Kodaikanal is one of the very popular and most sought after Honeymoon and holiday destination hill resorts in South India. This hill station stands 7200 feet above sea level and situated in upper palani hills of the westernghats near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Kodaikanal is also popularly known as the princes of Hill Stations.

The cool and misty weather, the scenic beauty of the rolling hills and the wooded forest of Kodaikanal and its surroundings will mesmerize any visitor throughout the year. Walk through the wooded forests, row in the lake, bath in one of the splashing waterfalls, go for horse riding and cycling around the lake or simply admire the views.

Kodaikanal is the only Hill Station in India developed by the Americans. During 1821, Lieutenant B. S. Ward, a British surveyor was, the first European to visit Kodaikanal, who was on the lookout for a healthy place to live, for the foreign missionaries working in Madurai and the surrounding areas to escape from the summer heat and epidemics.

Many of the ruling princes built summer holiday-homes. Clubs, school and hotels came up. Civic amenities were introduced. Kodaikanal developed slowly, but steadily. They also established the famous Kodaikanal International School.

Kodaikanal has a monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate. The temperatures are cool throughout the year due to the high elevation of the city. Kodaikanal has several scenic natural attractions which are enjoyed by its visitors and make it a popular romantic destination for newlyweds.

Almost all distances from Kodaikanal are calculated with the lake as the central point of reference. The nearest airports are Madurai (135 kilometres or 84 miles), Coimbatore (170 kilometres or 110 miles) and Trichy (200 kilometres or 120 miles). The nearest Railway stations are Palani Railway Station (64 kilometres or 40 miles) north, Kodaikanal Road Station (80 kilometres or 50 miles) south east and Dindigul Railway Junction (100 kilometres or 62 miles) east, from Madurai Aarappalayam bus stand, frequent bus services are available, first bus in the morning at 2.30 am then 3.30 am and 4.0.5.0,6.0 am there are no busses after 5pm in the evening.

The 2 to 3 hours drive to Kodai via the steep and winding Ghat roads from Madurai is a memorable experience. Travelers may stop at turnouts on the road and enjoy the scenic beauty of the hills.

So, gear up an intellectual feast in our two-day academic extravaganza coupled with a fun filled break in our delightful city.