Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is one of India's most beautiful hill stations located at an altitude of 2133 mts (7,000 feet). Kodaikanal has a pleasant climate, and the air quality is very good. Fruits like plums and plantains grow abundantly on the wooded slopes. There are also a wide variety of flowers, including the famous kurinji flower that blooms once in twelve years.
Kodaikanal's star shaped lake dominates this sleepy hill station. The lake is 24 hectares with boating facilities are available. Kodaikanal is also home to one of the world's oldest solar observatories, built in 1899, and the Orchidorium at the Sacred Heart College has about 300 species of orchids. There are also a number of picturesque walks like Coaker's Walk and Priest's Walk. Kodaikanal's best view points are Pillar Rocks and Green Valley View. Bear Shola Falls, Silver Cascade, Fairy Falls and Glen Falls are good picnick spots while the Perumal Peak offer excellent trekking opportunities. Kurinji Andavar temple 3.2 kms away is dedicated to Lord Subramanya.
The first foreigners to visit Kodaikanal was Lt. B. S. Ward, a surveyor, in the year 1821. His head quarters was Vellagavi Village. Later foreign settlers in Madurai who could not bear the oppressive heat in Tamil Nadu and faced sickness and death from epidemic diseases were attracted to Kodaikanal through Lt. B. S. Ward reports about the hills with wonderful climate and easy accessibility from Madurai & Periyakulam. Many English and American missionary people visited Kodaikanal through various routes. Notable among them are J. C. Wroughton, C. R. Cotton Judge and Dr. Weight. The American Missionaries moved in and built a lot of dwellings in the southern side which is still there and now called 'Sunny Side' and 'Shelton'.
One major of the army, J. M. Partridge, introduced Eucalyptus and wattle trees in the year 1867. Bier Leverage, collector of Madurai, lived in Pamhar House after his retirement. By his initiative, Kodaikanal Lake, now the foremost attraction for tourists, was created. He arranged boat rides in the lake, planned and established several approach roads to Kodaikanal, and he introduced several foreign trees and vegetables such as pine forms and pears. In the year 1872 Lt. Coaker cut a path along the ridge of the steep south eastern side which commends a magnificent view of the plains below. The path was named after him as Coaker's Walk.