Background

Waterfalls in Kodaikanal

Any time of the year is great for waterfalls in Kodaikanal, it is primarily because the valleys of Kodai tend to attract a plethora of clouds round the year and it rains for most part of the year. The buildup of slight drizzles and heavy showers combine, drop by drop into some breath taking waterfalls all around the Kodaikanal hill and valley ranges.

Kodaikanal Waterfalls: Palani Hills


Numerous streams meet at the Palani Hill Range that lies to the north of Kodaikanal. The Palani Hills adjoin the high Anamalai range on the west, and extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu. The hills are seen doused in waterfalls round the year:
Kodaikanal Waterfall: Palani Hills

The Palani Hill Range comes in between of Cumbum Valley on the south, which is drained by the Vaigai River and the Kongunadu region to the north. The northern slopes are drained by the Shanmukha River, Nanganji River, and Kodavanar River, which are tributaries of the Kaveri River. Hence these ranges are never short of water, with copious waterfalls cascading every part of the hill ranges.

Kodaikanal Waterfalls: Silver Cascade Waterfall


8 km from Kodaikanal at a wide bend in Ghat Road is a 55-metre waterfall called Silver Cascade. This beautiful waterfall is formed from the outflow of Lake Kodai.

 Kodaikanal Waterfalls: Silver Cascade Waterfall

Silver Cascade Falls, a picture perfect spot to explore in Kodaikanal was famous for its clean, pure and glittering water once and resulting in the name Silver Falls. The spillover of Kodaikanal Lake takes a 180 ft dive over a vertical cliff, to sprint into a pool adjacent to the Ghat Road. The excess water from the Kodai Lake flows downward as a fall at about 8 kms from Kodaikanal. This waterfall is pleasing and stimulating during the monsoon when the water is in full flow. There are few shops selling fruits and other forest products making this point a pit stop for travelers and tourists crossing this road. There is also a smaller but more serene waterfall below the bridge which crosses the stream here. During the rainy season the water flow increases by volume and roars down in startling cascades and is a treasured experience. It is wonderful roadside scenery not to be missed en route to Kodaikanal. The authorities have been allowing the tourists take a quick bath here earlier. However, off late the Cascade area is compounded and a small park has been developed around it, making it fine for a few minutes break of travel and photography.

On the same road there are a number of other smaller streams. The water of Silver Cascade Falls are ice cold and the most refreshing for tired city-bred legs!

Kodaikanal Waterfalls: Bear Shola Falls



There are a few more waterfalls that drench the hills at Kodai. When water rushes down from steep slopes and precipitous paths of Kodai, the whole aura looks magnificent. Bear Shola Falls is another important waterfall at Kodaikanal. These waterfalls are famous for bears which used to come here for water.
Kodaikanal Waterfalls: Bear Shola Falls

The third major waterfall of Kodai are Thalaiyar falls. It is the widest and the most dangerous waterfall here with a huge drop from a height of 957ft. These splendid waterfalls are so magnificent that even a plain inefficient trip can let you explore very interesting shrubs and smallest of these plants.

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