Wondering which places to visit in Kodaikanal without wasting time? This guide lays out the best tourist places in Kodaikanal for 2 days — a Day 1 valley tour and a Day 2 village tour — whether you’re self-driving or relying on cabs and group tours.
Written by John, a Kodaikanal-based travel operator who runs cab, stay and sightseeing packages in Kodaikanal. Last updated: 18 October 2026.
Kodaikanal is a beautiful hill station in Tamil Nadu known for its misty hills, lush forests, a beautiful lake, relaxing waterfalls, and some of the best picnic spots in South India. If you’re living in a busy city and want a quick escape, Kodaikanal is one of the best short-trip destinations where you can spend a memorable weekend with family or friends.
If you’re short on time but want to experience the best of Kodaikanal, this Kodaikanal 2-day itinerary is exactly what you need.
2-Day Trip Plan Summary
| Mode of Travel | Itinerary |
|---|---|
| Driving your own car / bike | Day 1 – Kodaikanal Valley Tour · Day 2 – Kodaikanal Village Tour |
| Public transport | Kodaikanal Travelogue Cab Service or Group Tour · Day 1 – Valley Tour · Day 2 – Village Tour or Forest Tour |
Top 15 Places to Visit in Kodaikanal at a Glance
Kodaikanal, nicknamed the “Princess of Hill Stations”, takes its name from a Tamil phrase often translated as “The Gift of the Forest”. These are the top 15 places to visit in Kodaikanal. The last column shows where each one fits in the 2-day plan below.
| S,no | Place | What it is known for | Fits in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kodaikanal Lake | Star-shaped lake created in 1863 by Sir Vere Henry Levinge with the help of American missionaries. Boating, cycling, horse riding and shopping. Walkable from the bus stand. | Day 1 |
| 2 | Berijam Lake | Forest lake about 21 km from town, with possible sightings of bison, Nilgiri langur and Malabar giant squirrel. Needs forest department permission and four-wheel vehicles only. Check current timings and rules before you go. | Day 2 alternative or a 3rd day |
| 3 | Pillar Rocks | Three massive granite pillars, about 122 metres high, with valley views. | Day 1 |
| 4 | Guna Caves (Devil’s Kitchen) | Named after the Tamil film Guna. The British called it Devil’s Kitchen. Visitors view the caves from the fenced viewpoint, so take care in rainy weather. | Day 1 |
| 5 | Bryant Park | Botanical garden of about 20.5 acres, developed in 1908 by H.D. Bryant and maintained by the Horticulture Department. Easy walk from the lake and bus stand. | Day 1 |
| 6 | Coaker’s Walk | Cliff-edge walkway built in 1872 by Lieutenant Coaker, about half a kilometre from the lake. Misty valley views. | Day 1 |
| 7 | Upper Lake View | View of the lake from Upper Lake Road, with small shops for snacks and handicrafts. | Day 1 (first stop) |
| 8 | Green Valley View (Suicide Point) | Wide valley view, on the way to Dolphin’s Nose. | Day 1 |
| 9 | Moir Point | Viewpoint named after a British officer, with shops nearby. Best early morning or evening. | Day 1 |
| 10 | Pine Forest | Tall pine trees, horse riding and photo spots. | Day 1 |
| 11 | Silver Cascade Falls | Waterfall about 8 km from town, fed by the lake overflow. The first big stop for visitors arriving via the Palani road. | On the way in |
| 12 | La Saleth Church | Church on St Mary’s Road, within walking distance of Coaker’s Walk and Bryant Park. | Day 1 (optional) |
| 13 | Liril Falls | Waterfall best seen after the monsoon, with restaurants and shops nearby. | Day 1 (optional) |
| 14 | Vattakanal Falls | Quiet waterfall near Vattakanal village, about 5 km from town, reached by a short forest trek. Check access before you go. | Extra day or free time |
| 15 | Dolphin’s Nose | Cliff viewpoint with panoramic valley views, reached by trek. Check current access before you go. | Extra day or free time |
A Short History of Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal’s story begins in the early 19th century, when the British surveyor Lieutenant B. S. Ward reached the Palani Hills. American missionaries working in Madurai later developed it as a cool retreat from the summer heat and epidemics of the plains. For that reason it is often called the only hill station in India developed by Americans.
Best Time to Visit Kodaikanal for a 2-Day Trip
April to June is peak season and best for a summer escape from the plains, while October–November brings post-monsoon greenery with waterfalls at their fullest. December–January is cold and misty with holiday crowds, and February–March is the quiet season, best if you’re travelling on a budget and want fewer crowds at each viewpoint. For a 2-day trip specifically, aim to arrive in Kodaikanal the evening before Day 1 so you can start sightseeing early both mornings — you’ll need every daylight hour to cover the full itinerary below.
Driving Your Own Car or Riding Your Own Bike
This section assumes you’re travelling by car or bike, since a self-drive 2-day plan gives you the most flexibility to cover both the valley and the village side of Kodaikanal. If you’re travelling by public transport, skip ahead to the Travel Using Public Transport section below.
Day 1 – Kodaikanal Valley Tour
Try to reach Kodaikanal by at least 9:00 AM so you have the full day ahead of you.
Start your day on Kodai Observatory Road — from Upper Lake View to Liril Falls, this single stretch covers most of the valley’s must-see spots:
- Upper Lake View
- Rose Garden
- Moir Point
- Guna Caves
- Pillar Rocks
- Pine Forest
- Liril Falls
- Green Valley View
- Golf Course
- Coaker’s Walk
- Bryant Park
- Kodaikanal Lake
Try to finish this list by around 3:00 PM so you have a couple of hours left at Kodaikanal Lake for boating, cycling, or horse riding before heading back to your room to rest.
Day 2 – Kodaikanal Village Tour
Start early again, ideally by 9:00 AM. Take the same Kodai Observatory Road, and after a while you’ll reach a turn-off leading to the village of Poombarai. This route covers Kodaikanal’s rural, lesser-crowded side:
- Mahalakshmi Temple
- Gundar Waterfalls
- Palani View
- Poombarai Village View
- Poombarai Village
- Kulanthi Vellappar Temple
- Mannavanur Lake View
- Sheep and Rabbit Farm
- Mannavanur Lake
After covering these spots, you can start your journey back home. If you have extra time, slow down on the return drive — the valley and lush green hills along the way are worth a few extra photo stops.
Travel Using Public Transport
If you’re travelling by public transport, don’t worry — you still have solid options to see Kodaikanal’s top sights in 2 days.
You have two choices: hire a cab service in Kodaikanal, or book a seat on a group tour.
Option 1: Kodaikanal Travelogue Cab Service
Call +91-6382505650 to book a cab service in Kodaikanal. Visit our cab service page for full details.
A standard 2-day cab package covers the local sightseeing and Mannavanur route shown above. If you’d prefer a trekking trip or a Berijam Lake trip instead, we can arrange that based on current access conditions in Kodaikanal.
Option 2: Group Tour
If you’d rather not book a private cab, group tours are a budget-friendly alternative — you’ll get a seat in a mini-van alongside other travellers. Note that the tour guide sets the timing at each stop, and there’s usually a separate guide charge on top of your seat fare.
Day 1 – Valley Tour
The group tour covers:
- Upper Lake View
- Rose Garden
- Moir Point
- Guna Caves
- Pillar Rocks
- Pine Forest
- Green Valley View
- Golf Course
- Shopping Places
- Coaker’s Walk
The tour drops you at Kodaikanal Lake for boating, cycling, or horse riding before you head back to rest. Booking hotels near the bus stand makes it much easier to get around without your own vehicle.
Note: the exact stops on group tours can vary by operator.
Day 2 – Village Tour or Forest Tour
On Day 2, book a seat with the same travel agency and pick either the Berijam Lake trip or the Village trip based on what you’d rather see.
The Berijam Lake trip covers:
- Berijam Lake
- Silent Valley
- Berijam Lake Viewpoint
- Fire Tower
- Mathikettan Solai
- Cap Fly Valley
(Since Berijam Lake requires forest department permission, the operator arranges this for you — no need to apply separately.)
The Village trip covers:
- Mahalakshmi Temple
- Gundar Waterfalls
- Palani View
- Poombarai Village View
- Poombarai Village
- Kulanthi Vellappar Temple
- Mannavanur Lake View
- Sheep and Rabbit Farm
- Mannavanur Lake
Ask to be dropped near Bryant Park — most operators drop you at Coaker’s Walk first, and Bryant Park is an easy walk from there. Kodaikanal bus stand is also walkable from the park, making this a convenient last stop before heading home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, The best places to visit in Kodaikanal are covered in two days. 2 days is enough to cover Kodaikanal’s main valley attractions (Pillar Rocks, Coaker’s Walk, Bryant Park, Kodaikanal Lake) on Day 1 and the quieter village side (Poombarai, Mannavanur) on Day 2. If you want to add Berijam Lake or a trek, consider extending to 3 days.
Start both days on Kodai Observatory Road. Day 1 covers the valley viewpoints ending at Kodaikanal Lake; Day 2 branches off toward Poombarai village and Mannavanur Lake.
Yes. You can hire the Kodaikanal Travelogue cab service for a private, flexible 2-day itinerary, or join a budget group tour that covers the same valley and village routes.
Yes, Berijam Lake requires forest department permission. If you book it through a cab or group tour operator, they’ll typically arrange this for you.
April–June for pleasant summer weather, October–November for lush post-monsoon greenery and full waterfalls, or February–March if you want a quieter trip with fewer tourists.
Planning Your Next Trip
That covers the best tourist places in Kodaikanal for a 2-day trip, whether you’re self-driving or using cabs and group tours. If you have 3 days instead of 2, consider adding Berijam Lake, Kookal, or Mathikettan Solai to your route.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below — I’ll do my best to help.
Have a great journey!
Related reading:
- One Day Trip to Kodaikanal
- Kodaikanal to Chennai Bus Timings
- Kodaikanal to Bangalore Bus Timings
- Palani to Kodaikanal Tour Package
- Madurai to Kodaikanal Tour Package
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