Tamilnadu Tourism: Things to do in Kodaikanal

One of the most popular hill stations of South India, Kodaikanal (also called Kodai) offers visitors pleasant weather, lush green surroundings and a beautiful lake. A popular escape during the hot summer months Kodaikanal embodies the aspects of a perfect hill-station trip, complete with a central lake, activities around it, walking trails, short hikes, waterfalls and farms. As well as all the usual sights there are also some alternative things to do in Kodaikanal which you can weave into your itinerary.

Upper_Lake_vire_kodaikanal

Boating in the Kodai Lake

The water body is integral and almost synonymous to the topography of the town. The great part of the lake is that it is accessible to everyone and is bursting with energy, especially during the holiday season. Boating is the key activity here, and is perfect to engage kids. The manmade structure was built in 1863 by Vera Levinge, a former District Collector of Madurai. It is said that the lake was used for swimming by the Britishers who lived here in the early 19th century. There are some de rigueur activities like boating, walking, horse riding and small shops that sell predictable souvenirs. One can hire self pedalled boats or slightly larger ones with a rower. The cost of this activity starts as low as Rs 20/- . The lake opens out for boating at about 7.00 a.m which is the best time to go.

Kodai-Lake-Kodaikanal

Trek to Kookal Caves

Kookal caves are situated 40 kms away from the Kodai town and makes for an interesting overnight hike. You can make a stop at Poombarai and then hike up through the Poombarai forest to a government guest house. The next morning, walk again through the Shola grasslands to the caves that bear testimony to the earliest settlements of Paliyan tribes. It is highly recommended to take a guide. Also, be careful about leeches!

Go Organic

A regular organic farmer’s market is set up every Saturday in Kodai. You can find local farmers with their fresh produce between 9.30 and 12.30. The market only encourages organically grown produce to be part of the display. One can find different varieties of organic vegetables and fruits and herbs, grown without any pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Pick out some healthy and nutritious food for yourself and also meet some great organisations who promote organic eating lifestyle.

Organic-Market-Kodaikanal

Holistic Healing at the Kodaikanal Yoga Centre

The Kodaikanal Yoga Centre lies in the midst of natural beauty and lush green surroundings, a perfect place to be in a peaceful ambience for Yoga. Meditation and Yoga workshops are conducted here. If you are visiting for a short time, you can do a quick orientation or alternatively stay for longer courses too.

Cycling in Kodaikanal

Cycling in the hills is fun for those who like a little adrenalin rush and work up a sweat even on a holiday. You can hire a cycle here and take a spin around the lake. These can be hired near Hotel Carlton. A lot of cycling enthusiasts follow the trail of starting at Kodai Lake, Pine Forest, Chettiar Park ending in Coaker’s Walk.

Golf

An 18 Hole Golf course is situated at Kodai. The course belongs to the century old club, where you can get a temporary membership. If you are staying at a homestay and the owners are members, they may be able to extend a guest visit to you.

Kodaikanal-Golf

Fruit Picking

If you arrive in the fruit season and choose to visit a farm, you can join the workers there in fruit picking, especially strawberries. You can then sit and enjoy the sumptuous delights!

Strawberries-picking

After you check out the "Things to do" in Kodaikanal here are some alternative ideas on how to fill your days.

Sights and attractions in and around Kodaikanal

Berijam Lake

There are three main lakes of Kodai, of which this is one is the cleanest. Most people tend to go to the main Kodai Lake and give this one a miss. Permission from the forest officers is needed to visit this lake but it is definitely worth your while.

Berijam-lake

Coakers Walk

The view of the valley below from this cobble stoned path is breathtaking, provided you are lucky enough for a less misty time.

Coakers walk

Kurinjiandavar Temple

Dedicated to Lord Murugan, the temple houses the famous Kurinji flowers that bloom in 12 years.

Temple

Silent Valley View

Silent Valley is one of the most rich bio-diversity regions of India. In an effort to safeguard the flora and fauna, the forest area is closed for visitors. A top view of parts of the valley can be seen from Kodai.

Silent-valley-view

Caves

Deep ravines and deep gashes in rocks makes for very interesting topography. The Guna caves are a well known tourist spot.

Guna-caves

Pine Forests

Kodai is carpeted with pine stands in the town and on the fringes. Shanthi valley and other pine forested areas are great spots for a picnic.

Pine-forests

Silver Cascade

A waterfall by the road makes for a good stop to catch a quick snack in the backdrop of this waterfall.

Silver-cascade

Kodaikanal Solar Observatory

The Kodai Solar Observatory makes for a good educational trip to watch the solar activity of the earth.

Solar-observatory

When to go

Kodaikanal is beautiful all through the year. While summer is pleasant it is also peak tourist season. Winters might be cold but are not extreme and it doesn't snow.

Peak tourist season hits Kodaikanal in the summer break for schools. The weather is great between April and June. Though one will find the place milling with crowds, you can find a quiet spot away from the predictable places. This is the time when the town is bustling with activity. If you are looking for a quieter period, it's better to arrive between July and October. The winter months get slightly chilly but you are sure to find a different calmer avataar of Kodai then.

Himachal Tourism - Things to do in Dharamsala

Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh is the serene and peaceful home to the exiled Tibetan Government and their leader Dalai Lama. A district set in the wonderful backdrop of the beautiful Kangra Valley, Dharamsala is made up of a few small towns and villages such as McLeod Gan and Kotwali Bazaar and is surrounded by mountains and pine forests.

Bhuddist-Temple-Dharamsala,India

Though rooted in India, the Tibetan history and culture has a strong influence within Dharamsala. It is said that the Tibetan legacy goes as far as 8th century in this region and many activities are based around the Tibetan culture and religion. Here is our pick of the top ten things to do in Dharamsala.

1. Tsuglagkhang Complex

This is the largest Tibetan temple outside Tibet, with a colossal meditation hall with murals and thangkas to add to its charm. The Kalachakra temple inside is where Dalai Lama himself meditates and is located just in fronts of his residence. Look out for the Namgyal Cafe to have a quick bite after visiting the temple. This is run by the youth workers of the complex.

A groups of monks makes a circumambulation around the Tsuglagkhang Temple

2. Thangka Paintings

Many locals make the original Thangka paintings inspired from the stories of Buddha. Visit a local artist and see how these paintings come to life under the skill of adept hands.

Examining-a-very-old-Thangka

3. Tibet Museum

The Tibet museum might be small but contains vast and interesting history about Tibet and the exodus to India. An afternoon here will be wonderful.

Prayer-flags-in-the-garden-Tibet-Culture

4. Dharamkot

One of the most scenic spots off Dharamsala, this is a good place to take your picnic basket and enjoy the view. The Bhagsunag falls also make for a great picnic spot with family. A fresh water spring adds to the interest of the place.

Dharamkot

5. Triund 

A trek to the over 3000m peak beyond Dharamkot is something most trekkers traverse. You need to have decent stamina. Don’t forget t carry comfortable walking and climbing shoes for Dharamsala. There are plenty of trails for short or difficult hikes and are extremely inviting.

Trekkers traverse-Dharamkot

6. Bhagsu Waterfall 

A rough gush of water in a remarkably beautiful setting, climb to the falls but be aware that the last part is quite dangerous.

Bhagsu-Nag-Falls-Dharamsala

7. Indrahar Pass 

The Kangra Valley has some lofty mountains and passes which are a thrill to climb. Indrahar is one such pass.

Kangra-Valley

8. Quaint Cafes and Shopping

With the number of foreign nationals coming to Dharamsala and making it their home, there was a whole hippie movement, which has its reminiscence in old quaint cafes and clothes even now. Mcleod Ganj is perfect for this.

Shopping-stone-jewelry-and-prayer-beads

9. Meet Dalai Lama

A difficult task but not unachievable – try and meet the great leader Dalai Lama. A spiritual experience for many, one needs to watch his website closely for his travel dates and lectures in the town. For a private audience, one needs to know someone in his office. Though your meeting may last only 10 seconds, it will be worth remembering.

Meet-the-great-leader-Dalai-Lama

10. Yoga and Dance 

Yoga has caught the attention of the Western World like wildfire, try your hand at some classes held here. Another art form that might interest you is the alternative Butoh dance. Watch regular performances by The Subbody Butoh School.

Yoga-in-Dharamkot

Dharamsala provides that welcome break and pleasant relief from the city banter for someone on a tourist trip to India. Spend at least 15 days in the area to soak in the culture and easy pace of the destination.

Things to do in Delhi

We want our visitors to get an authentic view of India, where the sights, smells, tastes and traditions of our diverse and incredible country are lived rather than observed.

So here we’ve put together our top twelve insider tips for getting the most out of the nation’s capital, Delhi.

The crucial – the places every Delhi visitor must experience

1 See the world’s tallest brick minaret

Symbolic and imposing, Qutub Minar is one of the first and finest examples of Indo-Islam architecture around. Don’t settle for viewing it across the city – get up close and marvel at the detail.

Qutub-Minar

2 Go inside an emperor’s tomb

Humayun lived the high life and fought a few wars, but it was reading that killed him. The 14th century royal died after falling down the steps of his library. The majestic resting place built for him is now a World Heritage Site and is highly recommended by visitors.

Humayun-tomb

3 Stroll around a spice market

Your senses will be spun in Khari Baoli, Delhi’s huge and frantic spice market. Try not to sneeze when your nose sucks up the powders of every known spice on earth.

Khari-Baoli-Spice-Market-Delhi

4 Picnic at India Gate

As well as being the largest war memorial in India, commemorating members of the British Indian Army who fought in WW1, Lutyen’s India Gate is Delhi’s top spot for a packed lunch, attracting thousands of people every weekend to relax on its surrounding lawns.

5 Be enlightened at the Lotus Temple

Architecture doesn’t come with more wow factor than this. It’s a little known fact the lotus-shaped Bahá’í House of Worship attracts more visitors than either the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal. An awesome expressionist design that seems perfectly suited to the Bahá’í philosophy of spiritual unity.

The hip – things to do Delhi if you want to go native with the Delhiites

6 Get an intellectual fix

Overlooking the famous Lodhi Gardens (the 90 acre city park that’s definitely worth a wander) is Delhi’s favourite cultural hotspot, the India International Centre. The Rockefeller Foundation funds this large venue, which offers everything from theatre, dance and film to music and seminars.

India-International-Center-Delhi

7 Hang out in Chandni Chowk

With its burgeoning population, most of Delhi is a bustling and frenetic place. If the city maelstrom has a centrepoint, then it is surely Chandni Chowk, Delhi’s oldest street and legendary trading post. Stretching from the Red Fort to the Fatehpuri Masjid mosque, if you only eat one paranthe and ride one rickshaw, make sure you do it here.

Chandni-Chowk-Delhi

8 Coffee in Khan Market

The middle-classes of Delhi like to spend their rupees in the cool cafes and international chain stores of Khan Market, near Lodhi Gardens. Italian joint Big Chill, with its rich chocolate desserts, is a favourite with the city’s celebrities. It also has 14,000 fans on Facebook!

9 Watch a film in the Regal

Delhi has lived in the shadow of Mumbai when it comes to film, but cinema is still Delhi’s favourite pastime. And lately the city is becoming more fashionable in Bollywood, as a generation of Delhi-born directors and actors achieve success; Ashkay Kumar, star of 2009’s Bollywood-meets-kung-fu spectacular ‘Chandni Chowk to China’, is one such star. There are plenty of shiny multiplexes to choose from, but if you want something unrefined, see what’s showing at the faded Regal Theatre in Connaught Place, where Noel Coward once trod the boards.

Regal-cinema-Connaught-Place-New_Delhi

And the quirky…

10 Learn more than you need to know about toilets

You may never get a chance to visit another lavatory museum, so while you’re in Delhi, take the opportunity to investigate Sulabh International Toilet Museum. Here you’ll find a golden toilet, a toilet designed for elephants, and an array of pictures, stories and artefacts that will fill you with washroom wisdom.

11 Explore the Delhi metro

If you need to escape from the heat and hubbub, go underground for a while. Delhi’s clean and cool metro system is a world away from the streets above and is usually a stress-free way to get around. Even monkeys have been known to ride it.

Delhi-Metro-Station

12 See the Red Fort at night

Locals say that to visit Delhi and not see the Red Fort is like not visiting Delhi at all. But save a trip here until evening time, when the capital’s number one attraction stages a daily sound and light show. With the fort walls bathed in colour and with a vocal narration of Delhi’s history, it’s a dreamlike experience full of special effects that create a strong and haunting sense of bygone days.

Red-Fort-Delhi

Sightseeing in Gulmarg Kashmir Valley

Sightseeing in Gulmarg is all about marvelling at the picturesque scenery, visiting the scenic lake, or paying homage at the famous shrine of a Muslim saint.

Kongdoor-in-Gulmarg

Gulmarg is dotted with beautiful sites that will enthral you in its splendour. A Gondola ride (cable car ride) takes you up to Kongdori to enjoy the magnificent sights of the meadow from the top.

Khilanmarg is the spot for skiing in winters. You must enjoy the views of the Kashmir valley and the Himalayan range from Khilanmarg. It takes a couple of hours by pony, to reach Khilanmarg as it is slightly longer on foot.

Gulmarg-Ice-field-Kashmir

The Alpathar Lake, about 13 km from Gulmarg, is a scenic alpine lake that remains frozen until late June. From Khilanmarg the lake lies across the Apharwat peak. Adventure seekers must take the one-day trip to the Alpathar Lake from Gulmarg.

Also, while in Gulmarg don’t forget to pay your obedience at the famous Shrine of Baba Reshi, a Muslim saint.

Near By Places  in Gulmarg

Khilanmarg is the place near Gulmarg which is also the spot for skiing in winters and a picnic spot in all seasons. You must enjoy the views of the Kashmir valley and the Himalayan range from Khilanmarg. It takes a couple of hours by pony, to reach Khilanmarg as it is slightly longer on foot.

Gandola-Gulmarg-Kashmir

Visit the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve to witness a whole range of birds and wildlife, especially the musk deer.

Restaurants and eateries in Gulmarg

The restaurants and eateries in Gulmarg serve excellent vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. The food is not only delicious but also hygienic as well. ‘Rogan Josh’ – a traditional non-vegetarian dish, is a must try. For some mouth-watering vegetarian food, Bakshi’s Green Punjabi Dhaba is the best bet. Global Hotel and Restaurant, 200mtrs in the direction of the Gondola from the Bus Station is the place if you’re after some western food.

Horse-cart-ride-gulmarg

Other adventures in Gulmarg

Baba Reshi Shrine

Baba Reshi Shrine (Ziarat) was built and dedicated to the famous Muslim Scholar and Sage – Baba Reshi who breathed his last in Gulmarg in 1480.He was a prominent member of the court of Zain-ul-Abidin – a Kashmiri King of the early 15th Century. This shrine was built amidst a luxuriant garden and is a major tourist attraction apart from the visits from its devotees.

Shiva Temple

The Shiva Temple, also known as the ‘Rani Temple’ and ‘Maharani Temple’ is perched on a small hillock in the town square of Gulmarg and because of its vantage point; the Shiva Temple is visible from all parts of Gulmarg. For the last 17 years, the priestly duties in this Hindu temple have been performed by a single Muslim priest – Ghulam Mohammad Shiekh – epitomizing the communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims in the Kashmir Valley. The local and visiting communities have gracefully accepted a Muslim performing Hindu Temple rituals like puja, aarti and distributing Prasad among the devotees. And being a Muslim, he also performs Namaz every day.

St.Mary’s Church

St. Mary’s Church is a Roman Catholic Church in Gulmarg and was constructed amidst Alpine trees atop a meadowy plateau. In the year 2003, the Church was renovated and on this occasion a special Mass was conducted at Christmas which incidentally happened to be after 14 years.

Banibali Nag Lake

Ferozepura Nallah is 5 kilometres from Gulmarg and Banibali Nag Lake is a couple of kilometres further from here.Banibali Nag Lake is set in the meadows and is surrounded by mountains at 9600 feet. This area is especially breezy so u can see the meadows swaying. And the lake reflects the mountains and the skies when still. It takes around 5 hours to get here from Gulmarg owing to the mountainous terrain.

Ferozepura Nallah – Mountain Stream

About 5 kilometres from Gulmarg is the Ferozepura Nallah – a fresh water stream that meanders its way from the mountains. This stone-studded stream is an ideal picnic spot and the trail that leads to this spot is even more interesting as it goes through the meadows and then the forest and then downhill to the stream. This route is the most ideal for nature photography.

GulMarg-Kashmir-Valley

Ningli Nallah – Mountain Stream

‘Ningli Nallah’ is a sparkling lively stream whichis 8 kms from Gulmarg. This is a perfect picnic spot and also a good spot for camping. All it takes is a couple of hours of trekking from Gulmarg and you would reach this amazing locale surrounded by small hills and flowery meadows with a cold stream trickling down effortlessly.Carry your coffee and book and camera and start very early at the break of dawn from Gulmarg. You could choose to explore this landscape for a few hours and then return to Gulmarg or head up further into other valleys and meadows of Kashmir. Else carry your camping gear from Gulmarg and pitch a tent for the night by the stream. It guarantees to help you relax and recharge.A highly recommended ‘TO-DO’ for honeymooners! Ningli Nallah offers you many more reasons than you can imagine for cuddling up in this cozy environment.

Gulmarg Golf Course

Perched at about 9000 feet altitude, Gulmarg Golf Course is one of the highest golf courses in the world.

Gulmarg-Golf-Course