Best areas to experience Kodaikanal

Every trip to Kodaikanal is different and special. Kodai offers a so many different vibes, perfect for unwinding amidst nature. While planning your weekend getaway, it can be quite confusing to choose an area to stay in, as the best places with amazing views are in villages away from the main city center, and if you ask me, these villages are where the true beauty of Kodaikanal lie.

Reaching Kodaikanal :

Bus: From Bangalore, there are direct buses to the city center. From there most likely you will have to get cabs, which are quite reasonably priced, to get to your stay.
Train: The nearest train station would be in Coimbatore, which is 4-5 hours from Kodaikanal, depending on where you are staying. Again, renting cabs for this is a good option if you are going for a weekend. For a longer stay you can call individual cabs as per your convenience.
Flight: There is also an airport at Coimbatore after which you can take a cab to Kodai.

Here are some budget-friendly places I’ve personally enjoyed while traveling with a group:

Vattakanal : Vattakanal is a popular spot with many restaurants and a laid-back, hippie vibe. There are loads of hostels in this area, close to Dolphin point. You may want to consider staying at “Above the Clouds“, which is literally above the clouds, for breathtaking views of the mountains. It is accessible via a short hike from the famous Altaf’s cafe. Make sure to carry your stuff in a backpack while staying here as there’s about 300 steps to reach the stay.

Near Kodaikanal main town : If you want a more authentic Kodaikanal stay, consider parking at Trippr Hostel. Unlike Vattakanal, where you will find mostly mountain views, here you will find the cute, hilly side of Kodaikanal with beautiful houses and open fields. Trippr is a house converted hostel, with beautiful views of the hills, which you can explore and even play sports in.

Kookal: It’s a bit far from the main town, but totally worth it. We found a homestay “Kookal Paradise” which has a room that accommodates over 6 people amidst an avocado farm. It’s a farm house with plenty of dogs and open space. The host called us a local farmer who guided us to one of the most amazing hidden waterfalls. You will not find this on google maps and it is a short hike away. You can enter the cold water and play in these falls, and the walk through the different plantations is also beautiful. They also organize all the usual bbq/bonfire/fireplace and have a big open ground to chill and even play in. There’s also a view point near Purakkal, past a eucalyptus forest, which is walkable from the stay.

Poombarai : This is also located somewhat near Kookal and has amazing views of soft hills. It’s the kind of place where you just feel like running in the open grass, probably because of the horses there. The hostel I stayed at many years ago has shut down since, but now there’s Zostel Poombarai that has stunning views and vibes.

Although further away from civilization, I would definitely recommend staying either in Poombarai or Kookal for at least one day to witness the natural beauty of Kodaikanal by going on walks. Just try to remember your way back.