Kodai is a wonderful off season holiday destination. Hotels give 50% discounts at this time. Choose a hotel near the lake this is peaceful and scenic. Go for long and short walks around the lake, to Bryants Park, Coakers Walk and to the wonderful mixed forests within 10 km of the lake.
Enjoy the birds, the wildflowers and the cool, fresh air that permits you to walk endlessly without fatigue. Must do - walk past TV tower, La Salette church on to Pambar falls, past Vattakanal ending up at Dolphins Nose - a rectangular slab of rock jutting out over the deep valley below. You will pass dense montane shola forests, pine and eucalyptus forest, pear orchards along the way with a chance to see thousands of wonderful birds of every hue. Walk also if you can, to Suicide Point, Pillars Rock view point and onward to Guna caves. Walk a bit ahead of these places, cut across through the forest and get a much better view without the littering hordes.
You can also hire a cab for around Rs 500 to take you to these places. Berijam Lake and Kukkal Caves are out of bounds without forest dept permission, however you could always sneak in to the Gundar reservoir near the Observatory as there is no guard around. Lovely walk through aromatic forests till you reach the pristine catchment area. If returning to your destination via Madurai, do stop and walk a bit along the steep downhill road along a stream with dense tropical montane forests dripping with ferns, mosses and orchids. Tree ferns grow like weeds! Enjoy Kodai at its peaceful best from Jan to March.*