Dindigul Tourist Places

Tourist places

• Dindigul Fort
• Athoor Kamaraj Sagar Dam
• Sirumalai
• Palani
• Kodaikkanal

The Dindigul Fort 

       A 17th-century hill fort situated in the town ofDindigul in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The fort was built by the Madurai Nayak kings in 1605 and was later passed on to Kingdom of Mysore (Mysore Wodeyars) in the early 18th century. Later it became an important fort during Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan reign of Mysore. In 1799 it went to the control of the British East India Company during the Polygar Wars. There is an abandoned temple on its peak apart from few cannons. Today the fort is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and is open to tourists.

The Kamarajar Sagar Dam at Kamarajar Lake  

              400-acre (1.6 km²) monsoon-fed water body 6 km (3.7 mi) from Athoor village in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu. This lake is a beautiful location with the hills of the Western Ghats overlooking it. Fishermen in their coracles, coconut and banana plantations and cardamom estates are the common sights. Swimming is allowed.

Some eco-friendly resorts are along the northern border of the lake^[ This area allows tourists to experience India's beautiful ecology at its best. Coconut trees and mango trees are plenty in the area, making a tropical atmosphere prevalent here.

Taking walks through the countryside in the area is one of the most popular activities in this area. Several walking trails are present around Kamarajar Lake. Most places worth seeing near Kamarajar can be walked to in a reasonable amount of time using these walking trails.

Many birds can be sighted along the trails. Birds such as peacocks, storks, kingfishers, cranes, herons and sunbirds are all known to frequent the area. In fact, one bird watching group from Great Britain was even able to document seeing 160 different species of birds in a short span of four days. Trekking is another popular tourist activity in the area.

Sirumalai Hills

Want a break from the routine, mundane life? Travel just 25 kms to reach Sirumalai, an economical summer resort on Natham – Dindigul road. Though the uphill journey is for a brief time, the 18 hair pin bends provide the real thrilling experience, characteristic of a trip to a hill station. The entire locale is green and lush and the climate is cool / warm. Most of the area is used for cultivation of plantain (banana) which is famous all over Tamil Nadu and foreign countries for its special taste. The unique cool breeze is a bananza for those who visit this hill station. People who live in the foot hill and nearby areas enjoy the bananza. Sirumalai Banana can even be consumed my small children and elderly people. It remains fresh for a number of days and does not get decayed like other fruits. Sirumalai provides an opportunity to go on trekking and hiking. Beautiful scenic view of saathiyar basin and Dindigul town delight the visitors. Vellimalai Temple, which is recently renovated, is the famous destination for devotees. Bus service and pivate cabs are available from Dindigul. Want to enjoy the thrill every moment? Be a biker and feel the difference! This hill is renowned for Herbal plants as it is said to be part of Sanjeevi Hills which has known for herbals for medical use since the time of Ramayana.

Palani

It is 64 kms from kodaikanal, famous pilgrim center of the South and one of the six abodes of Lord, Dhandayuthabani. Direct frequent bus are available from Kodaikanal.

Top tourist places to see in Kodaikanal

The Lake

A magnificent star-shaped lake glitters like a jewel amidst the emerald green wooded slopes. This 24 hectare lake is skirted by 5 Kms long, black tapped road is focal point of kodai, This lake was created in 1863 by Sir Vere Hendry Levinge, who was the collector of Madurai, retired and settled in kodai.

Coaker's Walk

A kilometre's walk from the lake. It derives the name Lt. Coaker, who prepared the map of Kodai. Coaker's Walk runs along a steep, emerald green wooded slope. From Coaker's Walk one can have a breath-taking view of the plains below.

Bryant Park

This park is situated on the eastern side of the lake. It is noted for flowers, hybrids and grafts, Cut flowers are exported from here.A glass house which shelters fine varieties of flowers, Flower show is conducted every year in May as part of summer festival.

Green Valley View

It is about 5.5 Kms from the lake and located very close to Golf club, it commands a beautiful view of entire vaigai dam, As the valley is very deep, dense and dangerous, recommended to see with precautionary measures.

Pillar Rocks

It is about 7.4 Kms from the lake. Three boulders stand shoulder to shoulder vertically measuring of about 122 meters providing a beautiful view. It has a mini garden.

Kurinji Andavar Temple

3 kms from the lake. A famous shrine dedicated to Lord Muruga. This temple is associated with the Kuriniji flowers which carpet at hill sides blooms once in 12 years. Also Kurinji means hill region in Tamil literature. Andavar means God. Hence Lord Muruga is referred as God of Hill here. From this temple one can see a view of Palani and Vaigai Dam.

Solar Physical Observatory

3.2 Kms. From the Lake Elevation is 2343 meters. It was founded in 1989 at the top most point in Kodai. Visitors are allowed to closely observe the start, planetary movements etc., during visiting hours and Prior appointments.

Telescope House

To enable the visitors to have a Panoramic view of the valley and nearby towns, one telescope house is at Coakers walk. Enterance fee is coolected per head to see through telescope.

Shenbaganur Museum

This museum is MNaintained by the Sacred Heart College – Theological Seminary founded in 1895. It is devoted to archaeological remains and the flora and fauna of the hills. One of the best orchidoriums in the country with more that 300 species of orchids is also housed here. It is about 5.6 Kms from the lake. A Spanish Father Ugarthe, contributed his major collections to the Museum. Entrance fee Rs one per head. Working hours – 10 A.M to 11.30 A.M and 3P.M to 5P.M

Dolmen Circle

Kodaikanal is put on anthropology map mainly because of the presence of pre-historic remains dating back to 5000 BC, thease are called Dolmens and Kistavens which are the dwelling and burial places of people of stone age and iron age. The Dolmens and fantastic stone of two very large erect stone slabs topped by a larger flat slab.

Thalaiyar Falls

This is also called as a Rat tail falls, The widest falls ranging from 13th Kilometer on the Ghat road to Kodai. It is one of the highest fall in India, with their 975 feet drop.

Berijam Lake

This is another big artificial lake in the upper regions of palani hills. It is a fine picnic spot offering beautiful scenery. It is 21 Kms from the Kodaikanal lake, Periyakulam town gets drinking water from the lake.It was first discovered and reclaimed in 1864 by Colonel Hamilton of the British Army. The Sheer beauty of the lake made it yet another tourist spot in kodaikanal.

Chettiyar Park

A neat little park off the beaten tract is in north east corner of the town, on the way to kurinji Andavar temple.

Bear Shola Falls

An ideal picnic spot 1.6-km from bus stand and within 2 Kms of the lake, where once bears came to drink water. Cross the lake bund, pass the Telephone exchange on your right, and at the junction take the lower road past clifton Hotel.The approach is rugged hill path. The falls are at the best in rainy season.

Dolphins Nose

To reach Dolphins nose at a distance of 8 kms from the bus stand, one has to follow the route specified here.There is an old road after crossing Pambar Bridge near levinge stream. A rough curve rounds the hillside which leads to a point where a flat rock projects over an awful chesm of 6600 feet deep. This is Dolphins nose. On the way, beautiful views of plains and steepy rocky eascarpeints called rolling hills can be seen. The old village of vellagavi can be reached through the rugged bridle path.

Lutheran Church

Almost cheek by jowl with the Kodaikanal School is the Lutheran Church - a Gothic stone building with stained glass windows and modern paintings and batiks portraying scenes from the life of Christ. Nearby is an even more famous church - Christ the King Church - again, a very Gothic and solemn granite structure with stained glass windows. The names of the buildings in Kodaikanal are very evocative: 'Loch End' and 'Mansarovar' - these two houses by the lakeside bridge the time span from colonial times to the present. Hillbrook, Furzbank, Wood-cote, Whispering Pines, and Rock Cottage all conjure up the beauty and spirit of their natural ambience.

Silver Cascade

8 Kms from the lake. The overflow of Kodai lake comedown here as 180 feet high falls. If the water temperature suits, tourist can take bath.

Pambar Falls

"Grand Cascade" is the another name for this magnificent falls. It can be reached by a steep, precipitous path behind pambar house. The Pambar River is a Ziz zagging stream that crusaded over a serious of rock formations and precipes.