8 Hill Stations Near Kodaikanal: Places That Spell Peace And Are Perfect

23 Mar 2023

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Kodaikanal is located in the Western Ghats at a height of 2,133 meters above the sea level. The place experiences a cool climate throughout the year. However, the peak time of tourist attractions near Kodaikanal’s hill stations is summer months between March to June.

Due to the pleasant climate, serene landscapes, forests, Kodaikanal is the most visited destination for youngsters, couples, and families. And if you are visiting a refreshing vacation, you can surely take a look at the hill stations near Kodaikanal to add an extra punch to your trip. Make your stays pleasant and create wonderful memories.

8 Best Hill Stations Near Kodaikanal

Let’s unwind the greenery and wildlife of the top 8 hill stations near Kodaikanal that offer a calm and serene stay. Here is a list of the best ones and the reasons for which you must visit them, Get ready to get dazzled by breathtaking views:

Vattakanal: For Clouds All-Around
Yelagiri Hills: For Mesmerizing Sunrise
Kotagiri: For Breathtaking View
Valparai: For Coffee Plantations
Palani Hills: For Beautiful Surroundings
Topslip: For Adventure Sports
Kolli Hills: For A Fun Hiking Experience
Ketti Valley: For Relaxing Amidst Nature

1. Vattakanal: For Clouds All-Around

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Vattakanal is the nearest hill station near Kodaikanal, surrounded by cliffs, dense forests, and wrapped in clouds. You will see a variety of exotic flowers, the flora, etc. in the forests. The place is usually found in fog everywhere, which gives you feel like you are standing in a cloud. A must added hill station for vacation planning.

Best time to visit: September to December
Ideal trip duration: 2 days
Nearby attractions: Dolphin’s Nose, Vattakanal Waterfalls
How to reach: By Airport: The nearest airport is Madurai (120 km)
Distance from Kodaikanal: 6.3 km drive

Must Read: 35 Places To Visit In Kodaikanal That’ll Make You Fall For The Western Ghats

South Weekend Holiday Packages On TravelTriangle

2. Yelagiri Hills: For Mesmerizing Sunrise

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A perfect place not to miss the sunrise, the view of sunrise would leave you speechless. Yellgiri hills are a treasure of nature and decorated by dense green forests, beautiful tea plantations, cotton clouds, and a fresh breeze. You will enjoy everything at a single spot including a lake, waterfall, temples, etc.

Best time to visit: November to February
Ideal trip duration: 1 day
Nearby attractions: Punganoor Lake, Swamimalai Hill, Velavan Temple, Jalagamparai Waterfalls
How to reach: By Airport: The nearest airport to Yelagiri is the Bangalore or Chennai International Airport (21 km)
By Train: the nearest railway station, Jolarpetta
Distance from Kodaikanal: 441 km
Places To Stay: Yelagiri residency, Summer Stay’s, Treebo Laa Gardenia, Yelagiri Farm House, Hotel Emerald Dove

3. Kotagiri: For Breathtaking View

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Kotagiri, an unexplored beauty, located in the hills of Nilgiris. Kotagiri is another charmingly and less crowded hill station near Kodaikanal. If you love tea valley and misty mountains, Kotagiri might be the perfect spot for you. Don’t miss the Kodanad viewpoint; this will win your hearts.

Best time to visit: December to May
Ideal trip duration: 1 day
Nearby attractions: St. Catherine Falls, Logwood Shola, Kodanad viewpoint, Johnston Circle
How to reach: By Airport: Nearest Airport: Coimbatore Airport (47 km)
By Train: The nearest railhead to Kotagiri is Coonoor (21 km)
Distance from Kodaikanal: 230 km
Places To Stay: Hanging Huts Resorts, The Grape Escape, Silvertip Cafe & Homestay, IVC Villa, The Umber Tea Family Cottage

4. Valparai: For Coffee Plantations

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Situated at 1066.8 mt above sea level, it is one of the most beautiful hill stations near Kodaikanal. Man Made tea and coffee plantations co-exist with the dense forests in the Valparai Hills. It has various kinds of fauna. You can be lucky enough to see an elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sloth, black-headed oriole, green pigeon, etc..

Best time to visit: September to March
Ideal trip duration: 2 days
Nearby attractions: Aliyar Dam, Nallamudi Viewpoint, Balaji Temple, Loam’s view point, Chinna Kallar Falls
How to reach: By Airport: The Closest airport to Valparai in Coimbatore (120 km)
By Train: the Closest railway station to Valparai, is at Pollachi (64 km)
Distance from Kodaikanal: 182.4 km
Places To Stay: Green Inn, ATS HOMESTAY, Mani’s Homestay, Malakkappara Dam Resort, Bison Valley

5. Palani Hills: For Beautiful Surroundings

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Palani hills and the pleasing climatic surroundings attract visitors regularly from Kodaikanal. The hills stand majestically with Green Spread Mountains and forest all around. At the hills, you can see some of the rarest types of birds, plants, amphibians, and butterflies.

Best time to visit: January to April
Ideal trip duration: 2 days
Nearby attractions: Bison wells, Palani Murugan Temple, Varadhamanadhi Dam
How to reach: By Airport: The nearest Airport is Peelamedu Airport (86 km)
By Train: Palani is the nearest railway station
Distance from Kodaikanal: 6.6 km
Places To Stay: Romans pod house, DOSTel: Backpacker Hostel, Vattakanal HomeStays, ABI COTTAGE, Bala’s Misty Cottage

6. Topslip: For Adventure Sports

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An incredible choice for travelers, Green plant life is breathtaking and pure. Topslip is one of the well-known hill stations near Kodaikanal for its wildlife, adventure sports, and medicinal plant conservation. This hill station is located at a height of 2,554 ft above the sea.

Best time to visit: November to April
Ideal trip duration: 1-2 days
Nearby attractions: Monkey Falls, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Masaniamman Temple
How to reach: By Airport: Nearest airports are Coimbatore & Madurai
By Train: Nearest Railway station is Dindigul & Coimbatore
Distance from Kodaikanal: 160.8 km

7. Kolli Hills: For A Fun Hiking Experience

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Kolli Hills means “Mountain of Death.” Several hiking enthusiasts, members of trekking clubs and general appreciators of nature can be seen visiting Kolli Hills. The untouched mountains, serene atmosphere and the chirping of the birds make this place an ideal spot.

Best time to visit: November to February
Ideal trip duration: 2-3 days
Nearby attractions: Selur Nadu View Point, Arapaleeswarar Temple, Maasila Falls, Namma Aruvi Waterfalls, Botanical Garden, Akash Ganga Water Falls
How to reach: By Airport: Nearest Airport: Trichy (90 km)
By Train: Nearest Railhead is Salem
Distance from Kodaikanal: 243.8 km
Places To Stay: RVR Hotels, Pepy Madhu Resort, RJ Grand Resort, Samy Hotel, Hotel Sree Savana Bhavan Deluxe

8. Ketti Valley: For Relaxing Amidst Nature

ideal spot to spend some time together with loved ones

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Located in the beautiful hills near Kodaikanal, the Ketti valley is covering areas from Coonoor to Ooty. Those who want to feel nature don’t miss to take the toy train ride. This beautiful hill station lies in the lap of Nilgiri hills the Blue Mountains and offers astounding views.

Best time to visit: Summers
Ideal trip duration: 2 days
Nearby attractions: Sim’s park, Hidden Valley, Lamba’s Rock, Rose Garden, Doddabetta Peak, Mariamman Temple
How to reach: By Airport: The nearest airport is Coimbatore (100 km)
By Train: Mettupalayam railway station (48 km)
Distance from Kodaikanal: 244 km
Places To Stay:The Clive and Curzon, Safa Valley, Skylarc Inn, Hugel Villa, Villa Sullivan

Further Read: Visit These 26 Tourist Places In South India During Summer

The serene natural beauty of hill stations near Kodaikanal lies relatively unexplored which makes it an ideal weekend getaway for tourists.Plan your vacation to Kodaikanal anytime during the year and discover these beautiful hill stations.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hill Stations Near Kodaikanal

What are some amazing things to do in Kodaikanal’s hill stations?

Hill stations near Kodaikanal offers you to enjoy the water spray near waterfalls, exploring the hill caves, and amazing views of sunset and sunrise.

What are the Kodaikanal hills famous for?

Kodaikanal hills are a single point destination for nature lovers, thriller and adventure experiences and also for spiritual ones.

What are the famous places to buy in Kodaikanal?

A few famous places for shopping are Danish Display, Kaleeswari Supermarket, Kodai Chocolate Factory, etc.

Does it snow in hill stations near Kodaikanal?

Kodaikanal’s hill stations remain cool pleasant throughout the year and the winter starts from November and continues until early March. In January, the city experiences slight snowfall during the night.

How many days are sufficient for Kodaikanal?

The trip of 2-3 days is sufficient to explore Kodaikanal. However, exploring hill stations near Kodaikanal need a bit more time of yours.

What are the best camping sites in Kodaikanal’s hill stations?

Kodaikanal has many camping sites, Kodai Camp, The Misty Mountain Hop Campsite, Campers Valley, The Pear County, etc.

What to do in Kodaikanal at night?

Enjoy the cool weather of Kodaikanal with Bonfire, Night camping, Night Bar and Night Walk.