands in a 2,195 m (7,202 ft) high basin at the southern edge of the central part of the Palani Hills in the Western Ghats. Kodaikanal is at the top of a steep 2,000 m escarpment which is dramatically visible from Pillar Rocks. It is located between latitude 10°7' N - 10°20' N and longitude 77°16' E - 77°45' E. It has a beautiful lake and numerous scenic mountain views of the plains below. There are several Palani Hills National Park#Geology|waterfalls in the area, which are popular attractions. To the north east is Perumal Malai (Mount Perumal), a hill which resembles an extinct volcano.

Kodaikanal, the fog in the mountains. Due to its high altitude, Kodaikanal has a temperate subtropical climate. Surface temperature varies from moderate to quite cool. During the summer average temperature is 11 - 20°C (52 - 68°F) and during the winter it is 8 - 17°C(46 - 63°F). In January, night temperatures sometimes drop to freezing, and thin ice is seen on the lake edges.

The average rainfall is 1650 millimetre mm, mostly during the Monsoon North-East Monsoon .28Retreating Monsoon.29 North East retreating monsoon from June to September.

As of 2001, Kodaikanal had a population of 32,931 on 21.45 km². Kodaikanal has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 69.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 73%. In Kodaikanal, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. The languages spoken in Kodai are Tamil language Tamil and English language English.

Kodaikanal farming estates
The nearest airports are Madurai (135 km), Trichy (200km) and Coimbatore (170 km). The nearest Railway stations are Palani Railway Station (64 km) north, Kodai road|Kodai Road Station (80 km) south east and Dindigul Railway Junction (100 km) east. The 2 - 3 hours drive to Kodai by bus or taxi via the Ghat Roads|Ghat roads is a fantastic experience. Travelers may stop at turnouts on the road and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Palani hills.

There is a 28 km shortcut from Periyakulam to Kodaikanal via Kumbakarai under construction. Bicycle rentals, taxis, vans and limited city buses are available. Auto rickshaws are not available.

There are at least 50 hotels of all classes and over 30 South and North Indian, Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian, Continental, Western and Chinese restaurants, not counting many bazaar shops and tea stalls. There are six banks: Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Kodaikanal Urban Bank, State Bank of India and Union Bank of India. The two medical facilities are The Van Allen and Government Hospitals. Places of worship for Hindus, Moslems and Christians include the Kurinji Andavar, Mariamman, Vinayagar and Murugan Temples; Ellis Villa and Munjikal Mosques; and the Sacred Heart, Munjikal, St. Francis Xavier, Gorapur, St. Mary's, La Salette, St. Joseph's, Lutheran Mission and Lake End Churches.

Established social clubs in Kodaikanal are the Kodaikanal Lions Club Established 1985 under the jurisdiction of Lions Clubs International Dt. 324B., Kodaikanal Boat Club Established 1890 has nearly 650 permanent members. Kodaikanal golf Club (1895) has 18 holes, spread over 143 acres and The Indian Club (1915) on Poet Thyagarajar road.

Kodaikanal is a romantic hill station for the newlyweds to go for a honeymoon. An artificial star shaped 45 ha. (60 acres) lake built in 1863 is located close to the centre of town. Next to the lake is Bryant Park, a botanic garden. Rowing boats and pedalos and riding horses can be hired. A five-kilometer path that skirts this lovely lake is a favourite walk.

The Shenbaganur Museum, founded in 1895, is open for the public to view their outstanding collection of more than 300 exotic orchid species and artifacts of the ancient Paliyans tribes people whose descendants still live in these hills.

Kodaikanal is near the center of the proposed 736.87 km² Palani Hills National Park. The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory is at the highest location near Kodai. A former director John Evershed, discovered the phenomenon of radial motion in sunspots, now known as the Evershed effect. The kodaikanal Terrestrial Telescope can view the complete surroundings of the hills which covers sothupparai dam, Vaigai Dam, periyakulam, Varaha river etc.

Green Valley View (previous name was changed for better appeal to tourists), Pillar Rocks, Silver Falls, Kodai Television tower and the Guna caves (made popular by the Tamil movie Guna) are popular places where many tourists visit. The Kurinji Andavar temple is famous for its Strobilanthes kunthiana|Kurinji flower which blossoms only once every 12 years. The blums, Berikke, Kodai milagaay, Red carrot are the most common natural edibles available. Cauliflower, cabbage, chillies and onions are cultivated on the outskirts of Kodaikanal.

There is an excellent bazaar where one can buy woollen clothing, flowers, vegetables, fruit, meats, handicrafts, hot snacks, children toys, medicinal herbs and oils. The cosmopolitan nature of Kodai is evident at the market place where it is not uncommon to see Scandinavian backpackers, retired French tourists and people from other parts of India enjoying fresh pastries served by Tibetan refugees.

Kodaikanal is renowned for the Kodaikanal International School and the Kodaikanal Public Schoolhttp://www.kodaikanalpublicschool.org. The other renowned schools are: St. Peters Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School Bhavan's Gandhi Vidyashram, Brindavan Public School, St. Joseph's Public School and St. Xavier's High School. The two colleges are Kodaikanal Christian College and Sacred Heart College. Mother Theresa University is distinctive as India's only university devoted to exclusively women's issues.

In Kodaikanal have many tourist places are Lake, Parks, Coakers Walk, Kurinji Andavar Temple, Physical Observatory, 40 Miles Rounded Falls, Kukkal Caves, Pillar Rocks, Dolphin Nose, Vembadi Peak Palani Hills, Trekking Routes.