Best time
October to March is clear and cold, down to 8°C in December and January, and the best time for the viewpoints. April to June is the summer season when the plains escape the heat. July to September is misty with heavy rain, when the valley views disappear for days at a time.
- October to March, 8 to 20°C: Clear and cold, the best months for the viewpoints and the lake.
- April to June, 11 to 22°C: The summer season; Bryant Park’s flower show is in May and rates peak.
- July to September, 10 to 18°C: Mist and heavy rain, valleys closed in for days, the cheapest time to go.
What to pack
Woollens from December to February, when mornings sit at 8°C, and a jacket the rest of the year. Shoes with grip for Coaker’s Walk and Dolphin’s Nose, a rain shell from July to September, and a torch, because the town loses power on stormy evenings.
Madurai to Kodaikanal
Madurai is the nearest city with an airport and a main railway station, 120 km and about three hours away through Batlagundu and the ghat road. It is also why the Meenakshi Amman temple ends up on so many Kodaikanal itineraries — it is on the way in or out, not a detour.