Winter holidays are around the corner but you are still racking your brain over the perfect tourist destination? With fog disrupting air and rail traffic in North India, visiting the northern hills could be problematic. So why not consider Kodaikanal or Ooty for a short trip?
While North India is engulfed in a thick blanket of fog and is bracing up for severe conditions during winter in India, the hill stations of the southern peninsula are enjoying calm weather.
Shimla, with an average altitude of 2397.59 meters, is expected to reach freezing point by 21st of December. On the other hand, Kodaikanal sitting on a plateau of the Palani Hills at almost the similar height of 2,133 metres will still record minimum temperature of about 9 degrees. So if you are looking for a hill station with relatively comfortable temperatures, Kodaikanal is among the perfect tourist destinations in India to welcome the New Year. Shimla, Kulu and Manali are definitely few very popular and beautiful hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. However, if you stay closer to peninsular India and still haven’t visited Kodaikanal, keep all your dilemmas aside and plan a short trip to this place.
Kodaikanal enjoys a subtropical highland climate with cool temperatures throughout the year. The average maximums stay in lower twenties or even below in the months of May and June, while the average minimum hardly goes below seven degrees.
Kodaikanal fondly referred to as the 'princess of hill stations', is situated in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. In the Tamil language Kodaikanal means ‘the gift of the forest". It is a popular tourist destination and a good per cent of its total economy depends on the hospitality industry. The most important attractions of Kodaikanal are the Boat Club, Kodai Lake, Bryant Park, Bear Shola Falls, Green Valley View and the Solar Observatory. Kodaikanal’s charm includes long stretches of meadows, grasslands and forests. Gigantic eucalyptus, cypress and acacia trees covering the hills captivate the visitors. High waterfalls and streams meandering through mighty rocks will make this place a visual treat for you.
