Coaker's Walk
500 metres (1,600 ft) from the bus-stand, constructed by Lt.Coaker in 1872, is a 1-kilometre (3,300 ft) paved pedestrian path running along the edge of steep slopes on the southern side of Kodaikanal. The walk, winding around Mount Nebo, starts in front of the Van Allen hospital, running parallel to the Van Allen Hospital Road and joins the main road beside St.Peter's Church, providing a stunning panoramic view of the plains. On a clear day one can view as far as Dolphin's Nose in the south, the valley of the Pambar River in the southeast, Periyakulam town and even the city of Madurai. A fascinating rare phenomenon called Brocken spectre can be witnessed, when a person can see his shadow on the clouds with a rainbow halo. This occurs when the sun is behind the viewer and clouds and mist are to the front. There is an observatory with a telescope halfway along the walk. Entrance fee to the walkway is nominal and it is open all year.
La Saleth Church
The shrine is situated on a mountain which is 7,000 feet above the sea level. It gives an panoramic view of the neighboring mountains. The La Salette Shrine was the first Catholic church in Kodaikanal and was funded by a generous donation of a Belgian woman who wanted to thank Our Lady of La Salette for the cure of her daughter. The cornerstone for this shrine was laid by a French missionary, Fr. Louis St. Cyr, S.J., in 1863 and the shrine was dedicated on Easter Sunday of 1866. The shrine stands as a wonderful example of Tamil French architectural excellence.
500 Years Old Tree
On the way from the museum towards the Kodai Lake we stop to marvel at a 500 year old Jamun tree, its massive trunk gnarled with age. Fruit vendors sit at the site. Monkeys cannot resist the temptation of helping themselves to the fruit. It is amusing to see the women adept at using catapults to chase them away.
Golf Course
Kodaikanal has several clubs and civil society organizations operating for social, charitable and environmental goals. Established clubs in Kodaikanal are the Kodaikanal Lions Club (est. 1985) under the jurisdiction of Lions Clubs International (district 324B); Kodaikanal Boat Club (est. 1890) with nearly 650 permanent members; Kodaikanal Golf Club (est. 1895) with over 600 members and an 18-hole golf course, spread over 143 acres (0.58 km2); The Indian Club (est. 1915) on Poet Thyagarajar Road and The Rotary Club of Kodaikanal.
Pillar Rocks
Pillar Rocks, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the bus-stand, is a set of three giant rock pillars which stand 122 metres (400 ft) high. Managed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, The viewpoint can be crowded but is not commercialized. There is an excellent public garden adjacent to the viewpoint. Three pillars of rock. North of them, and part of their structure, are the Guna Caves featured in Kamal Haasan’s Tamil Film "Guna", which filmed in a cave system previously known to some residents of Kodaikanal as "The Devil's Kitchen".
Bear Shola Falls
3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the bus-stand, is a tall waterfall in a Reserve forest. The final approach to this quiet area is a gently climbing foot-path.
Shopping Spot
The foremost activity of the residents are to make their living out of tourists. By making a attractive display of items, they make the picnickers to buy things. All the commodities are brought from far away places, cleaned properly and arranged in such way that it invites visitors to purchase. Woollen material, Flowers, Vegetables, handmade articles, hot snacks, children toys, medicinal herbs and oils, almost all can be seen in street side small shops. In a nutshell the daily activities of Kodai people is centered around inflow of tourists. One could see school crowd after school hours and on weekends. In last five years the boom in hotel industry resulted in hike of workers, the owners, managers, receptionists, room boys, waiters, gardeners, cooks whose activities vary according to their profession.
Bryant Park
Just east of the lake and 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the bus stand, is a wonderfully maintained 20.5 acres (8.3 ha) botanical garden. The park was planned and built in 1908 by a forest officer from Madurai, H.D.Bryant, and named after him. With 325 species of trees, shrubs and cacti, the park is a rainbow of stunning flowers during the peak season. A large section is dedicated to nearly 740 varieties of roses. There is an 1857 Eucalyptus tree and a Bodhi tree which adds a religious significance to the park. Ornamental plants are cultivated in a nursery for sale. The park organizes horticultural exhibits and flower shows every summer, to coincide with the peak season. The entrance fee to the park is nominal, and it is open all year.
Kodai Lake
Kodaikanal Lake, is an artificial, roughly star-shaped 45 ha (60 acres) lake built in 1863. It is recognized as Kodaikanal's most popular geographic landmark and tourist attraction. Rowboats and pedalos can be hired at the Kodaikanal Boat Club. Horses and bicycles can be hired beside the lake for short periods. The 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) path that skirts the periphery of this lovely lake is a favourite walk for the locals and tourists alike.